Ali shows us how to make a permission slip to help us take away some stress.
Life can frequently feel like it is about pleasing others and grappling with the enormous pressure to conform to society's standards around food, appearance, and expressions of love. By identifying and predicting some events and problem solving with the Permission Slip Strategy, when you find yourself in these difficult situations in real life, it will be with increased awareness and a stronger internal support mechanism. Also, sometimes sharing worries and fears with a friend or family member reveals others facing similar worries.
How to make a permission slip:
Materials: Lined paper, unlined drawing paper, pencils, markers, collage materials, glue sticks
How To:
1. Sit quietly and identify one negative or challenging expectation that you will face during the coming weeks. This can be about food, body image, pleasing a relative, gift giving, etc. It can be a scenario that you have already lived through or one you predict will arise in the upcoming weeks.
2. Write down the scenario in as much detail as possible. Make sure the scenario contains a beginning, middle and end of the event, a list of the people involved, and location or locations of the event.
3. Identify one point in the scenario where having permission to do or say something differently may have resulted in a positive change to the scenario and on a separate piece of paper, write down the new version.
4. Create a personal permission slip. This can take any form you want as long as there is a line for a signature.
5. Say what is written on your permission slip aloud. Think about how the permission slip has altered the situation. Identify similar areas where permission can be granted and sign those, too.
6. Practise either alone or with a trusted friend saying what is on the slip.
Life can feel stressful, so don't forget to take the time out to look after yourself, too.
