To be honest, I’m a very impatient women. As soon as I get an idea, I want to bring it to life. I love that I don´t have to ask anyone for permission, I can do exactly what I want when I want. I´m my own boss.

But I wasn’t always like that. I was raised to be a people pleaser, to be the good girl. In school, I was afraid to speak up or even raise my hand. When I later was accepted into to art school, I was afraid to show my work. I was afraid I wasn´t good enough. And throughout my childhood, I was working really hard for applause and approval – yet it never came, and it limited me big time.

I knew deep in my soul something was wrong with my life. I wasn´t meant to be a quiet girl. I was meant for bigger things. I felt a wild lion inside of me just waiting to break out, but I kept it locked up. I was afraid of the lion, not realizing it was my passion – my fire, my soul´s driving force.

I used so much energy locking my inner lion up that I became depressed. I wasn´t turning into the person I wanted to be. I was constantly directing and designing my life after other peoples agenda and expectations, striving to be the good girl – the people pleaser.

But one day I just had enough. I decided to let the lion out and from that day on my life completely changed. I gave myself permission to be me, allowing myself to speak up, be wildly creative and go after my big dreams.

You see, we humans tend to wait for permission, and for those perfect circumstances to fall into place. Before we know it, life has already passed us by. We wait for approval from people who think they have our best interest at heart—we’re crushed when it never comes. We miss the amazing life that could be ours while we wait for someone to show us the “go” sign.

We think we need permission to live the way we want to live. We believe that all the stars have to align before we can change things. We think that we have to be at a certain point, or that the circumstances have to be just right.

It’s time to stop waiting!

Give yourself permission to live a big life. You are meant to thrive and expand, not stay small and scared because of limiting beliefs. You are meant to dive fully into what this incredible journey has to offer you. You have so many gifts that you can use to create fulfillment and love.

The resources you have within you (your passions, talents, desires) are meant to come forth.

Your purpose is to share these resources with the world rather than play it safe and stay within your comfort zone. You are meant for great things, but first, you must give yourself permission to SHINE and live your full potential.

Give yourself permission, and you will see who you truly are. A magnificent being that is always worthy of love no matter how often you fall. Your amazing spirit is here for a limited time, and you owe it to yourself and the world to live a big life.

Go ahead, start today. Make a promise to yourself to move past your limiting thoughts, shed all worries and step fully into the world with greatness and courage.

You’ll never live up to the standards of what “everyone” wants you to be, so why fight a battle you can never win. Instead focus on being MORE of who you’re meant to be and focus less on what THEY think you should be. You might not see your own beauty but if you continue to conceal and hide who you are, the people that’s right for you won’t be able see it either.

Regardless of how you view yourself, regardless of your past experiences, regardless of your personal story—you can start over today!

The past has gone, and the past does not define how your future looks. You are not your past, and every second, every day, you can make a new decision about who you want to be and how you want to show up in your life.

Go shine and show the world your light.

Unleash your inner LION and become unapologetically YOU!