Silencing the voice that keeps you small

Who is your little me that wants to control and keep you where you’re at? 

It’s important to start off reminding you that everyone’s spectrum of ‘small’ and ‘big’ is different. What small is to one person is huge to another. We’re not all operating on the same spectrum. So when you see these wonderful tidbits of how to live your life, remember that we’re not all on the same spectrum. 

When I see some advice or ideas around playing small, I think about what does playing big mean for me? What does it mean for you? 

It’s important to get that clear first. 

Then, what would happen if you gave the little you a name? So that when the little you was trying to control and stop you from doing the things the big you wants to do, you can have a conversation. 

In the movie Luca, his friend, Alberto Scorfano, came up with the name Bruno for his. And anytime he was a afraid of doing something he would say ‘Silenzio Bruno.’ He was telling the small version of himself to be quiet and let his bigger self lead the way. 

We all have a Bruno. We all have that version of us that plays small and keeps us quiet and safe and protected in our own little bubbles. But if we want to play big, whatever that means to us, we have to silence that small version of ourselves. We have to realize when they’re showing up and have a little talk. 

Imagine for a second that your little version of yourself, your Bruno, was a friend. And this friend was always keeping you where you’re at. Telling you not to go for things you want. Telling you it’s safer where you’re at. Would you want to still be friends with this person? This person that’s knocking your dreams down, do you want them around? 

Or would you have a conversation with them and let them know you’re going to need more support if they want to stick around? That’s what you need to say to your little self. Let it know that you know it’s only trying to keep you safe, but you’re good right now. Thanks, but no thanks. 

Allow the big you within to come through. To drown out the noise of the little you. To actually be bigger than the small version of you. It’s interesting that the little you can be louder and more forceful than the big you. I’ve had that happen. I’ve allowed the little me to yap like a little chihuahua, the bark always being bigger than the bite.

You may be the person who’s allowed that little version of you to call the shots for a long time. If you have, it’s going to take some work to allow the bigger version of you to start taking the lead. 

One way to start is by silencing the little you, at least long enough for the bigger you to call the shots. 

I read a similar story about the opera singer Caruso, who was nervous and anxious before singing. He said “the little me wants to strangle the big me within.” He called it out to himself so that he could tell the little me to go away.

This is what we all need to do if we’re tired of the little me getting in the way of our big dreams. Start having that conversation with the little you. That’s the beginning.