The Power of Rest: Why Self-Care is Essential for Leaders

There was a time when I thought that being a strong leader meant always pushing, always doing, always showing up at 100%. I thought that rest was something you earned after the work was done.

But I’ve learned—sometimes the hard way—that rest is not a luxury. Rest is leadership.

In the work I do, I often sit with changemakers who carry so much on their shoulders. They’re leading teams, raising families, showing up in their communities, and trying to fix broken systems. And do you know what I see over and over again?

Exhaustion.

We don’t talk about this enough in leadership spaces. But I want to say it plainly: You are not a machine. Your worth is not measured by your output. And if we want to be the kind of leaders who create sustainable change, we need to treat rest like the sacred act it is.

Why I Protect My Rest—And Why You Should, Too

Rest gives me space to listen to my own voice—not the noise around me, not the expectations, not the to-do list. When I rest, I come back to my purpose. I lead more intentionally. I respond more thoughtfully. I connect more deeply.

I’ve learned that:

• Rest is a boundary. And boundaries are a gift to you and your team.
• Rest is resistance. In a world that glorifies burnout, choosing rest is radical.
• Rest is vision work. Some of my best ideas have come while I was walking, breathing, or just sitting in stillness. So if you're feeling stretched thin, I want you to hear this from me: You don’t have to earn rest. You deserve rest—right now, as you are.

A Leadership Book That Honors This Truth

In The Bridging Leader, Justin and I talk about the power of rest and reflection in purpose-driven leadership. This book is full of tools to help you lead in complex spaces without losing yourself in the process.

We wrote it because we know what it feels like to be passionate about change—and also tired. We know how it feels to want to show up fully, but not always have the energy to do so. And we wanted to offer something honest, practical, and healing.

Preorder The Bridging Leader Today

The Bridging Leader: Embrace Conflicts, Spark Collaboration, and Lead with Purpose is available now for preorder. If you're ready to lead with both strength and sustainability—to bridge gaps without burning out—I hope you’ll grab a copy.

👉Preorder The Bridging Leader now!

Let’s build a world where purpose and rest can coexist. I’m rooting for you.