If you’ve spent a lifetime being dependable, thoughtful, and self-sacrificing, it can feel foreign — even selfish — to believe that you deserve something more.

But here’s the truth: your dreams aren’t accidental. That longing inside you? It’s not a fantasy. It’s a signal from your soul, the core of who you really are.

To bring your dream to life, you must first expand your capacity to receive it. Not through hustle or proving, but through believing — believing that who you are is enough.

If you’re alive, you’re already worthy. That’s the whole truth.

Many understated yet impactful people — the ones everyone else leans on — struggle to believe this. They’ve been praised for being selfless, not for dreaming boldly. And so they downplay their desires and shrink their sense of deserving.

But the dream that tugs at your heart? It’s meant for you. Not because you’ve earned it, but because it’s an expression of who you really are.

Here are three powerful shifts to help you open up to that truth:

1. Notice the good — in your life and in yourself.

We are meaning-makers. What we call “bad” is often just something misunderstood. When life feels off-course, pause. Ask: Where’s the lesson? Where’s the growth? Then turn that same compassionate lens inward. You are not broken — you’re becoming.

2. Release the heavy stuff.

Old guilt. Past mistakes. Childhood stories that echo “you’re not enough.” You can’t walk freely into your future if you’re dragging the ghosts of the past. Let them go, not because they didn’t matter, but because they no longer define you.

3. Let gratitude open the door.

Gratitude isn’t just about politeness — it’s a state of receiving. Start by thanking someone you’ve silently judged, even (especially) if that person is you. Thank them for the lesson they taught you. When you soften your perspective, the world around you softens too. And what you receive begins to expand.

Your sense of deserving is not a finish line to reach. It’s a capacity to develop and expand — and it starts with recognizing your inherent worth.

You don’t have to justify your dream. You just have to let yourself believe in it.

P.S. Want support in discovering and building your dreams?

In between my coaching and speaking schedule, I carve out a few strategy sessions each month. If you would like a complimentary strategy session (Value = $250), simply contact me here.