The Bold Woman’s Guide to Showing Up Authentically
- Taylor Made Training-Consulting
- Sep 16
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 19
"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden... Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." - Matthew 5:14–16
There’s power in being yourself.
Have you ever felt like you had to hide parts of yourself just to fit in? I spent years trying to fit the mold of what leadership should look like. I forced myself to be overly extroverted, to sound polished and politically correct, to speak from the head instead of the heart. But that version of me wasn’t real. Each day, the mask I wore grew heavier, until eventually the fear of being seen felt lighter than the burden of hiding me.
Showing up authentically doesn’t mean being perfect. It means being honest.
The most impactful moments in my life and leadership didn’t come from well-rehearsed speeches or pristine platforms. They came from the moments where I spoke from experience, unfiltered and faith filled -when I chose to stand up for what was right, even if it meant sitting in discomfort and when I risked being misunderstood because the truth needed to be said.
Boldness is born in those moments.
And not just the headline-grabbing ones. I’m talking about the quiet, everyday decisions to show up for yourself:
To stop shrinking.
To stop editing your personality to make others more comfortable.
To start believing that your lived experiences, your quirks, and your calling are not disqualifications — they’re your light.
Real Talk: The Cost of Fitting In
For me, that friction started young. I’ve always had this fire to speak up when I felt injustice. Whether it was advocating for my siblings or calling out harmful systems in the workplace, I couldn’t keep quiet when I saw harm being done. That used to scare me. I worried about who I might offend, what opportunities I might lose.
But most recently, I've come to realized that my calling would always cost me more not to show up. God wired me to speak up for the underdog. He gave me a heart for those who feel overlooked and unloved. And when I started living from that truth—from His truth about who I am—I stopped seeing boldness as a risk and started seeing it as obedience.
It’s Not Just Bold. It’s Biblical.
Jesus said, "Let your light shine before others." Not dim. Not blend in. Shine.
But let’s be clear: that light comes from knowing who you are in Christ.
I’m not talking about being loud for the sake of being loud. I’m talking about the quiet confidence that comes when you’ve spent time in God’s presence. When you’ve wrestled with your doubt and chosen to believe what He says about you anyway.
It’s not ego. It’s assurance. It’s choosing to wear what God has tailor-made for you instead of what the world tries to throw on you. And once you know that you walk different. You move in Christ-confidence. You speak from Spirit-led clarity.
Your Light Is Needed
I want every woman reading this to know: your story matters.
Your quiet strength, your goofy humor, your introverted leadership, your bold truth-telling—it all matters. You don’t need a viral platform to have an impact. You just need to show up, be honest, and let God shine through you.
Because when you let your light shine, it gives others permission to do the same.
The Shine Checklist:
Use this to check in with yourself each week:
Did I show up today as my full self?
Did I speak from truth, not fear?
Did I rest in who God says I am?
Did I move with intention, not obligation?
Did I invite God into every room I entered?
Prayer for Boldness:
Father, remind me daily that I am the light of the world, because You have placed that light within me. Remove the fear of rejection and replace it with peace rooted in Your promises. Teach me to show up boldly, authentically, and faithfully—not just for my sake, but so that others may see You through me. Help me shake off the lies and labels and clothe myself only in what You have spoken over me. In Jesus' name, Amen.
tlt
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