I’ve never been very graceful about advocating for myself. It’s usually because I waited WAY too long to actually say something out loud to the appropriate person. As a consummate over-server I had this internal messaging that if only I was the best and took care of everything for everyone else, others would/should automatically notice what I’m doing, understand how I’m feeling, or what I need. When they didn’t seem to, I would run through the conversation about my boundaries

Sharing today about one of the most difficult versions of Permission I personally encounter. I have to constantly work on giving myself permission to be happy. Really happy, relaxed, without worry or hyper-vigilence for spotting incoming problems. It makes me sad when I catch myself, but I'm so glad I have the tools to handle these emotions when they arrive. Have you ever had a hard time letting yourself be happy? Like when the best things have happened and you have so much

Image copyright of TriStar Pictures Inc from Jerry Maguire. My Jerry Maguire moment came unexpectedly, I guess they often do. I’ve spent decades of my life immersed in one of the most male dominated industries in the world. And for a long time I found a way to thrive. I was a pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps kind of kid. I was the first girl in my family to graduate from University. I made an incredibly successful international career for myself that no one knew existed

Summer greetings to you all from the wild west coast of Scotland. I’ve based myself here recently to keep working on giving myself permission and taking my work out to the world. It’s a blustery day today and the perfect opportunity to write to you about something that’s always on my mind. One of the big obstacles I face in doing my work is giving myself permission to use my voice. As women we have spent a great deal of our lives watching how unsafe it has been for a woman t