The Courage to Be More: Allowing Yourself to Feel Whole
Apr 27, 2025
Courage is often seen as something external—the willingness to take risks, to face challenges, to stand strong in the face of fear. But there’s another kind of courage that’s just as powerful, if not more so: the courage to allow yourself to be whole.
Recently, I attended a conference where I was challenged in a way I didn’t expect. A speaker asked me to see myself as my Source sees me—fully aligned, whole, worthy of stepping into my true self.
I felt my body tense as this truth reverberated through me like a gong. That shouldn’t have been a hard thing to embrace, right? But it was. Because deep down, a part of me still carried the fear that being fully me was dangerous.
The Fear of Being Fully Seen
As a child, the moments I felt most in alignment—when I was vibrant, expressive, and truly myself—were often the moments I was shut down. I learned that being more could make others uncomfortable. That when I spoke too boldly, laughed too loudly, or trusted my instincts too freely, I could be met with disapproval, dismissal, or even punishment.
So, I adapted. I shrank. I quieted my instincts. I learned to hold back.
And now? Now I see how often I still do it.
Not because I don’t believe in myself. Not because I don’t know I am capable. But because old patterns are strong, and sometimes, even as adults, we continue to play by the rules we learned as children—rules that once protected us but no longer serve us.
Choosing Courage Over Comfort
That conference moment cemented what I already knew: The only person holding me back now is me.
I made a decision then and there—I will allow myself to be whole.
This isn’t about pushing myself into discomfort for the sake of it. It’s about catching myself when I hold back and choosing something different.
I won’t judge myself for the times I hesitate or second-guess. Instead, I’ll notice them. I’ll smile and say, "Oh! Here’s another one.”
Because every time I recognize the pattern, I have another chance to step out of it.
And so do you.
How Fear Keeps Us Small
Fear is tricky. It doesn’t always show up as outright panic (although it can and does). More often, it’s disguised as:
- Perfectionism: "If I can’t do it perfectly, I won’t do it at all."
- Procrastination: "I’ll start when I’m really ready."
- People-Pleasing: "If I speak up, I might upset someone."
- Self-Doubt: "Who am I to think I can do this?"
These thoughts may sound different, but they all come from the same place: a fear of fully stepping into who we are.
But courage isn’t about being fearless. Courage is about feeling the fear and moving anyway.
What Courage Looks Like in Daily Life
Courage isn’t always a grand, sweeping act. Sometimes, it’s in the smallest moments—choosing to be a little more of yourself than you were the day before–writing a blog post that feels vulnerable, for example!
Here are some ways I’m practicing courage:
- Noticing when I hold back. The simple act of recognizing fear-based hesitation is powerful.
- Letting myself take up space. Speaking without over-explaining, sitting without fidgeting, laughing without toning it down.
- Trusting my instincts. Following what feels aligned instead of second-guessing myself into inaction.
- Reframing mistakes. Instead of seeing missteps as proof that I “should have known better,” I remind myself that growth is messy—and that’s okay.
- Allowing joy. Giving myself permission to enjoy life fully, rather than feeling like I need to “earn” happiness.
Your Turn: A Courage Challenge
I want to challenge you to practice this kind of courage in your own life.
- Think of a moment this week when you held back—maybe you didn’t share an idea, hesitated to ask for help, or softened your opinion to make someone else comfortable.
- Ask yourself: What was I afraid of? What would have happened if I had spoken, stepped forward, or allowed myself to be fully seen?
- Imagine handling it differently next time. How would it feel to step into your power?
Courage doesn’t mean forcing yourself into discomfort. It means allowing yourself to be who you already are.
The Path Forward
Choosing courage is a practice. It won’t happen overnight. But each time you choose to let go of fear, even just a little, you create space for something new: ease, confidence, authenticity, and freedom.
If stepping into your whole self feels hard, you don’t have to do it alone. My three-week 1:1 guidance program is designed to help you break free from old limitations, trust yourself fully, and move through life with more clarity and confidence.
You don’t have to shrink anymore. You are allowed to take up space. You are allowed to be more.
