06/17/2026
For a long time, I thought shrinking myself was what was expected and what would be rewarded. I was taught being “too much” would earn you eye rolls and put you in a spotlight you didn’t want to be in. So I stayed quiet in rooms where I had something valuable to say because it seemed “easier” to deal with.
I downplayed my experience for years, assuming what came naturally to me was probably just bare minimum. I softened my opinions, especially working in hospitality where “the customer is always right” gets deeply ingrained into you. And I apologized for things I hadn’t even done wrong because I thought I was inconveniencing people simply by being myself and trying to help.
But recently, I have come to realize that shrinking yourself doesn’t actually make other people more comfortable long term. If anything, it actually teaches you to disconnect from yourself 💔
The wild part is, the more I started showing up honestly - speaking clearly, taking up space, sharing ideas, setting boundaries, trusting my voice - the more the right people actually leaned in closer. Turns out authenticity feels a whole lot safer than performance eventually.
So if you’ve been making yourself smaller to keep everyone else comfortable… this might be your reminder to stop and learn to take up more space 🥰