I place two fresh-baked muffins on the bench, and wait for the smell to waft through the house. Before long two hopeful pairs of eyes greet me, with “Mum, may we please have a muffin?”
The gift of writing to me often feels like that fresh-baked muffin sitting on the bench and I am the hopeful little girl, looking at it.
I just want to ask someone, “May I please … ?”
“May I please be a writer? May I please use my words to encourage others? May I please … ?”
And yet I can’t see who exactly I need to ask for permission.
So I create people.
I ask my husband … “do you think I could be a writer?”
I ask people who have written and published books.
I give authority to give permission to those I feel know more than me. I give it to those that teach writing, or to those who have been writing for longer.
I even put people I don’t know in place as the permission givers. I hand over my permission to be a writer to a myriad of different people.
I can see it and I can smell it, but I don’t feel that I can take the muffin off the bench without permission. So I stare at it hopefully asking whoever comes along, “May I please … ?”
Elizabeth Gilbert contrasts this idea of permission with one of entitlement.
… you will never be able to create anything interesting out of your life if you don’t believe that you’re entitled to at least try.
While I understand Gilbert’s point that we need to stop waiting for permission, and looking for permission from others. I really struggle with this idea of being entitled.
I am not the kind of person that naturally feels entitled. So for me to stand up and say “I am entitled to create” jars with me.
However I do feel called.
I believe that my Creator has called me to write. I believe He has placed within me a gift to encourage others with my words.
As the creator of baked goods in our house, I am the one who gives permission.
So I too look to my Creator for my permission.
And with that calling on my life, I then step into the place of nurturing my creativity.
I have permission.
Join me for the journey,
Jodie
Big Magic Discussion Question:
Who do you give permission over your creativity to? Do you agree more with the idea of entitlement or calling?
PS: Links to all the posts can be found here