✨The Art of Going Big... Gently (034)

“Go big or go home!”

You’ve probably heard that phrase at some point — in a meeting, in a podcast, in a workshop, or drifting through the cultural noise that insists bigger is always better.

For years, I treated those words as energising. A sign of ambition. A challenge to rise.

But lately, through countless conversations with leaders navigating burnout, transition, reinvention, and renewal, I’ve noticed something important:

We don’t all “go big” in the same way.
And we’re not meant to.

Some of us go big quietly.
Some go big steadily.
Some go big by choosing rest.
Some go big after rebuilding from burnout or illness.
Some go big by honouring boundaries they once ignored.

And if you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you are redefining what “big” looks like in your own life.

Because “big” isn’t always about more.
Sometimes “big” is about different.
Sometimes “big” is about truer.
Sometimes “big” is about slower.
Sometimes “big” is simply about enough.

This edition is for those who want a life that feels full — not frantic.
Intentional — not inflated.
Ambitious — but aligned.

You get to define what ‘big’ means for the season you’re in.
Let’s explore that together.

Why “Go Big or Go Home” Isn’t Always Helpful

The phrase sounds bold and energising, but both Psychology Today and TechHelp.ca point out the same caution:

Not every decision requires an all-or-nothing approach.

All-in is exciting.
But it can also be draining, destabilising, or completely misaligned with the life you’re trying to build.

• Psychology Today reminds us that “go big” often comes from mood or impulse — confidence on some days, scarcity on others.

• TechHelp adds that “go big” becomes harmful only when we equate it with pressure, speed, or intensity.

In other words:

How I’m Choosing to Go Big (Differently)

People sometimes ask why I don’t scale faster, launch bigger, or push harder in my coaching business.

Here’s why:

✨ I’m going big on living a full life, not just running a big business
✨ I’m going big on energy and alignment over endless hustle
✨ I’m going big on presence — with family, with clients, with myself

Growth can be powerful and peaceful.
Ambition can be fierce and slow.
Impact can be deep and steady.

And I’ve learned, especially through burnout and illness, that “big” without grounding is a liability, not a strategy.

A Burn Bright Reframe: Big = True, Not Fast

When I coach high-performing leaders, I notice the same tension:

“How do I make my next chapter big without burning out again?”

Here’s the reframe I offer:

Going big is not about scale.
It’s about truth.

It’s about choosing what amplifies your energy, not drains it.
It’s about aligning your life with what you value — not what others expect.
It’s about building a rhythm you can sustain, not a performance you can’t keep up with.

Sometimes “big” is a boundary.
Sometimes “big” is rest.
Sometimes “big” is saying no.
Sometimes “big” is starting again — gently.

If you feel called, hit reply. I love hearing your reflections.

To your spark,
Mary
Burn Bright Coach
www.maryvazcoaching.com