Do you have to give yourself permission for certain things?

[Ronni]

I feel irrationally guilty when I don’t finish everything in my plate. It’s always an internal tug-of-war, especially when we’re eating out, to be ok with not eating everything. At the beginning of the meal I always ask for a to-go box because the portion sizes in restaurants are always huge so I already know I’m going to be taking home half my meal. Even so, with the half that’s left, if there are a couple bites that I don’t really have room for, it’s a struggle to leave them.

I have to tell myself it’s ok to sleep in. We’re always up early, usually no later than 6.00am for me, no matter how little sleep I got I still wake at that time. Once I’m awake, I can’t go back to sleep. And if I’m awake I feel like I should be up! Languishing in bed for even a few minutes feels decadent…even though I’m going to languish on the couch for half an hour with coffee and my phone before I do anything else!

Other things too, convincing myself it’s ok, giving myself permission to do or not do.

What about you?

 

[oldaunt]

It has never occurred to me that I would even need to.....just DO it.

 

[Lewkat]

No, I do what my mind and body tell me is best for me at the time. Maybe, when I was younger, I looked at it differently, but not these days.

 

[Bella]

I have my permission to do whatever I want to do or not do, anytime I want to do it or not do it.

 

[Gaer]

I have my permission to do whatever I want to do or not do, anytime I want to do it or not do it.

Me too! Absolute freedom!

 

[Gary O']

I have my permission to do whatever I want to do or not do, anytime I want to do it or not do it.

Yup

It's called retirement

 

[hollydolly]

No, I do what my mind and body tell me is best for me at the time. Maybe, when I was younger, I looked at it differently, but not these days.

Same...

 

[SmoothSeas]

I have my permission to do whatever I want to do or not do, anytime I want to do it or not do it.

^yeppers...

 

[Nathan]

I've given myself permission to not judge myself. It's a work-in-progress, 1/2 century old habits are hard to get rid of.

 

[PeppermintPatty]

When I was younger and living with my parents, I had to finish everything on my plate before I could leave the table and sometimes that was really difficult. My mom would make shepherds pie without taking the grease out of the hamburger so it was extra greasy and would make me sick. Today I have no problems leaving anything on my plate.

For the longest time I needed to give myself permission to say NO to personal invitations from others. Fortunately I no longer have that problem.

For the longest time I wouldn’t give myself time to recover from illness. I’d psychologically kick myself for getting sick to begin with. I no longer do that either.

 

[Gary O']

When I was younger and living with my parents, I had to finish everything on my plate

Yeah, same here
They'd say something like 'think of how the starving people feel in poor countries'
So, I'd finish my plate
and say 'How do they feel now?'

 

[Dave03]

I really struggle with spending money on myself.

 

[oldaunt]

Yeah, same here
They'd say something like 'think of how the starving people feel in poor countries'
So, I'd finish my plate
and say 'How do they feel now?'

When I was young, there was seldom much on the plate, so it was never a problem.

 

[PeppermintPatty]

Yeah, same here
They'd say something like 'think of how the starving people feel in poor countries'
So, I'd finish my plate
and say 'How do they feel now?'

Mine wouldn’t have had the capacity to think of other people, not that they didn’t ever use guilt . They had other tricks up their sleeves which worked well.

 

[AnneTeak]

i love the Starbucks brand coffee. When people tell me it's expensive, I tell them I am worth it. I worked hard all my life and pricey iced coffee is not going to set me back.

 

[Rose65]

I feel irrationally guilty when I don’t finish everything in my plate. It’s always an internal tug-of-war, especially when we’re eating out, to be ok with not eating everything. At the beginning of the meal I always ask for a to-go box because the portion sizes in restaurants are always huge so I already know I’m going to be taking home half my meal. Even so, with the half that’s left, if there are a couple bites that I don’t really have room for, it’s a struggle to leave them.

I have to tell myself it’s ok to sleep in. We’re always up early, usually no later than 6.00am for me, no matter how little sleep I got I still wake at that time. Once I’m awake, I can’t go back to sleep. And if I’m awake I feel like I should be up! Languishing in bed for even a few minutes feels decadent…even though I’m going to languish on the couch for half an hour with coffee and my phone before I do anything else!

Other things too, convincing myself it’s ok, giving myself permission to do or not do.

What about you?

I do leave food if I am full.
However, I feel guilty staying in bed and always feel I must up and get on. I feel guilty reading, thinking I ought to do useful chores.

 

[Rose65]

I really struggle with spending money on myself.

Yes I am tight. I am a real Scrooge.

 

[Hopeful1]

As senior citizens, I think we should be able to do whatever we want, whenever we want, as long as we don’t hurt ourselves or others
….and remembering the kindness rule: Be kind to others, be kind to yourself.

Letting go of mental self restrictions can be very freeing.

If we do this, we will be honoring our true selves.

 

[Sassycakes]

At my age now I give myself permission to do whatever I want to do.

 

[DaveA]

I do leave food if I am full.
However, I feel guilty staying in bed and always feel I must up and get on. I feel guilty reading, thinking I ought to do useful chores.

It's amazing how guilty I feel, lying in bed waiting for my wife to bring me my morning coffee. Sometimes it's accompanied by a donut which almost brings me to tears. Just imagine how ungrateful I'd sound if I refused either !

It evens out though. Back before I retired, She's never forgotten how often I'd bring her a cup on my way out the door. Helped her get up, get the kids off to school and start her day.

 

[Ruthanne]

I don't have to give myself permission for anything but I think things through very thoroughly most of the time. I mean I am an adult and won't treat myself like a child nor would I want anyone else to treat me like a child.