Permission and Support
A friend recently said that at his job he received permission to try new things. He then added, “But I also receive little support.”
I’ve been pondering those words for a couple of weeks. Too often that’s the way things work in my life. For example, as an author, let’s say I come up with what I call a good idea for a book. I used to tell my close friends and associates and they replied, “Sure, go for it.” “Sounds fine.” “Why don’t you do it?” Their “permission” pushed me forward.
It’s unfortunate, but most of those permission givers don’t continue to encourage me. It’s not their responsibility to do that, but, I remind myself, we all need a cheering section—those people who truly believe in us, want us to succeed, and nourish our efforts until we triumph.
As I continued to think about my friend’s comment, I wondered how many times I gave permission but didn’t follow up with interest and concern.
Worse, how many times have I given permission and assumed I’ve provided needed support?
My friend’s words have challenged me to offer both approval and concern as they trudge forward. A few times I’ve been sensitive enough to ask about their progress, but not often.
One more question I asked myself this week was, “What does it take to provide that support?”
The answer was simple: An occasional email, text, call, or in-person asking, “How are you doing on …?” “Is there anything I can do to help?” “If you need to talk about it, I’m available.”
Those efforts demand little from us but provide immense encouragement to those who need it.
