Don’t Dim Your Light to Make Others Comfortable

For much of my career, I’ve heard it all—“You’re… a lot.”

“We love the passion, just tone it down.”

“You bring great energy, but maybe take it down a notch.”

Early on, I took those comments as feedback. I softened edges, I sat on my hands, I rehearsed my reactions. I tried to shrink a little—because I thought that was what professionalism looked like. Or at least, what would make people more comfortable around me.

But here’s what I’ve learned: when you care deeply, you’re going to bring energy. Passion isn’t noise—it’s clarity. It’s vision. It’s investment. And in a world full of indifference and “just a job” mindsets, I’ve realized that passion is actually my power.

My career has always been a huge part of my identity. I love what I do. My work isn’t just a job—it’s my growth, my challenge, my creative space. So yes, I show up fully. And yes, sometimes I’m a lot. But I’ve done the inner work to understand that muting myself isn’t humility—it’s misalignment.

It takes self-trust to hold your light when others ask you to dim it. But the truth is, when you shrink to make others more comfortable, no one wins. Not your team, not your company, and definitely not you.

So if you’ve been told to tone it down, take a moment and ask yourself:

Is this feedback about effectiveness—or just preference?

Is this about me—or about someone else’s discomfort with boldness?

Own your energy. Lead with it. Let your passion be your edge. Because the right people won’t be overwhelmed by your light—they’ll be lit up by it.