Why Wanting More Was Never the Problem.

Fear isn’t always what holds us back from growing. Sometimes, it’s the people around us.

Author

Glenda Carnate
December 27, 2025

Read time: 2.5 minutes

If someone has ever told you to “be realistic,” this could be why that advice never felt right.

Most of us hear these words at some point: Don’t aim so high. Be grateful for what you have. Don’t make others uncomfortable. This advice can sound reasonable, even caring, especially when it comes from people we trust or look up to.

But over time, something doesn’t feel right. You start to hold back your ambition. Your ideas become quieter. You find yourself editing what you say, not because you lack confidence, but because you’ve noticed that wanting more makes some people uncomfortable. It’s not that your goals are unrealistic; it’s that your growth changes the way things are.

Some signs that people might be encouraging you to hold yourself back:

  • People often say your ambition is “too much.”

  • They describe your desire to grow as selfish or unrealistic.

  • You get more praise when you keep quiet.

  • The advice you get always seems to push you to settle.

  • Some people seem uneasy when you succeed.

Not every limit is there to protect you. Sometimes, limits serve other people’s interests instead.

💡Key Takeaway: 

Wanting more has never been the problem. Curiosity, ambition, and growth are natural when you see your own potential. The real issue starts when others benefit from you staying smaller than you could be. Growth doesn’t make you difficult; it just reveals the real dynamics.

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