Breaking free from playing small
The other day, my 5-year-old daughter wanted a little decorative bird that belonged to her grandmother and asked me to help her get it.
“Mom, you ask,” she said.
I could feel her hesitation, and honestly? I got it. That little voice in your head: What if it’s rude? What if they think I’m being too much?
I was thinking - am I unconsciously teaching my daughter to «behave»?
But then I watched her walk up to her grandmother, and ask:
“Can I take this home with me?”
Grandma paused for a moment.
And then she said, “Yes, you can.”
The sheer joy on my daughter’s face was magic. She was jumping up and down, thrilled. And I stood there, stunned by how simple it was for her.
It hit me that I’ve spent years trying to protect others from the discomfort of saying no. I thought it was my responsibility to set boundaries for others.
But it’s not. It never was.
You can ask - with kindness and good intentions - and trust them to decide for themselves.
So we are going to ask for the opportunity. Ask for help. Ask for what we need. We might get a no, or we might get a yes that changes everything.
We were taught to play small, but now we're on a journey to embrace our true potential.
And we know: If we don’t ask, the answer is always no.
Karina Hvidsten | Founder @Gemz
