There’s something powerful about declaring a theme for the year ahead. While others scramble to list resolutions that often fade by February, I’m taking a different approach for 2025. This year, my focus is simple yet transformative: Owning My Brilliance.

The phrase itself has many meanings. For many of us, acknowledging our own brilliance feels uncomfortable, almost taboo. We’ve been conditioned to downplay our perspectives and achievements, to shrink ourselves to make others comfortable. But what if we’ve been getting it all wrong?

The Cost of Dimming Our Light

Looking back, I can trace a pattern of minimizing my perspectives and viewpoints—saying “maybe this isn’t important, but…” in meetings, deflecting compliments with “oh, it was nothing,” and qualifying successes with whatever limiting belief I was struggling with at the time. These seemingly harmless habits have extracted a steep price—missed opportunities, unrealized potential, and a nagging sense that I’m not fully showing up in my fullest potential and brilliance.

Research shows that this tendency, often called the “imposter syndrome,” affects up to 70% of people at some point in their careers. But here’s the thing: playing small doesn’t serve anyone. When we diminish our light, we inadvertently give others permission to do the same.

The Multi-Dimensional Nature of Brilliance

What I’m discovering is that brilliance isn’t a one-dimensional achievement—it’s a spectrum that encompasses our entire journey. When we talk about “owning our brilliance,” we’re really talking about embracing every facet of our experience.

Think about it: our brilliance shines through not just in our moments of celebration, but in our resilience during setbacks. It’s present in our expertise, yes, but equally in our willingness to be beginners. It’s in the confidence to say “I know this” and the humility to say “I’m still learning.”

Some days, we’re the go-to expert, confidently guiding others through familiar territory. Other days, we’re stumbling through new challenges, our brilliance manifesting as persistence rather than perfection. Both states are equally valuable, equally worthy of acknowledgment.

This year, I’m committing to owning all of it—the victories and the vulnerabilities, the mastery and the mistakes. Because here’s what I’ve learned: we are not static beings. We’re constantly evolving, adapting, and transforming. This very capacity for growth? That’s a form of brilliance in itself.

Understanding this multi-faceted nature of brilliance leads us to a crucial question: what does it truly mean to own it?

What Does Owning Your Brilliance Really Mean?

Owning your brilliance isn’t about ego or arrogance. It’s about honest self-acknowledgment and embracing both your mastery and growth edges. It means:

In Your Professional Growth:

• Standing firmly in your expertise while acknowledging areas for growth
• Charging what you’re worth and negotiating with confidence
• Mentoring others from your experience while remaining open to learning
• Taking up intentional space in all settings
• Sharing your ideas and perspectives boldly, even when they challenge the status quo
• Investing in your growth because you know your potential is worth nurturing

In Your Personal Power:

• Trusting your intuition and lived experience as valuable anchor points
• Setting boundaries for your well-being and self-respect
• Saying “no” to what doesn’t align with your highest potential
• Using your voice, even when it shakes
• Sharing both successes and failures as part of your growth story
• Accepting recognition with grace while staying humble
• Being visible and vulnerable in pursuit of your goals
• Celebrating others’ successes while owning your own light

The Ripple Effect

When we step fully into our power—in all its dimensions—something remarkable happens. Our courage becomes contagious. Every time we openly share both our mastery and our learning journey, every time we speak up for what matters while acknowledging our growth edges, we create ripples of authenticity. These ripples give others permission to embrace their own multi-faceted brilliance.

When we model the courage to be both expert and learner, both confident and vulnerable, we demonstrate what true brilliance looks like in action. It’s not about waiting until we’re perfect—it’s about showing up fully in whatever stage we’re in. This kind of authentic presence creates waves of transformation that extend far beyond our immediate circle.

My Action Plan for 2025

This theme manifests from deep reflections in 2024—but it’s also my call to action. Here’s how I’m committing to own my brilliance in 2025:

1. Making it a point to reflect and document daily achievements, no matter how small
2. Speaking up on my social and economical perspectives as there will be a significant influence and need for more conscious and truthful voices this year
3. Publishing monthly perspective pieces on social issues that matter to me
4. Sharing my expertise, stories, and perspectives through writing and speaking engagements
5. Accepting challenging experiences that stretch my strength and resilience
6. Building a support network of other brilliant people who inspire me to shine brighter

The Challenge

Perhaps the greatest challenge in owning our brilliance is consistency. It’s easy to feel confident when everything’s going well, but what about during setbacks? True ownership means embracing both our successes and failures as part of our unique journey. I have the unfolding that took place in 2024 to thank for this new, deep shift in perspective.

An Invitation

As I step into 2025 with this theme, I invite you to consider: What would change in your life if you fully owned your brilliance? What opportunities might open up for you? What impact could you have on others?

Remember, owning your brilliance isn’t just about you—it’s about contributing your unique gifts to a world that desperately needs them. When we dim our light, we rob others of the inspiration, guidance, and perspectives that only we can offer.

Looking Ahead

As we stand at the threshold of 2025, I’m both excited and slightly terrified—which tells me I’m probably on the right track. This year isn’t about becoming brilliant; it’s about finally acknowledging the brilliance that was there all along.

Here’s to a year of showing up fully, speaking up boldly, and owning our brilliance – not just for ourselves, but for all those who might be inspired to do the same.

What’s your theme for 2025?

Copyright 2024 – Simply Ashley Graham – All Rights Reserved