For so long, you may have learned to shrink. To keep quiet, to not cause waves, to make yourself “easier” for others to handle. But healing asks something different of you. It invites you to unlearn that silence. To believe this life-changing truth: you are not too much. 

You are allowed to take up space—in rooms, in relationships, in conversations, in the world. 

Why This Matters 

Abuse often sends the message that your needs are inconvenient. That your feelings are too intense. That you should stay small to keep others comfortable. 

So, you learned to: 

• Apologise before speaking. 
• Downplay your dreams. 
• Soften your opinions. 
• Disappear in order to belong.

But those survival strategies were never a reflection of your worth. You don’t need to shrink to stay safe anymore. 

You are allowed to exist—fully, freely, without apology. 

What Taking Up Space Looks Like 

Taking up space doesn’t mean being loud or demanding. It means being present. Letting your voice, your needs, your body, your truth… exist. It looks like: 

• Saying what you think without overexplaining. 
• Holding your posture with confidence. 
• Setting boundaries without guilt. 
• Letting your emotions rise instead of hiding them. 
• Taking deep breaths and not rushing to make others more comfortable. 

Small Brave Practice 

Choose one moment today where you will allow yourself to take up more space. Maybe it’s posting something honest. 

Maybe it’s asking for what you need. Maybe it’s simply walking a little taller and not tucking your body in. 

Whatever it is—notice how it feels to let yourself be seen. 

You are not a burden. You are a human being worthy of space, care, and presence. 

Daily Promise 

“I am allowed to be here, just as I am. I do not have to apologize for existing.” 

Tomorrow: We’ll talk about emotional flashbacks — why the past can feel so close, and how to ground yourself when it does.