You’re Not “Too Much”—You’re Just Not Meant to Fit in a Box 

Have you ever walked away from a conversation or a room full of strangers thinking, “Was that too much?”

I recently joined Michal McCracken on the Space and Grace podcast for a conversation that started with a simple question—why is authenticity in communication so important? What unfolded was an honest, heartfelt deep dive into what it really means to find your voice, use it boldly, and still navigate those moments when you feel like you’ve taken up too much space.

Spoiler alert: You’re not too much. You’re not “not enough”. You’re you—and the world needs all of it.

We’re Not Here for Polished Perfection

We live in a world that’s still shaking off the curated Instagram era. The one where perfection was currency and “relatable” was a branding tactic. And what people want now is realness. They want to connect with someone who shows up as themselves—flaws, quirks, awkward silences, and all.

Authenticity isn’t a performance. It’s not something you “achieve” and then move on from. It’s a continuous process of shedding what you’ve learned to hide and rediscovering what’s been true all along.

Think of your authentic self like a closet full of outfits—not one version of you, many facets, all real. What you choose to wear (metaphorically or otherwise) depends on where you are and who you’re speaking to, but the closet is still all you.

Finding Your Voice Isn’t About Being Loud

One of the most meaningful moments in the conversation with Michal was unpacking how so many of us—especially women—shrink ourselves without even realizing it. We second-guess, overthink, and apologize for simply being ourselves. We walk out of a networking event or a dog park encounter wondering if we were too much… again.

And here’s the thing: if we’re always calibrating ourselves to fit into someone else’s comfort zone, we lose the very thing that makes us magnetic—our humanity.

“Too much for who?”

If someone rolls their eyes when you’re simply being you, that’s their discomfort—not your cue to shrink. Now, read that sentence again.

The Truth About Communication

We often think of communication as something to perfect—clear, concise, professional. And really, communication is about connection. You don’t need to be the loudest or the most polished. You simply need to be real—and in service of others. Because when your goal is to connect, not impress, people feel it. And they remember it.

All your gifts, and yes, all your “warts,” show up in your communication. It’s the fastest, most honest mirror of who you are.

If You’ve Done the Work And Still Feel Stuck… Talk.

If you’ve been growing, stretching, doing the work, and you still hit moments where your confidence wobbles—don’t panic. That’s not failure. That’s feedback. Authenticity is a journey, not a destination, and communication is the playground where we get to explore it. You’ll have wins. You’ll have awkward moments. You’ll have unexpected emotional landmines pop up (hi, social situations with 50 strangers).

What matters is that you stay in the game—and give yourself a little more grace.

Want to Know Where You Stand as a Communicator?

If you’re curious about how you actually show up—where you’re strong and where you might need a little tune-up and if you’re craving the full, raw, real conversation I had with Michal I invite you to listen to the full Space and Grace podcast episode.

We discussed everything from storytelling in business to the myth of being “too much,” how to build confidence when you’re working alone, and what it really takes to show up with power and heart.

At the end of the day, communication isn’t about winning everyone over. 

It’s about being clear, being kind, and staying true to who you are.

You’re not too much.

You might simply bring more depth, more energy, or more honesty than some are ready to receive.

That doesn’t mean you need to shrink. It means you keep showing up—with intention, with care, and with your whole self.