7 Ways to Practice Taking Up Space

You deserve it, seriously!

What does it mean to "take up space"? It means empowering yourself to claim your spot in the world which you rightfully deserve. We often shrink ourselves in response to the belief that we don't deserve to be seen or heard. We manipulate our bodies, disconnect from our emotions and deprive ourselves of the whole human experience out of fear of being "too much". We censor ourselves, over apologize and go out of our way to make sure others are more comfortable, at the expense of ourselves.

Taking the space can be daunting at first and there will likely be many bumps along the way, but do it anyway. When you practice claiming space, you are telling others that you matter. You're telling the world that you matter. You are creating healthy boundaries for yourself and showing people how you expect--and deserve--to be treated.

7 Ways to Take Up More Space

If this entire idea of challenging yourself to take up more space feels scary, that's okay. If you don't know where to start, that's okay too. Here are 7 ways to try it out and practice taking a little more space, physically and emotionally, within your daily life:

1. Notice when you apologize for your emotions and work to stop doing that. Replace the word "sorry" with "thank you". Instead of apologizing for being having an emotional experience, express gratitude. Try saying "thank you for sitting with me in this".

2. Tell someone about something you've accomplished. Allow yourself to be excited and proud. Don't downplay any part.

3. Wear clothing you like and clothing that you actually want to, rather than what's "flattering". Experiment with colors, patterns and style. Own the attention it gets you (and say "Thank you," see #6 below).

4. Share your art, music, or writing. Do an open mic night, poetry slam or just share that Instagram post. Allow your talent to be seen and heard!

5. Notice when you're holding your body in or covering up. Ask yourself "do I really need to hide right now? And if so, why?". Curiosity within our self/body relationship is a great way to start a dialogue and connect to deeper body based beliefs.

6. When someone compliments you, respond with "Thank you". Don't dismiss or deny.

7. Practice saying "no" and leave the single word as a whole sentence.

Remember, taking up space doesn't happen overnight. It takes baby steps. There is no shame in practicing the small ways you can assert yourself. Remind yourself that you belong here. Your existence and presence is not by accident.

What are some ways you can start to take up more space?