What I Would Tell the Woman I Was Five Years Ago

What I Would Tell the Woman I Was Five Years Ago

Five years ago, I was a different woman.

She was tired.

She was overwhelmed.

She was stuck between what she had to do and what she wanted to do.

She had big dreams but kept putting them on hold. She told herself she would start "one day," but one day never seemed to come.

She doubted herself more than she believed in herself.

She thought she wasn’t ready.

She thought success was for other people—the ones who had more experience, more confidence, more time, more support.

She didn’t know that everything she was looking for was already inside her.

If I could sit down with that woman today, I would take her hands in mine, look her in the eyes, and tell her what she so desperately needed to hear.

1. You Are Not Stuck—You’re Just Scared

I know you feel like you’re trapped in this cycle—working hard, doing everything you’re “supposed” to do, yet feeling like you’re standing still.

But you’re not stuck.

You’re just scared.

And that fear? It’s normal. It’s expected. It’s part of the process.

Fear doesn’t mean stop. It doesn’t mean turn back. It just means you’re on the edge of something new, something uncertain.

The only way out is through.

Take one step. And then another. And then another.

You’ll be amazed at where you end up.

2. Stop Waiting for Permission

No one is coming to tap you on the shoulder and say, "Now you're ready."

No one is going to hand you an official certificate of permission to start.

You keep waiting for someone to validate you. To tell you you’re good enough. To tell you you have what it takes.

But here’s the truth—you already do.

You don’t need a degree in success. You don’t need someone else’s approval. You don’t need to check every box before you begin.

The only permission you need is your own.

So take it.

3. You Are Allowed to Dream Bigger

You’ve been shrinking yourself. Playing small. Making yourself fit into a box that was never meant for you.

Stop.

You are allowed to want more.

More freedom. More joy. More income. More impact.

You are allowed to build a life that excites you instead of one that just exhausts you.

You are allowed to change directions, to take risks, to create something entirely new.

You don’t have to settle for what’s “safe” just because it’s familiar.

Dream bigger.

And then chase that dream.

4. The Work Will Be Hard—But It Will Be Worth It

There will be long nights. There will be early mornings. There will be moments when you feel like quitting.

But you won’t.

Because deep down, you know that where you are isn’t where you’re meant to stay.

You’re going to build something that matters. You’re going to prove to yourself that you can.

And when you look back—when you see how far you’ve come—you will be so, so grateful that you kept going.

5. The Woman You Want to Be Is Already Inside You

You don’t have to become her.

You already are her.

She’s not out there, waiting in the future, waiting for you to catch up.

She’s inside you right now—waiting for you to believe in her.

She is strong.

She is capable.

She is worthy.

And she’s ready.

So take the first step.

Not tomorrow. Not next week. Not “one day.”

Today.

Because five years from now, you’ll look back and thank yourself for starting.

Final Thoughts

If you’re anything like I was, you’re waiting for a sign. A nudge. A reason to take the leap.

Let this be it.

You are ready.

You always have been.

Now go.

Your future is waiting.