What would I do if I wasn’t afraid? Fear is a natural part of growth, but it doesn’t have to dictate your choices. When you choose courage over comfort, You create the life that is authentically yours.
Welcome to the Nancy Levin Show. I’m Nancy Levin, founder of Levin Life Coach Academy, best-selling author, master coach, and your host. I help overachieving people-pleasers set boundaries that stick and own self-worth, anchored in empowered action, so you can feel free. Plus, if you’re an aspiring or current coach, you are in the right place.
Join me each week for coaching and compelling conversations designed to support you in the spotlight as you take center stage of your own life.
Let’s dive in.
Welcome to another episode of the Nancy Levin Show. Today we are diving into the pivotal moment that changes everything. You know the moment I mean, the moment you think “I can’t live like this anymore”. If that resonates with you, you’re in the right place. By the end of our time together, you’ll walk away empowered to say, I give myself permission to live freely on my own terms.
So grab your journal. Settle in. We’re about to get real. I want to start by honoring the courage it takes to admit I can’t live like this anymore. For so many of us, that realization comes with a mix of fear, frustration, and yes, even a little bit of hope. It’s the crack in the door that lets the light in.
Think about it. When you say, I can’t, you’re acknowledging that something has to change. That’s not a weakness. That’s clarity. Clarity is the first step toward freedom. If you are at this point, I invite you to pause and ask yourself, what am I tolerating that I can no longer endure? Write it down.
This is the foundation of your own transformation. Here’s the thing about staying stuck. We often tell ourselves stories to justify why we can’t move forward. Maybe you’ve heard these kinds of stories before. Maybe you’ve even thought them or told them to yourself, “I don’t have the time”, “I’m too old”, “I don’t know how”, or “It’s selfish to put myself first”.
Sound familiar? These are shadow beliefs. These are unconscious limiting beliefs that keep you tethered to your old life. These beliefs are so sneaky. They disguise themselves as noble sacrifices or practical limitations, but really they are just fear in a clever costume.
The good news is you can rewrite your stories. You can shift your beliefs. So begin by asking yourself, “who benefits from me staying small” and more importantly, “who suffers”? Spoiler alert, the person who is suffering is you. So write down one of your shadow beliefs, one of your limiting beliefs that you’ve been holding onto and flip it.
If your story is, “I don’t have time”, flip it to, :I prioritize what matters most to me”. This simple exercise. is a powerful way to take back your narrative, and then back up your new belief with action. What is the one action you’re going to take this week? Micro-action to support and cultivate prioritizing you.
Now that we’ve identified what’s keeping you stuck, let’s talk about giving yourself permission to move forward. Permission is something we’re used to seeking from others. Partners, parents, bosses. But what if I told you that the only permission you actually need is your own? This is where boundaries come in.
Boundaries are the structure that support your freedom. They’re not about keeping people out, they are about keeping you aligned with your truth.
Between the whirlwind of daily life and the current state of our world, chaos seems prevalent, and with chaos comes overwhelm, anxiety and burnout. The truth is, when we’re experiencing chaos, we’re ultimately desperate to feel grounded. This is why I invite you to join me for my FREE Live Virtual Workshop — From Chaos to Confidence: Tune In, Take Control & Live Your Truth so you can overcome the chaos, find your footing and create the peace you desire and deserve. Visit nancylevin.com/chaos to choose the date that works best for you, and if you can’t make it live, I’ll send you the replay. I hope to see you there.
So I’m going to share a very simple framework.
1. Identify where you feel resentful or drained.
2. Name the boundary that needs to be set.
3. Communicate it clearly and kindly.
4. Follow through without any guilt.
This is not just a skill, it is a practic, and like any practice, it will get easier over time.
For example, if you are feeling over committed at work, your boundary might sound like this, “I’m happy to contribute during work hours, however I’m no longer available for after hours emails”. It’s clear, it’s kind, and it’s rooted in self respect.
Every moment is an opportunity to choose differently. Freedom does not come from some grand eternal event. It comes from the small, consistent choices you make every single day.
Here is a powerful question that you can allow to guide you, “What would I do? If I wasn’t afraid?” sit with it for a moment, it might sound trite, but really consider it. “What would you do if you weren’t afraid?”. Now, fear is a natural part of growth, but it doesn’t have to dictate your choices. When you choose courage over comfort, you create the life that is authentically yours.
So take a moment and close your eyes. Imagine your life one year from now. If fear were not a factor, what would be different? What would you say yes to? What would you say no to? Allow yourself to hone in on this future version of yourself. Let this vision of you in the future be your compass.
Living really doesn’t mean abandoning responsibility. It means showing up as your truest self. It’s about aligning actions. It’s about aligning your actions with your values and letting go of anything else that won’t serve you. Freedom looks very different for everyone. For some, it’s about leaving a toxic relationship. For others, it’s pursuing a dream that they’ve buried for years. Whatever it looks like for you, know this. You have the power to create it.
Here’s the secret sauce. It starts with self-compassion. You cannot bully yourself into freedom. You have to love yourself there. So the next time self doubt creeps in, ask yourself, “What is the most loving choice I can make right now?”. “What is the most loving action I can take right now?”. and then do that.
As we wrap up, I want to leave you with this, you do not have to wait for someone else to give you permission. The life you want is already within your reach. You simply have to claim it.
If this episode resonated with you, I’d love to hear from you on Instagram or YouTube. What is one small step you’ll take today toward living freely on your own terms? Share it with me and remember you are not alone on this journey.
You’ve got this. and I’ve got you. Until next time, keep giving yourself permission to live fully and freely, and I’ll see you next time.
Thanks so much for joining me today. I invite you to head on over to nancylevin.com to check out all the goodies I have there for you. If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating, and a review. I’ll meet you back here next week.