I've been thinking about something since I wrote last week's article.

I asked:

Am I really exhausting all of my options—or just the options I believe are possible?

That question messed with me.

Because once you allow yourself to believe bigger is possible, another question shows up:

What are you waiting for?

And I didn't particularly like my answer.

Permission.

Not literally.

Nobody has me standing outside an office waiting for someone to stamp APPROVED across my life.

It's more subtle than that.

I've caught myself waiting for someone to recognize what I bring to the table.

Waiting for the right opportunity.

Waiting for someone to make the introduction.

Waiting for someone to say, "Chris, you're ready."

Waiting for validation that maybe I've already earned.

And I wonder how many of us are doing the same thing.

We have experience.

We have relationships.

We have ideas.

We've survived enough mistakes to have some wisdom.

We've done the work.

But somewhere inside us is still that younger version of ourselves waiting to be picked.

Pick me for the job.

Pick me for the opportunity.

Pick me for the stage.

Pick me for the room.

Pick me.

There's nothing wrong with wanting to be chosen.

But eventually, you have to choose yourself.

That's the uncomfortable part of growth I'm experiencing right now.

Last week, I wrote about God tapping me on the shoulder and saying:

Bigger.

I'm realizing that "bigger" isn't only about the size of the opportunity.

It's requiring a bigger version of me.

Bigger faith.

Bigger courage.

Bigger thinking.

And maybe most importantly...

A greater willingness to move without knowing how everything turns out.

That's hard.

Because I've spent years learning how to be prepared.

But faith and preparation aren't always the same thing.

Preparation says:

"I'll move when I'm ready."

Faith sometimes says:

"Move."

I'm learning there are seasons when another certification isn't the answer.

Another meeting isn't the answer.

Another round of research isn't the answer.

Another person's approval isn't the answer.

Sometimes you've already been equipped for the thing you're praying to be equipped for.

You just haven't given yourself permission to walk toward it.

And here's where it gets even more uncomfortable.

Sometimes the low-hanging fruit isn't bad fruit.

It's good.

That's why it's tempting.

It's familiar.

It's available.

It might even pay well.

But good can still distract you from what you're called to build.

I'm wrestling with that right now.

I don't have the neat ending for this article.

I'm still in it.

There are moments when I'm confident.

There are moments when I'm scared.

There are moments when I wonder if I'm thinking too big.

And then something inside me whispers:

Maybe you've been thinking too small for too long.

So I'm learning to stop shrinking the vision to fit my comfort.

Stop discounting my value so someone else can afford it.

Stop dimming the light because brightness makes some rooms uncomfortable.

And stop waiting for permission to become who I already know I'm capable of becoming.

Maybe you need that reminder too.

You don't need everyone's approval.

You don't need everyone to understand.

And you certainly don't need everyone to come with you.

Sometimes you simply need enough faith to take the next step.