I used to go above and beyond for people and water myself down to make everyone feel seen or appreciated. However, this often led to disrespect and, at times, entitlement because people thought I couldn’t stand up for myself. Now, that’s not sustainable, is it?

I now enter every room without the urge to diminish myself. I no longer doubt whether I belong there or worry about taking up too much space. I’ve learned that confidence isn’t about demanding attention—it’s about believing that my presence has worth.

Taking up space means being your authentic self, speaking when you have something to say, and refusing to let fear or self-doubt make you invisible. The right opportunities, relationships, and communities don’t ask you to shrink — they encourage you to be fully yourself. So I take up space now, without apologies or worries. I still have my ride-or-die friends—those who see the real me and return the same loyalty, just within a smaller circle, and I wouldn’t want it any other way from now on.