Why Creating Space Is the First Step in Any Transformation
We often think transformation begins with action. We start with the best intentions. We set lofty goals, define the actionable steps and make plans to step bravely forward. But in my experience, the very first step begins long before clarity or momentum ever show up.
It begins with space.
Space to breathe.
Space to feel.
Space to notice what’s been weighing on you.
Space to listen to the quiet wisdom that gets buried beneath the noise of everyday life.
Without space, everything else gets crowded out — your intuition, your resilience, your capacity to respond rather than react. You may sense that something in your life is asking for change, but if your inner or outer world is overflowing, there’s no room for that shift to take root.
Creating space isn’t flashy, but it’s foundational. It’s the gentle, powerful opening that allows every other part of your growth to unfold.
A Simple Act That Shifted Everything
A few years ago, long before I ever stepped into coaching or built a resilience framework, I found myself doing something unexpected — clearing space in my home. At the time, I didn’t think of it as anything meaningful. I just felt crowded on the inside, and sorting through what no longer fit felt like a gentle place to begin.
But the more space I created around me, the more space I felt within me. My thoughts softened. My energy shifted. I could hear my own voice again — the one that had been buried under obligations, noise, and old versions of who I thought I needed to be.
Looking back, that simple act was the doorway to everything that came next. Creating space didn’t just change my environment; it changed my direction. It helped me reconnect to myself, trust my inner wisdom, and eventually step into the work I now do with others.
Above the clouds at 10,023 feet on Haleakalā in Maui — a moment that reminded me how powerful it can be to create space, both literally and within ourselves.
Space Creates Clarity
When life feels overwhelming, our minds fill with looping thoughts and competing priorities. It becomes hard to hear your own truth.
By intentionally creating space — even small pockets — clarity begins to surface naturally. It’s not forced. It’s not rushed. It rises from the quiet moments when we finally step out of autopilot and into awareness.
Space Creates Capacity
Transformation requires emotional and mental energy. But when your internal reservoir is drained, even the smallest step can feel heavy.
Making space replenishes your capacity.
It allows your nervous system to settle.
It gives your resilience room to rebuild.
With space, you move through change with more steadiness and strength.
Space Creates Alignment
In seasons of transition, it’s common to hold onto things — roles, expectations, relationships, habits — simply because they’re familiar.
But transformation asks us to return to ourselves.
Creating space clears the path back to your values, your inner guidance, and what genuinely supports your life moving forward. It brings you back into alignment with who you are becoming, not who you’ve been.
Space Creates Possibility
Nothing new can enter a room that’s already full.
The same is true for your inner world.
Creating space opens the door to:
New ideas
New energy
New opportunities
New ways of seeing yourself and your path
Space is the invitation. Possibility is what accepts it.
Creating Space Is an Act of Self-Leadership
You don’t need a formal title to be a leader. We are all self-leaders — responsible for how we show up in our lives, our relationships, and our work.
Creating space is one of the simplest and most powerful forms of self-leadership. It allows you to show up with:
Greater emotional regulation
A clearer perspective
A more grounded presence
The resilience needed to navigate uncertainty
Leaders aren’t defined by how much they take on, but by how intentionally they create the inner room to move through what comes next.
Your Transformation Begins with One Gentle Question
If you’re standing on the edge of a transition — or feeling the pull toward something new — you don’t have to start with a plan.
Start with this:
“Where do I need space?”
In your schedule?
Your mind?
Your expectations?
Your physical environment?
Your relationships?
Your energy?
Choose one small place to begin.
One place where letting go or loosening your grip feels kind.
One place where creating even a little space opens the door for something meaningful.
Transformation doesn’t begin with doing more.
It begins with creating room for who you’re becoming.
Coming Soon: A Gentle Guide to Help You Begin
If this resonates, I’m creating a simple, heartfelt guide to help you take the first step.
It will include:
A three-part framework for making space
Journaling prompts
A grounding reflection
A practice you can start in five minutes
If you’d like early access, make sure you’re on the list — I’d love to send it to you.
