The other night, I had a conversation with my soul—a reflection on leadership, self-perception, and stepping into a higher level of influence. I found myself pondering the ways I’ve been playing small and staying stuck, and I had a gentle yet expansive dialogue with my higher self.
Although this reflection was deeply personal, I feel called to share it, in case it serves another leader navigating similar thoughts.
As I wrote, these questions and insights came through:
Are You Leading From Your Own Expectations or Others’ Expectations?
Are you showing up in leadership based on your own standards and vision, or are you performing according to what others—clients, colleagues, or society—expect from you?
Leadership expands when we trust and delegate. Just because you can do it all doesn’t mean you should. Doing everything yourself keeps you stuck. Allow others to facilitate and support.
Shifting Self-Perception to Step Into Higher Leadership
How do I need to shift my perception of myself to level up?
What would change in my confidence, my leadership, and my work if I started leading from optimized energy rather than depletion?
Instead of trying to be bold all the time, what if I committed to just one bold action a day? Small, consistent steps lead to expansion.
Releasing the Fear of Judgment
Stop caring about what other people think. Let them approve or disapprove—it doesn’t matter. Keep moving forward in alignment with your purpose.
Confidence isn’t about always having all the answers. It’s about trusting yourself to ask the right questions, knowing that you have the intelligence, resourcefulness, and willingness to learn and figure it out.
Making Expansion Practical & Sustainable
Break it down. Instead of seeing a goal as one overwhelming mountain, ask: What is one small step I can take today? One step at a time creates momentum.
If you’re feeling stuck, depleted ask: Is this truly about me, or is my environment (energetically, emotionally, or structurally) contributing to this? Awareness shifts everything. Knowing when to give yourself grace, compassion and space to refuel your innate energy.
A Common Pattern Among Expanded Leaders
One of the biggest regrets influential leaders share? That they didn’t start sooner. They wished they had stepped into their leadership earlier—without waiting, doubting, or playing small because of imposter syndrome or fear of what others might think.
So today, I ask myself—and you—this:
What if you stopped waiting? What if today was the day you stepped into the next level of your leadership?
Because the only thing standing between you and your expansion is the belief that you’re not ready.
And you are.