Taking Up Space, Finding Your Voice, Living Fully
By Naomi Stockman
Licensed Therapist & Depression and Anxiety Specialist
Living Small vs Living Expanded
For much of my life, I knew what it was to shrink.
To hold myself back, to silence my truth, to survive rather than thrive.
And I see the same story in so many women I work with — women who have spent decades caring for others, managing households, working hard, holding it all together—until one day they look in the mirror and wonder, Where did I go?
When we’re anxious, depressed, or carrying the scars of the past, life contracts.
Our shoulders curl in, our voice softens, our world narrows.
We vanish piece by piece.
But here’s the good news: Expansion is always possible.
Expansion is your birthright.
It’s about choosing to take up the space that’s already yours — physically, emotionally, spiritually.
It’s not about adding more to your plate.
It’s about breathing more life into the one you already have.
Expansion in the Body
Our body tells our story before we ever say a word.
Rounded shoulders, shallow breathing, eyes cast down — these are the physical signatures of survival mode.
But with one conscious breath, everything can shift.
Try this at home:
Roll your shoulders back.
Take a slow, deep breath — into your belly, not just your chest.
Plant your feet on the floor.
As you exhale, imagine yourself expanding into the space around you.
This isn’t just relaxation — it’s a declaration.
You are here. You are allowed to take up space.
Expansion of Voice
For many women, our voices were the first thing to be silenced.
We were taught to be good, to keep the peace, to not take up too much air time.
But a muted voice creates a muted life.
I remember years when my own throat felt tight, as if words couldn’t make it out.
It felt safer to stay quiet… until I had enough and exploded!
And that is never a good thing. Silence often comes at a cost.
Your voice matters — not only for you, but for the people who need to hear you.
Try this at home:
Practice speaking a truth out loud, even if it’s just to yourself in the mirror. Say:
“I need.”
“I want.”
“I feel.”
“I am.”
Start small, then take it into your relationships, your workplace, your world.
Expansion of Presence
Presence is that magnetic quality some people have when they walk into a room.
It isn’t about being the loudest or most glamorous.
True presence comes from alignment.
From authenticity.
From owning who you are.
When we’re stuck in anxiety, depression, or PTSD, we tend to shrink.
But presence is a form of power.
It quietly tells the world:
I matter.
I belong.
I am not invisible.
In my sessions, I often guide women to imagine light expanding from their chest, filling the room.
Or roots grounding them deep into the earth while their crown stretches tall.
Over time, this isn’t imagination — it becomes their reality.
The unconscious mind loves imagination. In fact, the language of the unconscious mind is imagination.
When you think about it like that, you can make a whole lot of change just using your mind.
And when your presence expands, opportunities start flowing your way.
People notice.
Life responds.
Beyond Survival: Expanding Into Thriving
So many of us over 40 have been in “get through the day” mode for years.
The routine, the responsibilities, the curveballs of life can trap us in survival.
But what if survival is no longer enough?
Expansion begins the moment you say:
I want more.
I deserve more.
I am ready to thrive.
In my clinic, I’ve watched women release decades of anxiety and worry — and suddenly everything changes.
They laugh again.
They travel.
They launch businesses.
They fall in love — with life, and with themselves.
Your Invitation to Expand
If this resonates, here are a few reflection questions to journal on this month:
Where in my life am I contracting or holding back?
Where am I silencing myself?
Where could I allow more space, more expression, more presence?
Then ask:
How can I expand my breath?
How can I expand my voice?
How can I expand my presence?
Remember, expansion doesn’t have to be grand.
It begins with a breath.
A word.
A single step.
And as you expand, you light the way for others to do the same.
“The world doesn’t need a smaller version of you. It needs you — expanded, alive, and free.”
You deserve to be seen, heard, and supported.
My Invitation to You
Whether it’s through therapy, travel, family connection, or simply getting still enough to hear your own heart again — allow yourself to reclaim your momentum.
You’re not late to the party.
You’re ready now to arrive.
Naomi Stockman
💡 Clinical Hypnotherapist & Transformation Therapist
🌐 www.mylocalhypnosis.com.au
📍 Specialising in anxiety, depression, PTSD, addiction, and eating disorders.
Through her practice, My Local Hypnosis, Naomi helps women release old patterns and reclaim their voice, presence, and joy.
