Making Space: The Power of Belief in Your Potential

Have you ever felt like there’s no room to move forward, no matter how hard you try? Maybe it’s the weight of self-doubt, the pressure of overthinking, or the emotional clutter of unresolved fears. Whatever the source, feeling constrained can leave you stuck, unable to take the next step toward your goals.

In those moments, what you need most is space—space to breathe, grow, and act. But when you can’t create that space for yourself, something extraordinary happens when someone else believes in you. Their belief creates the room you need to move forward, even when you can’t yet see the way.

The Nature of Constraint

Feeling stuck often feels like being boxed in, emotionally or mentally. These constraints show up in different ways:

• Emotional Clutter: Unresolved feelings like fear, guilt, or shame that cloud your ability to move forward.
• Mental Clutter: Overthinking, self-doubt, or limiting beliefs that block clarity and action.
• Physical Tension: Tightness in your body that mirrors emotional or mental overwhelm, like a knot in your stomach or heaviness in your chest.

These constraints don’t just hold you back—they shrink your perspective, making it hard to see possibilities or trust in your potential.

It’s like trying to grow a tree in a small pot. No matter how much the tree wants to grow, it can’t—there’s simply no room for its roots to spread. To thrive, the tree needs a larger container. In the same way, personal growth requires creating space for new possibilities to take root.

The Role of Belief in Creating Space

When you feel stuck, it’s easy to lose sight of your own potential. That’s where someone else’s belief in you can make all the difference. Their belief acts as a catalyst, creating emotional and mental space for you to move forward.

Here’s how it works:

• Reassurance: Their belief offers a sense of safety, helping to quiet the noise of self-doubt.
• Perspective: They see possibilities you can’t yet imagine for yourself.
• Encouragement: Their confidence in you inspires you to take risks and stretch beyond your comfort zone.

Think of a child learning to ride a bike. At first, the child borrows their parent’s belief: “You can do this.” With that support, they start pedaling, shaky but determined. Eventually, they realize they can balance on their own, and the borrowed belief becomes their own confidence.

The same principle applies to personal growth. When someone holds belief in you, it creates space for you to discover your own strength and capability.

The Transition from Borrowed to Personal Belief

Borrowing belief is a powerful first step, but true growth happens when you internalize that belief and make it your own. Here’s how the transition works:

1. Borrow Belief: Lean on someone who sees your potential, whether it’s a coach, a trusted friend, or a mentor.
2. Take Supported Action: Use their belief as a foundation to take small, meaningful steps.
3. Build Confidence: With each action, your own confidence grows, and the borrowed belief begins to feel like your own.
4. Anchor Your Strength: Over time, you no longer need external validation—you trust in your own capability and potential.

Belief alone doesn’t create change. It’s the actions you take, inspired by that belief, that help you grow into your full potential.

A Simple Practice for Creating Space

When you feel constrained, try this practice to create emotional and mental space for growth:

1. Sit Quietly: Find a comfortable space where you won’t be interrupted. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths.
2. Visualize Space: Imagine the constraints you feel—tightness, doubt, or fear—as clouds in the sky. With each breath, picture those clouds softening, dispersing, and revealing a wide, open sky.
3. Invite Support: Picture someone who believes in you offering their encouragement. Hear their voice saying, “You’ve got this. I see your strength.”
4. Anchor the Feeling: Focus on the sense of possibility that emerges. Let it settle into your body as a feeling of lightness or expansion.
5. Take One Small Action: Honor this new sense of space by taking a single step forward, no matter how small.

This practice isn’t about solving every problem at once—it’s about creating the room you need to start moving forward.

Listening to the Space Within

Creating space isn’t just about external encouragement—it’s about learning to trust the space within yourself. Borrowing belief is a starting point, but as you take action and grow, you’ll discover that the strength you need was within you all along. The borrowed belief becomes your own unshakable confidence, empowering you to move forward with clarity and purpose.

Your Next Step

Where do you feel most constrained in your life right now? What small step could you take to create more space for growth? And who in your life might be able to hold belief in you until you can hold it for yourself?

In the next article, we’ll explore how creating clarity in your vision and purpose amplifies your ability to grow into the empowered version of yourself. Until then, remember: the space you need to grow is closer than you think—you just need to make room to find it.

About the Author | Jim Zboran

Jim Zboran is a Transformational Empowerment Coach known for his comprehensive approach to personal growth and development. His coaching philosophy centers on guiding clients through a powerful journey of holistic transformation, from a state where "life happens to me" to one where "life happens through me." Jim's unique methodology integrates work with both conscious and unconscious aspects of the mind, addressing trapped emotions, evolving unresourceful beliefs and perceptions, and facilitating authentic self-expression. His clients appreciate his ability to foster gentle yet profound change, tailored to each individual's unique pace and needs. With a focus on empowerment and alignment, Jim helps high-achievers unlock their full potential and create lasting, meaningful results in all areas of their lives.