Giving Yourself Permission

An empowering talk that will help you move forward on your dreams and desires. Lou shares the story of an Inspiring Netflix movie to show you how you can let go of imposter syndrome, be more self-confident, and give yourself the permission to go for what you want.

Transcript

I recently watched The Dig on Netflix,

The story about an archaeological discovery in England during World War II.

The protagonist and excavator,

Mr.

Brown,

Is hired by Mrs.

Pretty on a hunch that there's something special on her land.

Mr.

Brown calls himself an excavator because he doesn't have a degree in archaeology.

He dropped out of school when he was 12 and,

Through apprenticeship with his father,

Learned everything about soil and the art of excavating.

He has great love and care for his work and his energy is infectious.

After some missteps,

Mr.

Brown breaks ground on what looks to be a 900-year-old Anglo-Saxon ship.

It's the discovery of a lifetime and in the career of Mr.

Brown,

Akin to Einstein discovering E equals MC square.

Of course,

In all good stories and lives,

A problem occurs that tests Mr.

Brown's resolve.

After his finding gets around,

The official archaeologists of England come and forcibly take over the project.

They discredit Mr.

Brown because he has no archaeology degree.

Mr.

Brown is then offered a subservient position on the crew but is too angry and disheartened to accept.

He instead leaves the job altogether.

In a calmer mind,

Mr.

Brown realizes that even though he's no longer in control,

He didn't get into his work for status.

He digs because he loves it and because it's important for future generations to know where they came from.

So he swallows his pride and returns.

He proves to be invaluable,

Bringing a unique insight and intuition others didn't possess.

What can we learn from this story?

Passion matters more than degree.

When I say passion,

I mean the heart,

Energy and intention you do things with.

In essence,

It's your caring.

We connect more with someone who cares than someone who knows.

Mr.

Brown knew as much as the snob from the British Museum,

But his love and caring are what set him apart.

The system and business of schooling trained us to think that we can't make an impact without a degree.

This conditioned us to always look for permission from some higher entity.

This causes many to hesitate and outsource their worth rather than cultivating it from within.

Another thing we,

Or at least I,

Learned from school is that we're there to get through it.

Even if we're not passionate about what we're studying,

We memorize so we can ace the test to get the degree to get the job.

Yet true learning comes from interest.

We live in an age where information is abundant.

We can watch YouTube videos,

Take master classes and follow our real interests.

More people are pursuing their curiosities and making an impact than ever before,

Without an expensive permission slip.

Don't let a degree or certification stop you from pursuing what you love.

Yes,

Imposter syndrome will be there,

But trust me,

It will still be there when you have the degree.

I'm not saying don't get certified.

If you want to be a doctor,

Go to med school.

If you're going to teach in any respectable yoga studio,

Get an RYT.

If you're in a field that requires a certain level of prerequisites,

Do them.

Learn what you need to learn.

But don't confuse your credential with how you do things.

Don't hide behind the next training because you think you don't have something valuable to share now.

Experience is the best teacher.

A piece of paper won't ever make you feel worthy.

Only you can do that.

Like Mr.

Brown,

Once we give ourselves permission to show up with a full-hearted intention,

We can get on to doing the real work,

Serving others and making an impact.

I hope this helps you stop waiting and get out there.

We need you.

Sending you so much love and support on your journey.

As always,

Please let me know what you thought of this little talk and if you'd like to see more little talks here.

Appreciate you and Namaste.

Reviews

As someone who has earned their PhD, I can assure you that even the highest degree in one’s field is not a one-way ticket to freedom from the imposter shadow. There is ALWAYS a higher mountain to climb (publish this, win that award, get the grant). There is no final boss. Stay curious, but know this: You. Are. Enough.

This helped me gain some perspective when I was letting the impostor syndrome win. Thanks!

I loved that movie too; his passion was infectious! Thank you 💜

I I just found your work on insight timer and thank you for being here. Your talks are so inspirational and so resonate. You are truly a gift. In gratitude

Dear Lou,
Thank you for your kind and wise words .
🙏☮️🪬💐😊

Thank you so much, just what I needed to hear to recalibrate as I'm currently going through some training at work and experiencing significant imposter syndrome!

AMAZING! I’m certainly this message was meant for me from The Creator, in, through and as you. Thank you Lou🙏🏾

You’re message about the “expensive permission slip” is priceless. Pursuing a degree or a certification needs to come from a place of passion rather than obligation. I so appreciate your insights.

Thanks for this little talk. I loved this movie and enjoy your perspective of the message it offers.

Thank You, a short discussion with great impact! Absolutely needed and grateful for the message ❤️

Very impactful. Would love to see more! Very relateable too, I enjoyed watching The Dig.

Well said Lou! In school I remember tech schools being heavily discouraged and we were taught if you don’t go and get a 4 year degree you were worthless. Nothing i learned did I ever need in my job. That’s what I am in, a job, not a career. The careers are seldom found in the companies I’ve worked for, only for a select few because they are not based upon passion ability, but only politics, favoritism and backstabbing.

I agree you can get ahead with passion and interest and learning. In the western world workwise that will only take one so far. If one has education one can still have passion and more likely to get the job and advance within the system more easily. Sadly the world recognises qualifications over interest and passion. Therefore I think we need both. I have both and am grateful for both.
Regards Claire.

Thanks, Lou, for this encouraging talk. Great persective to start the day with.

Awesome, thank you. And, I really loved that movie.

Thank you so much! I was listening, and this was a nice talk, and then I realized that this message was exactly what I needed to hear right in this moment! I appreciate you, thank you 🤗.

Very wise, credential's to some folks, is a license or piece of paper that makes them think they are better. Knowledge to me is always key. Namaste 🙏

Listened to this while on my way to work. Loved it! Thank you. 🙏🏼

Digging these "Little Talks," my friend. Thanks for the permission slip.

Great talk!! This, for some reason, was not what I was expecting when I played this track. However, this is a wonderful message! I have a Master’s degree from Harvard Divinity School, and I still have imposter syndrome because no degree is ever enough. I would love to hear more talks like this one!! 😊🙏🌈