Healthy leaders inspire hope. They help us to look forward to a brighter future. They encourage us to believe that something better is possible, and they help us to understand how we each can contribute to the goals we share. Hope creates strong internal bonds, more functional teams, and sustainable productivity.

I love any memories of my grandmother, but this proverb also has something to say about forethought and planning. The more I plan, the less I have to scramble. The more I plan, the less likely I am to forget things. 

In order to lead and serve sustainably - meaning, leading and serving from a place of health - we  have to know what work really aligns with who we are.

Knowing who you are as a leader is foundational to healthy and sustainable leadership.

When a leader is in a space of healthy confidence (neither underestimating nor overestimating their own talents), they can appreciate and help unlock the full potential of their team.

When you are in a place of health yourself, you are not OVERESTIMATING your importance over other people’s importance, and you are not UNDERESTIMATING your importance over other people’s importance.

Sustainable leadership requires rhythms of work, rest, and play. Most leaders only give themselves permission to work.

As a coach, I love helping people to articulate and pursue what they want. Some of my clients are already clear on what they want, and our work is primarily about creating a plan to get there. For others, we work together to be able to say it out loud for the first time.

Someday, we won't have to "come out." Someday, we will simply say, "This is my boyfriend," or "This is my girlfriend," or "This is my partner, my lover, my person." And the people around us will say, "I am happy to meet your person. And I am happy that you are happy."

Pain is part of growth. Pain is part of learning. It hurts to let go of a previous and less complete concept of something, especially when we have held so tightly to it for a particular season of our lives. We are often terrified of the unknown of what it will feel like to let go.

As we remember Dr. King this weekend, I am re-centering myself in a powerful understanding of love and the justice work that true love demands.

What if we choose to believe in what is possible?

What if we started from a place of worthiness?

A Pastor Comes Out