The Courage to be Seen

Why Feeling Scared to Put Yourself Out There Is More Common Than You Think

Claiming your place at life’s table isn’t about waiting for an invitation or asking permission. It’s about knowing your worth and making a reservation, stepping up with confidence and fully owning the opportunities and challenges that come your way.

Did you know about 7% of people in the UK experience social anxiety each year? And nearly 3 out of 4 feel nervous speaking in public. These fears can make sharing your ideas, applying for jobs, or speaking up in groups really hard. But the good news? You’re not alone and you can overcome this.

At some point, that quiet whisper inside you grows louder and louder until it becomes impossible to ignore:, the urge to stop hiding and start showing up.

It doesn’t matter how long you’ve stayed small, how many masks you’ve worn, or how perfect life looks on the outside, underneath, you might be stuck in a cycle of perfectionism, avoidance, and hesitation, frozen in time. Eventually, your soul gets tired of hiding, being pushed down, and that whisper becomes an urgent call, "I need to put myself out there to grow".

For many, the fear of being seen runs deep. It shows up as self-doubt, hesitation, or watering down your true self. You might look confident on the surface, but inside you wonder:

• What if no one understands me?

• What if I’m boring or have nothing to offer?

• What if they laugh or judge me?

• And deeper still: What if I’m too much… or the crippling, not good enough?

  
  

Your body remembers when visibility didn’t feel safe. Think back to when you were a child, open, free, and authentic before the world began to shape you. Maybe something happened? Maybe it was subtle? Maybe it was a hormonal shift, a harsh comment, a stern voice, or a moment where you felt out of place, or a defining moment when something bad happened, traumatic or bullying. You interpreted it through the lens of your younger self, and it shaped how you saw yourself and others. That single moment may have created a lasting imprint.

Now, your nervous system kicks in to protect you. So when you try to speak up or show up, it can freeze. But this isn’t failure, it's a signal. A sign to slow down, breathe, and find safety in being seen.

Showing up isn’t about being louder or perfect, because there’s no universal truth in perfection. You can’t live up to everyone else’s idea of it. It’s about being clear, authentic, and anchored in your own truth. That’s when your message truly lands.

Being visible means remembering who you are without filters, your wonderfully unique self, speaking your truth and allowing yourself to be emotionally present. Your presence is not just what you show, it is your very essence, your authentic self, and that’s more than enough.

Of course, at first, this will feel scary. You might want to shrink back, and that’s normal. You’re breaking free from years, maybe decades, of conditioning to stay small. But you can remind yourself:

• I don’t need to hide anymore

• My voice matters

• I am safe to be seen and heard

• I am unique and good enough

  
  

This is confidence without performance, visibility without perfectionism, expression without apology. As old beliefs rise, “I’m not ready,” “Who am I to speak?”, you learn to question them instead of being ruled by them. You get curious, breathe, stay present, and show up anyway.

Slowly, you build emotional safety in visibility. That’s when everything changes.

You share your message not because it’s perfect, but because it might be somebody’s “a-ha” moment, their deeper level of understanding, or the suprise of new information to ponder. There’s no such thing as perfectionism, only authenticism, and you're showing up for connection, not validation.

When you stop hiding, you start healing, not just for you, but for everyone who needs to see someone like you break the pattern.

So… where to next?

If you’re standing at the edge of your life, wondering if you’ll fly or fall, questioning whether it’s finally time to be visible in your own way, this is it. It’s your time to make that reservation.

Take a seat, your table awaits.

Click below for a free worksheet to start you on your journey of stepping up and stepping out of your own shadow

Yes Please

And feel free to check out my YouTube series for more insights, tips, and tools on courage and other topics.

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