What a Horse Taught Me About Taking Up Space

There’s something magical about the way horses communicate without words. They read energy, emotion, and intention in a way that cuts through all the noise we carry as humans.

While on retreat at a beautiful ranch in Alberta, Canada a few years back, I had an equine assisted experience that gave me the clarity and courage I needed to shift timelines in my life and my career.

I was offering energy healing to a horse named “Lufi,” and felt compelled to move my hands to his stomach, at which point I thought to myself "Wow, he feels really bloated, i wonder if something is wrong.” No sooner had this thought occurred to me, did a message arise in my awareness “It’s ok to take up space.”

I knew instantly the message did not arise from my own mind, as this was not something i had ever affirmed to myself, and not an idea that my past conditioning would genuinely support.

I laughed to myself and continued to offer reiki to Lufi. Later that night at dinner, myself and the other guests were sharing their experiences from the day, when I decided to share my experience with Lufi- at which point the retreat facilitator burst out laughing, informing me that the name “Lufi” meant balloon in Hungarian! After we all had a good laugh and continued to share stories from the day, I headed back to my cabin to reflect for the evening.

The message was clear:

I had been judging others for taking up space for so long, that i had confined myself to a prison of my own limited conditioning.

I realized in that moment just how much of my life had been shaped by the belief that I must fly under the radar, hiding away the parts of myself that had been deemed unlovable or hard to handle by my earliest caregivers ..in order to remain safe….and how i had projected this false safety narrative onto others, becoming triggered and judgmental in the presence of those who didn’t seem to have any qualms about being their fully authentic selves.

But Lufi, in his quiet, grounded way, woke me up to the truth: The only one holding me back now, was myself.

The Lesson I Carried Forward

That simple message — “It’s okay to take up space” — became an anchor for me. It shifted how I approached my work, my relationships, and my vision for what was possible in my life.

That night i finally answered the call to start my coaching business, after over a year of procrastination and excuses. I immediately started brainstorming names and researching certification programs, and by the time i returned home I had registered for an ICF coaching course and purchased my website domain.

I started noticing other areas where I’d been shrinking myself out of fear of being “too much.” I became aware of the subtle ways I’d been prioritizing others’ comfort over my own authenticity. And slowly, I began practicing a new way of being:

Showing up unapologetically.
Speaking my truth without overexplaining.
Trusting that I am worthy of existing fully, exactly as I am.

This wasn’t about being louder or taking space from others — it was about finally taking up the space that was mine all along.

What Horses Teach Us About Belonging

This is the magic of equine-assisted coaching and healing: horses mirror back the truths we’re not ready to tell ourselves. They don’t care about titles, accomplishments, or appearances. They feel energy. They respond to authenticity.

Lufi didn’t need me to hide, to minimize, or to “play small.” He needed me to be present — fully, unapologetically, and openly. And in doing so, he reflected something I had been denying myself for years:

I am allowed to exist fully.
I am allowed to take up space.
And so are you.

Your Invitation

If you’ve ever felt yourself shrinking, dimming your light, or questioning whether you’re “too much,” I want you to know this:

You are worthy of taking up space.
You are worthy of being seen, heard, and fully expressed.
You belong here, exactly as you are.

This is the work we do inside Empowered 2 Evolve — creating a safe, supportive space to release old stories, reconnect with your truth, and step fully into your power.

✨ Your next chapter isn’t about becoming more — it’s about allowing yourself to be fully you.