Welcome...
Permission to Be is not just a book.
It’s an invitation.
An invitation to stop performing wellness.
To stop bargaining with your truth. To stop asking what’s wrong with you... and begin listening to what’s been asking for your attention all along.
This page is the home of Permission to Be: a place to learn about the book, stay connected as it unfolds into the world, explore reader experiences, and inquire about conversations, studies, and events rooted in its themes.
About the Book
Permission to Be is the story I didn’t know I was allowed to tell. For years, I lived in the in-between. Not quite “rock bottom,” and not visibly falling apart... but quietly numbing, people-pleasing, and disappearing inside a life that looked functional from the outside. I wasn’t drinking to excess every day. I wasn’t losing everything. And yet… I somehow lost myself.
This memoir traces the moment I stopped asking What’s wrong with me? and began asking a more honest question: What am I avoiding feeling?
Through sobriety, self-inquiry, and the slow unraveling of old patterns, I began to see how much of my life had been shaped by fear of disappointing others, the belief that my worth was conditional, and the habit of reaching for anything that might soften these fears.
Permission to Be is not a story of perfection or arrival; it is a story of remembering. Of choosing presence over numbing. Of learning to listen inward instead of performing outward. Of discovering that the life I was searching for didn’t require becoming someone new; only allowing myself to be who I already was.
This book is for anyone who has ever felt “fine,” but not free. For those living in the gray. For anyone quietly wondering if there’s more... and sensing that the answer might be gentler than they were taught to believe.
How to Get It:
📖
Print & E-Book:
Buy On Amazon Here
🎧
Intimate Author-Narrated Version Exclusively on Skool:
Get the Audiobook Here
(Independent sales and signed copies coming soon.)
Who This Book Is For
This book may resonate if you:
- Are sober, sober-curious, or questioning your relationship with alcohol or numbing behaviors
- Feel successful or functional on the outside, but disconnected on the inside
- Struggle with people-pleasing, self-abandonment, or conditional self-worth
- Are navigating identity shifts, emotional regulation, or learning to trust yourself again
- Long for a softer, truer way of living without pressure to “fix” yourself
About the Author
Micaela “Miki” Byrne
is an artist, writer, and life coach/creativity strategist whose work lives at the intersection of story, healing, and self-trust. With a background in Theatre, Operative Vocal Performance, and English Literature, Miki has always been drawn to the power of voice—both the ones we share aloud and the ones that shape us from within. After choosing sobriety in 2023, she entered a profound season of listening, healing, and creative renewal. Her work weaves lived experience with mindfulness, positive psychology, and creativity coaching, offering gentle reflections for those learning how to live without numbing, hiding, or rushing their becoming.
Miki is the founder of Metta Momentum, a coaching and creative community devoted to self-love, emotional regulation, and gentle growth. She shares her work through writing, music, meditation, coaching, and conversation.
How to Get It:
📖
Print & E-Book:
Buy On Amazon Here
🎧
The Intimate Audio Edition (author narrated):
Available Exclusively on Patreon Here
(Independent sales and signed copies coming soon.)
Reader Reflections & Reviews
"From the very first pages, this book pulled me completely into the experience. The writing is immersive in a way that feels lived-in. You don’t observe the story from the outside, you inhabit it from the inside out. What makes this book so powerful is not just the storytelling, but the way it weaves together narrative with the quiet, often unspoken emotions that so many people carry, especially around identity, coping, and recovery. It’s deeply relatable, emotionally honest, and full of moments that stop you in your tracks because they feel so familiar. For readers who have found meaning in quit-lit like We Are the Luckiest, this book belongs on that shelf — not just for those at the beginning, but for anyone moving through the deeper layers of recovery and self-understanding." ~ Katya Hurwitz
"Permission to Be is a courageous and deeply human exploration of what it means to come home to yourself after years of silencing your inner voice. With lyrical honesty, Miki Byrne illuminates the gray spaces of people-pleasing, quiet self-abandonment, and “gray area drinking,” where nothing looks wrong on the outside but everything feels misaligned within. Miki invites readers to ask powerful questions about identity, choice, and self-trust. Permission to Be offers a gentle yet affirming reminder that you are allowed to take up space, speak your truth, and begin again." ~ Jacqueline Whitmore

"Permission to Be is one of those rare books that doesn’t just inspire you—it sits with you, challenges you, and gently invites you to grow.
Chapter 9, “Permission to Fail,” especially moved me. Miki’s vulnerability in sharing her journey through sobriety, self-doubt, failure, perseverance, and personal transformation is nothing short of powerful. She doesn’t romanticize the process. She tells the truth—the fear, the setbacks, the inner battles, and the courage it takes to keep showing up anyway. Her ability to turn failure into feedback, pain into purpose, and fear into forward movement is deeply impactful. This chapter reminded me that growth isn’t about perfection—it’s about commitment, honesty, and choosing “what’s next” even when it’s hard.
What makes this book special is Miki’s voice. It’s raw, reflective, intelligent, and deeply human. You feel like you’re walking beside her as she learns how to trust herself, believe in her future, and design a life aligned with her values. Her story will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled with addiction, self-worth, finances, career transitions, or simply finding their place in the world. This book is more than a memoir—it’s a guide, a mirror, and a reminder that you are allowed to evolve. You are allowed to try again. You are allowed to become. Highly recommend." ~ Jay Chase
"I am not normally an avid reader but this book was an exception. I finished it within 48 hours of starting. This is a must-read for anyone in recovery. That said, the discoveries that Miki has made in sobriety are universally true for anyone navigating the hard truths and deep soul-searching that come with being human. The writing style reminds me of quit-lit author Laura McKowen, who got me through some confusing times in the early days of my sobriety. The details of Miki’s memoir are unique but the story is so relatable. Miki is a born leader and an incredibly talented storyteller. What an honor it is to witness her story. I know this book will inspire others the way it inspired me." ~ Roxanna
Bring Permission to Be Into Your Space
I’m available for:
- 📚 Book studies & group discussions
- 🎤 Speaking engagements & readings
- 🎙 Podcast interviews & panels
- 🧘 Workshops on sobriety, self-trust, emotional regulation, and identity
If you’re interested in hosting a conversation or event centered around Permission to Be, please inquire below for availability and rates.
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If this book speaks to you, I’d love to stay connected.
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