Episode 36 "Who Told You That You Needed Permission?"

Episode Summary – “Who Told You That You Needed Permission?”In this episode of Still Becoming, I explore a question that has been quietly shaping so many of our lives: Who told us we needed permission to believe in ourselves? Somewhere along the way, many of us learned that confidence wasn’t something we could simply have. Instead, we began believing it had to be earned through accomplishments, perfection, or the approval of others. We wait until we’ve proven enough before allowing ourselves to dream bigger, speak confidently, or believe we’re capable of something extraordinary.I share how this has shown up in my own marathon journey. As I continue training toward ambitious goals, there are moments when I genuinely believe I can achieve something I’ve never done before. But almost immediately, another voice appears telling me not to get ahead of myself, not to be arrogant, and not to believe that someone like me deserves a dream that big. I’ve realized those thoughts aren’t based on my physical ability—they’re based on a story I’ve carried for years.One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that confidence and arrogance are not the same thing. Arrogance says you’re better than everyone else. Confidence simply says you believe you’re capable of becoming the person you’re working so hard to be. Too often, we shrink ourselves because we’re afraid of how others might perceive our ambition. We apologize for our dreams before we’ve even given ourselves a chance to pursue them.The truth is that many of us aren’t actually waiting for permission from other people anymore—we’re waiting for permission from ourselves. We tell ourselves we’ll finally believe once we lose weight, gain experience, run faster, make more money, or reach some imaginary milestone. But every time we reach one goal, our minds simply move the finish line again. The confidence we were hoping would arrive never does because certainty was never the missing piece.Running has reminded me that confidence cannot depend on the last workout, the last race, or someone else’s opinion. Some days I feel unstoppable, and other days doubt tries to convince me I don’t belong. The circumstances haven’t changed—only the story I’m telling myself has. Real confidence isn’t something we feel every day. It’s a decision we continue making, even when fear is loud.I close the episode by inviting listeners to ask themselves one simple question: Who are you waiting on? Maybe the permission you’ve been searching for has been in your hands all along. You don’t need to wait until you’re fearless or perfect before believing in yourself. Believe before you’re certain. Keep showing up before you have all the answers. You’re still becoming, and that’s exactly why you deserve to keep moving forward.