Uncovering My True Potential

The Expansion Edit | Vol. 1

If you’ve been around for a while—you’ve heard me use the word expand in one form or another. In last week’s letter, I shared what I learned from my recent encounter with envy. One of my biggest takeaways? Envy can always be alchemized into expansion.

Since I hit publish on that post, I’ve realized the traditional definition of the word expand—like the one I’ve included below—doesn’t fully capture the essence of what I’m trying explain.

expand

ex·​pand | (ik-ˈspand) | verb | expanded; expanding; expands

1: to open up : unfold 2: to increase the extent, number, volume, or scope of : enlarge 3: to express at length or in greater detail 4: to open out : spread 5: to increase in extent, number, volume, or scope

definition from Webster Dictionary

While this definition still applies, when I use the word expand, I’m leaning into a more layered concept. Specifically, the definition of expansion I learned from To Be Magnetic. If you’re unfamiliar, TBM is a manifestation brand. Their process rooted in spirituality, psychology, and neuroscience.

The TBM process is nuanced but essentially rooted in the idea that we manifest our lives from our subconscious beliefs. So to create the life we want, we need to identify our limiting beliefs and upgrade or rewire them into higher self-worth.

A huge piece of this process is expansion: showing our subconscious that what we want is not only possible but that it is possible for us.

Expansion is seeing to believe.

Expansion closes the gap between what we subconsciously believe is possible (based on our unique life experiences) and the incredible magnitude of our true potential.

Expansion is the magic that lifts the fog of doubt. You know you’ve been expanded when you have that moment of clarity:

“If they can do it, so can I.”

Expansion is seeing someone who has been where you are—in the place that you want to be.

Expansion is the magic that shatters our limiting beliefs.

Introducing: The Expansion Edit

In this new monthly edition of From The Cocoon, I’ll dive deep into my own personal moments of expansion. I’ll break it down for you—explaining why I was drawn in, what I took away, and how it relates to what I’m calling in.

Once a month, I’ll feature my biggest moment (or moments) of expansion from the previous few weeks. I’ll introduce you to inspiring writers, books, podcasts, songs, art, quotes, poems, stories, people—maybe in the future I’ll even include interviews?

My hope in sharing this edit with you is to remind you of just how powerful and magnetic you really are. In bringing you along on my own expansion journey, I hope you will see to believe that your big and terrifying dreams are not as far out of your reach as you think they are.

The people we admire the most—are only human.

The dreams we have—already belong to us.

December’s Biggest Moment Of Expansion

Brianna Wiest on Rick Rubin’s Podcast— Tetragrammaton

It’s not a secret that Brianna Wiest is one of my favorite writers. I could talk endlessly about how her bestseller, The Mountain Is You, changed the trajectory of my life.

Her words land in a way that is warm and gentle. She sparks hope without turning away from uncomfortable and necessary truths. Through her writing, I found the courage to face myself. Her words helped me to uncover and deeply integrate radical accountability and self-compassion into my healing journey.

In stepping into my own writing career, I’ve found myself increasingly more curious about the origin stories of the writers who inspire me. Wiest especially. She doesn’t share anything personal in her books. She doesn’t have a memoir. Yet somehow, I’ve always felt deeply connected to her. It’s hard to articulate—but something in me has always sensed pieces of what I could become in her work. She’s my greatest expander.

When I stumbled upon this podcast episode in December, it felt like a gift from the Universe. This two hour interview was the most expansive thing I consumed in 2024.

In her conversation with Rubin, Wiest shared about her writing career with generosity and openness. They talk about everything from her origin story and writing process to her relationship with success and social media.

I related to so much of what she said.

As I listened, I found myself thinking “OH MY GOD, ME TOO!” over and over again.

This interview shifted something within me. I listened to it three times.

My Few Favorite Moments

On stepping into her purpose as a writer

“The road you take to step away from the calling, becomes the path that leads you to the calling.”

“It’s almost like an assignment…from my higher self”

On how she ultimately, is writes for herself

“How deeply I meet it, becomes the bandwidth of how deeply they can meet it.”

“I was changed from having written that.”

On writers block and getting stuck

“When I’m stuck, I either don’t know what I’m trying to say—or I’m trying to say it in a way that is too far removed form how I would naturally think or speak.”

The most expansive moment for me?

When Wiest opened up about her process of writing The Mountain Is You.

Here’s the thing.

I have a book in my heart. A book that I feel deeply called to write. I know the title, I know the story, I can see the cover clearly. This book has been bubbling up and swirling about inside of me for the last 5 years.

When Wiest described how she brought one of my favorite books into the world, it gave me full body chills. Her experience was so similar to mine. The book was almost…inside of her. Asking to be written.

After listening—my own book felt possible and tangible and close.

And that, is the power of expansion.

PS - Thank you for being here. Thank you for reading, listening, and engaging with my work. While your support might not feel like a big deal to you—it is massive to me. If you enjoyed this new edition of From The Cocoon, please let me know! I would love to hear what has been expansive for your lately. If you’d like to support me further, please consider upgrading to paid.

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