by Beth Inglish
There’s a shift happening in me right now that feels both grounding and expansive at the same time. It feels steady and almost unfamiliar in the best way.
I’m learning what it means to take up space.
Not in a loud, performative way. Not in a way that tries to prove something. But in a deeply rooted, honest way. A way that says: I am here. I have needs. I have a voice. And I matter.
For a long time, I lived in a quiet pattern of making myself smaller so that I wouldn’t be in the way. I learned how to make things easy around me. Easy to accommodate. Easy to carry. I got very good at sensing what others needed and adjusting myself so that everything felt smooth.
I thought that was kindness. I thought that was maturity. I thought that was love.
But over time, I started to notice the cost. Every time I minimized my needs, I left a little piece of myself behind. Every time I stayed quiet instead of speaking up, I disconnected from something true. Every time I chose comfort over honesty, I made myself smaller in my own life.
And I didn’t even realize I was doing it.
Lately, something has changed.
I’ve been practicing something new. Something that feels bold and freeing and a little uncomfortable all at once. I’m choosing to center myself. I’m choosing to advocate for my needs. I’m choosing to stop negotiating with the parts of me that deserve to be heard.
And it feels like growth in its truest form.
There’s a moment in healing where you stop asking, “How do I keep the peace?” and you start asking, “What do I actually need?” That question alone can change everything.
Because the truth is, taking up space isn’t about being demanding. It’s about being honest. It’s about believing that what matters to you is worthy of attention. It’s about trusting that your voice belongs in the room.
Especially for women, we’re often taught to be agreeable. To be accommodating. To not be too much. To not be too loud. To not take up more space than we’re given.
But what if growth actually requires the opposite?
What if becoming who you are meant to be asks you to get bigger? To speak more clearly? To ask for what you need without apologizing? To trust that your presence isn’t a problem to solve, but a gift to offer?
I’ve started to feel something surprising as I practice this. Relief.
Relief in not shrinking.
Relief in not over-explaining.
Relief in not carrying what isn’t mine.
And maybe the boldest thought of all: I’m allowed to be a burden.
Not in a harmful way. Not in a way that takes from others. But in a human way. A real way. A way that acknowledges that we all have needs, and being in relationship means making space for each other.
I want to be someone who is real and who trusts herself enough to take up space in her own life.
Because when we don’t, we end up living just outside of our fullness. We stay just small enough to keep everything comfortable. And in doing so, we quietly hold ourselves back from the life we could be growing into.
Lately, I’ve been visualizing growth differently.
Not as a straight line. Not as a checklist. But as expansion.
Becoming more of who I am.
Taking up more space in the rooms I enter.
Letting my voice land.
Trusting my needs.
And believing that I don’t have to shrink to be loved.
If we could truly understand this in our personal lives and in our work, imagine how much energy we would get back. Imagine how much time we would reclaim. Imagine how much more present we could be for the things that actually matter to us.
Taking up space isn’t about ego. It’s about alignment. It’s about growing into the fullest version of yourself and allowing that version to be seen.
And maybe that’s what real growth looks like. Not becoming someone new. But allowing yourself to become more.
30-Second Exercise with Beth
Before you move on, take 30 seconds for yourself.
Sit a little taller. Take one slow breath in and let your chest expand. Feel your feet on the ground.
Gently ask yourself:
Where in my life am I making myself smaller right now?
Don’t judge the answer. Just notice what comes up.
Now close your eyes for a moment and imagine yourself six months from now, fully taking up space in that part of your life. Speaking clearly. Trusting yourself. Not shrinking to stay comfortable.
What does that version of you look like?
What feels different?
You don’t have to change anything today. Just let yourself see what’s possible.
Sometimes growth begins the moment we allow ourselves to imagine becoming more.
About The Author
Beth Inglish is an artist, leader, and transformational speaker who creates spaces where people feel seen, supported, and invited to grow. Through her abstract paintings and keynote experiences, she helps people reconnect to themselves, regulate their nervous systems, and move forward with clarity and confidence. Her work blends creativity, emotional intelligence, and storytelling to create meaningful moments of reflection and change. Whether on stage or in the studio, Beth focuses on helping people feel grounded, aware, and empowered in their lives. Visit her online gallery to explore her work and learn more about the stories behind each piece.
