Life doesn’t come with instructions—or a pause button. Some seasons feel heavy, others exhausting, and sometimes, it feels like the world expects more from us than we can give. In these moments, giving yourself grace is a radical act. One of the gentlest, most transformative ways to do that? Poetry.
Think of poetry as a permission slip you write to yourself. It allows you to pause, to feel without judgment, to say:
It’s okay to be tired. It’s okay to feel messy. It’s okay to not have the answers.
Poetry doesn’t demand perfection or productivity. It simply asks you to show up—honestly, vulnerably, and kindly.
Step 1: Give Yourself Permission to Feel
Take a deep breath and ask yourself: What am I feeling right now?
Grab a notebook or open a blank document. Write for five minutes, without thinking about grammar, rhyme, or structure. Let your pen be your witness.
You might start with prompts like:
- “Right now, my heart feels…”
- “The hardest part about this season is…”
- “If I could tell myself one thing, it would be…”
Don’t censor. Don’t judge. Just let the words flow. This is your first permission slip—to simply feel.
Step 2: Name Your Season
Life has seasons, and each one deserves acknowledgment. What season are you in? Transition? Grief? Overwhelm? Exhaustion? Write a short poem that names it, even in just a line or two.
For example:
This week is heavy,
my arms are tired,
and that’s enough.
By naming your season, you give your emotions a space to exist. You’re not trying to fix them—you’re honoring them.
Step 3: Use Poetry to Release
Poetry is not about solving your problems; it’s about giving your feelings space. As you write, imagine each word carrying a weight off your shoulders. Even short lines or single words can act as release:
- Breath.
- Soft rain.
- I am allowed to rest.
Notice how the act of writing can calm your mind, even slightly, just by acknowledging your experience.
Step 4: Revisit Your Words
One of the most powerful acts is returning to your own poems. In moments of doubt, exhaustion, or clarity, reading a poem you wrote in a difficult season can remind you:
- You felt.
- You expressed.
- You were kind to yourself.
These poems become tangible permission slips, granting you grace over and over again.
Mini Exercise: Your Daily Permission Slip
Each day this week, write a one- or two-line poem to yourself. Let it be simple, honest, and gentle. Examples:
- “Today I allow myself to rest.”
- “I am enough, even in my struggle.”
- “It’s okay to feel exactly what I feel.”
Keep these lines in a notebook or somewhere visible. They’re reminders that grace is always available—if you give it to yourself.
Closing Thought
Poetry is a conversation with your own heart. In difficult life seasons, it becomes a lifeline—a way to speak kindly to yourself when life feels loud or overwhelming. So today, hand yourself a permission slip. Write it in your own words, with your own heart, and let it remind you:
It’s okay. You are allowed grace.
with heart and pen 