Starring In Your Life

By Natalia Jansen, MFA

Have you ever felt like you were watching your life from the sidelines—waiting for permission, hoping for the right moment, or shrinking behind the curtain while others took the spotlight?

I’ve been there.

But here’s what I’ve learned as a theatre artist, educator, and transformational coach: you were never meant to play a supporting role in your own story. You are the lead. The star. And when you step into that starring role, everything changes—your confidence, your voice, your choices, and your results.

That’s the journey I facilitate and guide people through in my work. With simple, in-the-moment strategies and transformation tips, I teach people how to unplug from the matrix of the common limited thought patterns and empower them to think boldly, authentically—and flow with the current of life, stepping into their starring role and standing confidently in the spotlight.

Why Do So Many Women Find Themselves in a Supporting Role?

For centuries, women have been cast into supporting roles—culturally, socially, and even spiritually. Conditioned to nurture others before themselves, many women learned to shrink, sacrifice, or silence their dreams. Historically, we’ve been told to be “good girls,” to prioritize the needs of family, to keep things running behind the scenes rather than stepping forward into the light.

Even now, in a more progressive era, traces of these beliefs persist. They show up as self-doubt, guilt over wanting more, or believing we have to earn the right to rest, to speak, to shine. We carry this inherited script until we realize: it’s time for a rewrite.

What Does It Mean to Star in Your Own Life?

To star in your life doesn’t mean you need to become a public figure, a CEO, or a world-changing activist—unless that’s your dream. It simply means you become the conscious creator of your story, choosing your role from a place of joy, power, and inner truth, not from obligation, fear, or habit.

If your deepest desire is to be a loving mother, a devoted partner, or a vibrant artist, beautiful. The starring role is not about what you do, but how you own it. It’s about waking up each day knowing your life reflects your soul’s deepest “yes.” It’s about feeling alive, aligned, and lit from within.

My Wake-Up Call: From Supporting Role to Lead

For years, I was unconsciously playing a supporting role in my own life. I poured my energy into my daughters’ activities, my students, my work. I was always tired, easily irritated, and my social life was a calendar of ballet recitals, school functions, and family obligations. I love my daughters deeply—but somewhere along the way, I had lost myself in motherhood.

It was subtle at first, but I began to notice the signs: I hadn’t asked myself what I wanted in months. I said “yes” out of duty, not desire. I was functioning, not flourishing.

That realization changed everything.

I began making intentional choices—reclaiming time for my creativity, honoring my own dreams, and tuning into what made me feel alive. This inner shift led me to create a new path not just for myself, but for others. Today, I support women who are ready to reconnect with their truth and redesign their lives with clarity, confidence, and heart-centered vision. My work is rooted in my background in theatre and education, and enhanced through transformational coaching and spiritual tools that activate real, sustainable change.

4 Steps to Step Into Your Starring Role

·   1. Acknowledge the Scripts You’ve Inherited
What are the stories you’ve been living by? “I can’t do that.” “It’s too late.” “I have to keep the peace.” Begin by identifying the limiting beliefs you didn’t consciously choose. When you see the script, you can rewrite it.

·   2. Rehearse the Life You Want

Actors rehearse to embody a role, and you can too. Start living as your future self today. How does she think? What choices does she make? How does she take care of herself? Every small, repeated action is a rehearsal for your dream life.

·   3. Use Your Voice

Stop editing yourself. Speak your truth. Ask for what you need. Whether you’re setting a boundary, sharing a creative idea, or saying “yes” to a dream, your voice has power. Using it is how you reclaim your place on the stage.

·   4. Surround Yourself with a Brave Cast

Transformation is amplified in the community. Find people who reflect your growth, not your fears. A supportive “cast” helps you stay on script when life tries to pull you offstage.

All the World’s a Stage

As Shakespeare wrote, “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.”

The question is—what role are you playing right now? And is it the one you truly want?

You have the power to rewrite your script, recast yourself, and reimagine the story. And you get to do it with playfulness, curiosity, and creativity. This is not about performing perfection—it’s about consciously living in alignment with your truth.

Life isn’t a dress rehearsal. This is the show. Step out from the wings, take a breath, and claim your place in the spotlight. You are ready.

About Natalia Jansen

Natalia Jansen, MFA, is a Theatre-Inspired Transformation Coach and founder of ACT Life Consulting. She is a certified DreamBuilder® Coach and Life Mastery Consultant, passionate about helping women unplug from limiting beliefs and joyfully step into their starring role.

With over 20 years of experience as a theatre director, educator, and speaker, Natalia holds a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Directing from UCLA and is currently pursuing a PhD in Educational Leadership. Through her workshops, 1:1 coaching, and interactive programs, she empowers others to live by design—not default—using creativity, spiritual principles, and playful tools for transformation.

Learn more at www.ACTLifeConsulting.com