It’s Not On Me, It’s In Me: Leading from Within

This isn’t a step-by-step guide. It’s a real-time reminder.

There are seasons where survival feels like the biggest win. Where success looks less like a straight line and more like a patchwork of prayers, pauses, and small, stubborn steps. I’m in that space—and maybe you are too.

I used to think I had to carry it all—the titles, the plans, the expectations. But I’ve learned (and am still learning) that it’s not on me… it’s in me. The grace to endure. The wisdom to pivot. The courage to keep going, even when I don’t know who I am. I remember whose I am.  

I didn’t write this from a mountaintop—I wrote it in the middle. Somewhere between clarity and confusion, between conviction and questioning. I’m sharing it because I know I’m not the only one doing work that matters while carrying the tension of not always knowing how to do it—or whether it’s even working.

If that’s where you are, this is for you. Keep going. Not perfectly, but honestly. That’s enough.

Leading While Learning

Sometimes we think we have to wait until we’re whole to lead, to serve, to step forward. But that’s not how faith works. That’s not how purpose works.

You don’t have to carry everything to be called.

You don’t have to know all the steps to start walking.

You just need a willing heart and a seed of trust.

Mission-driven work doesn’t require perfection—it requires your willingness. That small step, that quiet ‘yes,’ is often more than enough to move meaningful work forward.

In other words, purpose doesn’t wait for perfection. It moves through the people who are willing to show up. So keep showing up, by faith. 

Mustard Seed Moves: 5 Reminders to Stay the Course

Even when the path feels unclear, even when the results don’t match the effort, the smallest step of faith can move mountains. This week, let these reminders fuel your drive and keep you grounded in the purpose behind your work:

1. Embrace the Progress, Not Perfection: You don’t need to have it all figured out today. The next right step is the one that moves you forward, not the one that makes everything perfect. Keep the momentum going, even if it’s just one small step at a time.

2. Anchor in Your Why: When the daily grind gets overwhelming, remember why you started. Keep your mission front and center. This is your guiding light, especially on the toughest days.

3. Act with Intention, Not Reaction: Be mindful of the way you respond to challenges. Let your actions be intentional and rooted in purpose, not reactive to external pressure. Your choices are what shape the culture you’re trying to build.

4. Rest, Don’t Burnout: Recovery is part of the process. True growth comes when you give yourself the space to rest, recharge, and regain perspective. Protect your energy as much as your output.

5. Trust the Process, Even When You Don’t See the Outcome: You may not see the result today, but trust that every effort counts. The process is shaping you and your work, even when you can’t yet measure the impact. Stay faithful to the journey, and trust that it’s unfolding exactly as it should.

Final Thought: When Belief Lifts What You Can’t

There are moments when capacity runs low, and clarity feels out of reach. In those spaces, belief—however quiet—can carry what you’re not able to.

Hold fast to your why. Let it ground you when everything else feels unsteady.

And when you can’t carry it all, let conviction shoulder what’s too heavy—for now.