Stop Waiting for Permission to Be Great
If you've been feeling stuck, uninspired, or like you’re spinning your wheels in your career or personal life, let’s be real—you're probably waiting for external validation. The promotion, the approval, the reassurance that you’re on the right path. But here’s the truth: No one is coming to hand you a gold star and tell you that you’re enough. It’s on you to validate yourself. If you’re feeling like you’re not progressing, not achieving what you want, or just generally feeling unworthy, it’s time to break out of this cycle. Here’s why you might be stuck—and how to finally move forward.
Kamy Charles
2/19/20252 min read
1. You’re Waiting for Someone to Tell You You’re “Good Enough”
We all want acknowledgment. A “great job” from leadership, a mentor who sees our potential, or even approval from family and friends. But when you tie your self-worth to external validation, you give up control over your own progress.
✅ Solution: Give yourself credit—often. Track your wins, big and small. Keep a journal of moments where you succeeded or pushed through challenges. The more you recognize your own efforts, the less you’ll need someone else to do it for you.
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2. Fear of Failure Has You Stuck in Place
If you're constantly second-guessing yourself, avoiding risks, or overthinking every decision, you might be paralyzed by the idea of failing. But here’s the thing—staying still is the biggest failure of all.
✅ Solution: Reframe failure as a learning experience. Every successful person has faced rejection, mistakes, and setbacks. The difference? They kept moving. Take the leap, apply for the job, launch the project, ask for the raise—because waiting won’t get you anywhere.
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3. You’re Comparing Your Path to Everyone Else’s
Social media makes it easy to feel like you’re falling behind. Someone else got the promotion, bought the house, started the business, or seems to be thriving in ways you’re not. But comparison is a trap.
✅ Solution: Focus on your own lane. Your journey is unique, and no one else has the exact combination of skills, experiences, and potential that you do. Instead of competing, channel that energy into building yourself up.
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4. You’re Seeking Perfection Before Taking Action
Perfectionism is a career killer. If you're waiting for the perfect moment, perfect conditions, or perfect confidence, you’ll never start. Newsflash: No one has it all figured out.
✅ Solution: Done is better than perfect. Start before you’re ready, and refine as you go. The more you take action, the more you’ll build confidence along the way.
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5. You’re Ignoring Your Own Growth & Potential
Sometimes, we’re so focused on what we haven’t accomplished that we forget how much we’ve actually grown. Every step forward counts—even the ones that feel small.
✅ Solution: Take a moment to reflect. What challenges have you overcome in the last year? What skills have you gained? What are you proud of? Recognizing progress will remind you that you’re far more capable than you give yourself credit for.
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Final Thoughts: Your Validation Comes From YOU
The only person who needs to believe in you is YOU. Stop waiting for approval, stop doubting your worth, and start validating yourself. The confidence, the success, the opportunities—they come when you decide to own your value.
So go validate yourself! Take up space, make bold moves, and give yourself the credit you deserve.