Stop Shrinking: You Don’t Need Permission to Be HER

Somewhere along the way…you started shrinking.

Not in a way that was obvious…but in small, subtle ways.

You held back your voice.You softened your opinions.You dimmed your presence.

Not because you didn’t have anything to say…

but because you became aware of how you were being received.

Maybe you were:

• misunderstood

• dismissed

• made to feel “too much”

• or taught to be more agreeable than authentic

And slowly…

You adjusted.

You became easier to handle. Easier to accept.Easier to overlook.

But let me say this gently…

You were never meant to become smaller to be accepted.

Shrinking doesn’t just affect how others see you.

It affects how you show up for yourself.

It shows up in:

• Hesitation

• Overthinking

• Second-guessing your voice

• Waiting for validation before you move

And over time…

you start living a version of your life that feels quieter than who you really are.

In 2 Timothy 1:7, we’re reminded:

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.”

That means: You were not created to shrink. You were created to stand, speak, and show up fully.

Becoming HER again…

is not about becoming louder or forceful.

It’s about becoming aligned.

It’s about:

• honoring your voice

• trusting your instincts

• moving without waiting for approval

You don’t need permission to:

• speak clearly

• take up space

• set boundaries

• pursue what’s in your heart

You don’t need permission…

to be who God already created you to be.

And yes…

it may feel uncomfortable at first.

Because you’re stepping out of patterns that once felt safe.

But growth often feels unfamiliar before it feels natural.

So instead of asking:

“Is this okay?”Will they accept this?”

Start asking:

“Is this true to who I am becoming?”

You don’t have to shrink anymore.

You don’t have to wait.

You don’t have to explain your worth.

You are allowed to show up fully, clearly, and confidently.

Reflection / Journal Questions

• In what areas of my life have I been shrinking or holding back?

• What am I afraid might happen if I fully show up as myself?

• What would it look like to move forward without waiting for permission?

  
  

Prayer

Father…

Thank You for the woman You created me to be.

Forgive me for the times I’ve made myself smaller to fit into spaces that weren’t aligned with who I am.

Help me to release the fear of being misunderstood or rejected.

Give me the courage to show up fully—with clarity, confidence, and peace.

Remind me that I don’t need permission to walk in what You’ve already placed within me.

In Jesus’ name… amen.

Affirmations

I no longer shrink to be accepted.I honor my voice and my presence. I move with confidence and clarity. I do not need permission to be who I am. I am becoming HER—bold, aligned, and free.

Stay Connected

If this spoke to you and you’re on your Becoming HER Again journey…

Subscribe on YouTube: @lashaymjohnson Follow on Instagram: @lashaymjohnson Visit: lashayjohnson.com

Let’s continue healing, growing, and becoming—together.