Allow is my inspiring word of the week.
Allow describes an intention that I’m getting more comfortable with and that I’m encouraging more and more clients to embrace, but it’s not as easy to practice as it is to pronounce. Lots of us are just not wired to allow naturally. We’re doers: caffeinated, impulsive, and regularly irritated with people or things that don’t go our way quickly enough.
Allowing people to behave as they will or things to unfold as they will can be real tests. We can get into a pattern of forcing our will to make things happen, get a response or meet what we’ve convinced ourselves is an unyielding deadline, and when we start taking even small steps to allow for time and space, we can feel weak, disengaged or lose interest in the process altogether. That’s how I first felt when I began to let go more and allow.
Those of us over 40 can remember when technology hadn’t set our expectations for a fast outcome. Texting, IM-ing, tweeting and commenting after online posts prompt us to expect a quick comeback, and we fail to allow for just some common courtesy or discretion before we “Send.” I don’t even pretend to have all of the answers, but I do read some bold statements sometimes and long for more kindness and critical thinking.
Those are some of the things we surrender when we don’t allow for a deep breath or a good night’s sleep: kindness and grace, critical thinking and reflection.
Allow and our lives become much softer and sweeter.
