Welcome back, leaders!
If you just finished listening to the latest episode of Leadership+ with Dr. G, then you already know that we went deep today. We didn’t sugarcoat it. We didn’t pretend leadership is easy. Because right now? It’s not.
In “Thriving in Chaos: Leading with Resilience, Self-Care, and Gratitude,” we tackled what it really looks like to lead when the world feels like it’s on fire, and how to do it without burning yourself out in the process.
If you missed it, pause right here and go listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you stream podcasts. Then come back, because this blog is your reflection space. Your reminder. Your exhale.
Whether you’re leading a local nonprofit, your own business, a global initiative, or even your own household—you feel it. The world is heavy right now. Leaders everywhere are navigating economic shifts, political unrest, and an overwhelming sense of burnout.
And for those in humanitarian and development spaces, the USAID funding freeze has added even more weight to carry. The abrupt elimination of DEI funding? It’s more than a line item. It’s a blow to the very systems meant to foster equity and inclusion—costing people their jobs, organizations their momentum, and communities their voice.
So yeah… it’s a lot.
But here’s the truth we landed on today:
Chaos is inevitable. But so is your strength.
It’s easy to forget your power when the pressure rises. But pause for a moment. Reflect.
Remember 2020? You adapted. You innovated. You led through crisis.
And guess what? You still can. You are not new to hard times. You’ve survived storms. You’ve made tough calls. You’ve carried people when no one noticed you were carrying your own weight too.
That resilience? It’s still in you. Let’s lean into it.
If you take away nothing else from this episode, let it be this:
Self-care is not selfish—it’s strategic.
You are the engine. Not the org chart. Not the policy. YOU.
So ask yourself:
Your clarity, creativity, and compassion depend on your capacity to show up whole. You cannot lead burned out and broken. You shouldn’t have to. That’s not leadership—that’s survival. And you were called to thrive.
We unpacked a major truth on the episode:
Gratitude isn’t fluff—it’s fuel.
This isn’t about toxic positivity. It’s not about pretending everything is fine when it’s clearly not. It’s about anchoring yourself in what is working. About choosing to see the good when all you want to do is scream into the void.
Start and end your day with “thank you.”
Thank God. Thank the universe. Thank yourself for showing up again. You’re breathing. You’re leading. That alone is enough to be grateful for.
Gratitude builds empathy. It reframes your perspective. It ignites joy and unlocks abundance—even in the fog of uncertainty.
Let’s dismantle the myth:
Exhaustion is not a badge of honor.
We’ve been programmed to glorify the hustle. But at what cost?
When your spirit is depleted, your team feels it. When your energy is off, your outcomes suffer.
The real flex? Saying no without apology. Normalizing therapy. Prioritizing peace. Creating joy on purpose.
This is how we sustain the mission. By sustaining ourselves first.
Your Challenge This Week
Here’s your call to action—simple, but powerful:
Name three things going right.
Start a gratitude list. Say thank you out loud. Post it. Write it. Whisper it to yourself before bed.
And remember:
The chaos? It’s real. But so is your calling.
You were built for such a time as this—not to crumble under pressure, but to rise in purpose. To lead with resilience. To practice radical self-care. To choose gratitude in the middle of uncertainty.
So keep going. Keep growing. And when in doubt, breathe. Reflect. Recenter.
Because this leadership journey? It’s not about surviving.
It’s about thriving in the chaos.
And I’m right here with you.
Catch the full episode on your favorite platform. Like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs to hear this message. And don’t forget to follow @Shernettegrant on Instagram and www.linkedin.com/in/shernettegrant/ on LinkedIn for more leadership gems, mindset shifts, and behind-the-scenes empowerment.
Until next time,
Lead bold. Live well. Love loud.
– Dr. G
