HOW TO HAVE BIGGER AMBITION: OWN YOUR DREAMS AND LIVE BOLDLY

Ambition is one of the most powerful forces we can carry through life. It’s what drives us to grow, to strive for more, and to rise above limitations—both external and internal. Yet for many, ambition is something we’ve learned to suppress. We’ve been taught to be cautious, to be practical, to stay within what feels safe or socially acceptable. Somewhere along the way, dreaming big started to feel like a risk.

But ambition, when grounded in purpose, is not something to be ashamed of—it’s something to embrace. It’s not about ego or proving anything to the world. It’s about becoming who you were meant to be. It’s about honoring the pull inside of you that says, there’s more in you yet to live, create, and contribute.

In this post, I want to explore what ambition really means—not the loud or flashy kind, but the kind rooted in meaning, responsibility, and courage. I’ll share lessons from my own journey, common barriers we all face, and practical steps you can take to begin owning your dreams with intention and boldness.

Let’s begin.

Rethinking Ambition

Ambition often gets a bad reputation. It’s misunderstood, confused with ego, or dismissed as a sign of discontentment. But at its core, ambition is not about showing off—it’s about showing up. It’s about recognizing your God-given potential and choosing to grow into it. It’s about listening to the inner voice that tells you you’re meant for more, not in a prideful way, but in a purposeful one.

Ambition isn’t about being dissatisfied with your life—it’s about being faithful with it. You can be deeply grateful and still want to grow. You can honor where you are and still aim for something greater. In fact, real ambition is rooted in responsibility: the responsibility to live fully, serve generously, and leave a meaningful mark on the world around you.

Why We Play Small

So why do so many people shrink their ambition? Because we’ve been taught that dreaming big is risky. We hear things like “Be realistic,” “Don’t get ahead of yourself,” or “Stay safe.” And while these messages often come from people who care, they can leave us playing small—hiding our desires, talking ourselves out of opportunities, and delaying what truly matters.

But history is shaped by people who didn’t play it safe. People who said, “Why not?” when others said, “You can’t.” No one made it to the moon, built companies that changed the world, or created lasting impact by being realistic. They did it by dreaming boldly and moving intentionally—even when the path wasn’t clear.

Ambition Is More Than Achievement

Ambition isn’t just for careers or goals—it shows up in how we live, love, and lead. Some of the most meaningful ambitions are deeply personal. For me, one of my current ambitions is to become a more intentional father and husband. That’s not something I can achieve with a certificate or title. It’s something I have to work toward every day—with presence, effort, and love.

Ambition might look like starting a new business or rebuilding trust in a relationship. It might look like writing a book, or simply having the courage to start writing again. It might be committing to a fitness goal or healing from burnout. It’s not about what it looks like on the outside—it’s about how it stretches you on the inside.

How to Step Into Your Ambition

This is where the shift begins—from dreaming to doing.

If ambition is the seed, then action is the water. You don’t need to have everything figured out, but you do need to start. The following steps aren’t just motivational—they’re practical ways to move your ambition from intention to momentum.

1. Give Yourself Permission to Want More

So many people stay stuck because they’re waiting for someone else to say, “Go for it.” But no one is coming to hand you that permission slip. You have to give it to yourself. It’s okay to want more. It’s okay to want to grow. That doesn’t make you selfish—it makes you alive.

Ask yourself: What am I not allowing myself to pursue, simply because I think it’s too much?

2. Define What Ambition Looks Like for You

Your ambition should fit your soul, not someone else’s blueprint. Maybe your dream isn’t about building a brand or getting promoted—it could be about living more peacefully, being more present, or raising emotionally strong children. Define what a “bigger life” actually looks like for you. If you’re chasing someone else’s version of success, you’ll burn out or feel empty even if you achieve it.

3. Break It Down into Realistic, Soul-Aligned Steps

Big dreams are beautiful—but they can also feel paralyzing if you don’t break them down. Don’t start with the finish line—start with the first step. What can you do today that moves you forward, even a little?

For me, launching a podcast didn’t start with a microphone. It started with writing down one idea. Then, recording one short voice memo. Then, learning how to publish. Each step brought more clarity.

Clarity isn’t something you wait for—it’s something you create through action.

4. Surround Yourself with People Who Expand You

Your environment will either fuel your ambition or flatten it. Be intentional about who you spend time with. You need voices around you that remind you of who you’re becoming—not voices that keep you tied to who you used to be. Sometimes, this means having uncomfortable boundaries. Not everyone will understand your dreams—and that’s okay. Protect your space. Nourish your mindset.

5. Anchor Your Ambition in a Deeper Purpose

This is what keeps your ambition grounded. If your ambition is just about proving something, it will eventually run dry. But if it’s about service, legacy, or becoming who God designed you to be—it will keep fueling you even when things get hard. Ambition driven by ego burns out. Ambition rooted in purpose grows deeper with time.

Ask yourself: What’s the deeper reason behind this dream?

Who benefits when I step into this fully?

6. Celebrate Progress Along the Way

We often overlook the wins because we’re so focused on what’s next. But every time you take a step, show up, or stretch your comfort zone—you’re building a new version of yourself. Celebrate that. Recognizing your growth along the way fuels more of it. It also rewires your brain to associate progress with joy, not pressure.

Final Reflection: Your Dreams Deserve a Chance

You don’t have to be the loudest, smartest, or most confident person in the room to be ambitious.

You just have to be willing—willing to rise, to try, and to keep becoming.

Stop waiting for the perfect time. Stop disqualifying yourself because of where you’ve been.

You’re not too late. You’re not too far behind. And you’re not asking for too much.

Your ambition is a gift. It’s the quiet wisdom inside you that says: there’s more in you.

Honor that voice. Let it grow. Because the world needs more people who live fully, serve deeply, and rise with intention.

We all carry a vision inside us—a glimpse of who we could be if fear didn’t lead the way. But too often, we hesitate. We let self-doubt, past disappointments, or the pressure to “stay realistic” keep us small.

But ambition isn’t about certainty. It’s about courage. It’s not about having it all figured out—it’s about being brave enough to take that next step, even when you don’t.

You don’t need perfection. You don’t need permission.

You need belief—a quiet but steady belief that your future is worth building.

There’s no moment when everything suddenly clicks. Most growth begins in the middle of the unknown.

But every bold life was built on a series of small, quiet decisions: “I’m showing up anyway.”

So don’t wait for the dream to feel safe. Don’t wait until the path is clear.

Start now. Own your ambition. Live boldly—and let your life speak for what’s possible