The Courage to Step Into the Light
For years, I lived in the shadows of my own work. Comfortable, steady, familiar. Supporting others in deeply transformative ways, while allowing them to take centre stage.
It felt natural to let the work speak for itself, to remain private about my own vulnerabilities and to avoid anything that could be perceived as self-promotion.
But this summer, something inside me shifted. I began recording videos. Not just one or two, but consistently. It felt - and still feels - like an act of courage.
The fears were loud. What if people thought I was indulgent? What if my words fell flat? What if my appearance, my voice, my presence… all the things I can so easily criticise in myself - became the reason someone dismissed the work?
And yet, behind the fear was a deeper knowing. That if I wanted others to feel the impact of this work, I needed to be seen. The breathwork, the healing, the invitations to awaken - they could not remain hidden.
So, I chose to act with fear present. To allow my shyness, my doubt, my self-consciousness to sit beside me as I pressed record.
Video of me talking about Capacity on Instagram
I remember a conversation with my coaching supervisor Simon Cavicchia, where he said something that stopped me in my tracks: that avoiding visibility can itself be a form of narcissism. I had always thought of narcissism as self-aggrandising, loud, attention-seeking. But Simon provoked me – inviting the prospect that hiding, too, can be self-absorbed - because it keeps the focus on me and my discomfort, rather than on the people who might be served by what I have to offer. That realisation shifted everything.
Each time I record now, I remind myself: this is not about me. It is about the person who, in watching, might finally find the courage to soften their chest, to slow their breath, to feel something they have long avoided.
Courage is rarely glamorous. It is often shaky, awkward, imperfect. But it is also expansive. And it is through courage that we step into alignment with what matters most.
For me, this season of visibility is not an act of performance. It is an act of service.
To find out more about breathwork in group sessions or 1:1 check my website www.breathwithsamreen.com
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