After years of working hard, achieving well, and being known for a particular role or identity, it’s easy to get stuck in who you were, even when everything in you is ready to become someone new.
You’ve started to reframe your thinking. You’ve acknowledged the pull towards something more aligned, more fulfilling. But now comes the harder part - showing up as the person your next chapter needs, not the one your past has always affirmed.
One of the biggest challenges my clients face isn’t a lack of skill or opportunity, it’s letting go of outdated stories about who they are. Stories like,
- “I’m the dependable one, not the risk-taker.”
- “People know me for my job title, who am I without it?”
- “I’ve always worked behind the scenes, I don’t know how to put myself out there.”
These identities may have served you well. But they can quietly hold you back when it’s time for you to move forward.
If you’re building something new, whether a business, a consultancy, or a redefined version of success, you can’t build it with yesterday’s mindset.
Becoming the person your next season requires means…
- Speaking the language of where you’re going, not just where you’ve been.
- Making decisions from vision, not just comfort.
- Allowing yourself to be seen differently, even before others fully understand your shift.
- Practising boldness in small ways, until it feels natural.
This isn’t about pretending to be someone you’re not. It’s about growing into who you already are, apart from the roles, the titles, and the expectations.
You may find yourself in a space where you’re doing all the right outer things - updating your LinkedIn profile, joining programmes and networks, talking about new ideas - but still feel unsure on the inside. That’s normal.
Real change requires more than activity. It requires alignment.
It means asking yourself,
- What beliefs do I need to let go of?
- What version of me do I want to bring into this new season?
- What would it look like to lead with that version—starting now?
You don’t need a perfect plan to become this person. You just need to start showing up in this new way in small, consistent ways,
- Introduce yourself differently.
- Take action from your future identity, not your past comfort.
- Set boundaries that reflect your new priorities.
- Say yes to things that stretch you, and no to things that shrink you.
Every time you do, you reinforce the message - I’m aligning with who I need to become in this season.
If you’re in this space of transition, between letting go and stepping forward, know you don’t have to do it alone.
