I’ll never forget a conversation I had with a female founder I was mentoring (and by the way, this is something I encounter often). 

She was strong, intelligent, and honestly, a force in her own right, but there was something holding her back.

I asked her, “Are you claiming your place, or are you quietly sitting in the corner, letting someone else take it?”

She paused. 

At first, it seemed she didn’t fully understand my question. Then, the truth hit her hard, and she started to cry.

It was so difficult for her to fully stand in her own power, to truly own her center. Over and over again, she found herself stepping away, allowing others to take the spotlight, whether it was her dominant husband, her overprotective mother, or the investors in her company.

In other words, she was constantly letting others run her life, while she thought she was the one in the lead. The choice wasn’t hers anymore. Her life was being shaped by the voices and demands of others, and her true essence was getting buried in the process.

Rearranging the puzzle

As a coach, my job is not to give her answers but to help her reclaim her space. So, I told her to stand on her spot. I made her physically move into her place and face her fears head-on.

We did something symbolic, we rearranged her life like a puzzle. She had to take the time to look at who belonged where: her husband, her mother, her investors, and most importantly, herself. Each piece had its rightful place, and hers was at the center.

It wasn’t easy, and it wasn’t quick. We simulated many different situations. And with every situation, she became more and more aware of when and how she was stepping away.

How she very unconsciously said, here, take my place and decide, please.

But step by step, we worked until she could finally claim her place with certainty, confidence, and even joy. She was at peace, knowing where she stood and where everyone else truly belonged.

Turning the question to you

Now, I want to turn this question to you. As you are reading this blog and made it all the way here, ask yourself:

Are you standing in your spot, or are you still letting others run your life?

It’s easy to get swept up in the noise of the world around you, the demands of your family, your business, your investors, friends, or society. It’s comfortable to stay in the background and let others take charge.

But at what cost?

When we don’t claim our spot, we lose our sense of self. We lose the ability to make decisions from a place of inner strength and clarity. We start to lose our joy, pleasure, and peace.

You have a rightful place in this world.
You were not meant to shrink.
You were not meant to stay in the corner.
You were meant to stand tall, claim your power, and take up space.

The fact that you are doing what you're doing right now speaks volumes.

So, I ask you again, are you ready to claim your spot?

Take the first step

If you're feeling uncertain, I encourage you to start small. Maybe it’s a simple act of setting a boundary or speaking your truth in a meeting or within your family. Maybe it’s about recognizing your worth more and not only owning but celebrating your accomplishments.

You don’t need to change everything overnight, but you do need to start. Claim your place. And when you do, I promise you’ll feel a shift. You’ll feel the peace that comes with standing in your own power.

Your life is yours to lead, step into it.