Ask Kim | How Leaders Can Stay Grounded and Build Resilience in a World of Change and Uncertainty

Dear Kim,
How do I lead well without losing myself, especially when the invisible load feels heavy, everyone is stretched thin, and the so much change and uncertainty never seems to stop?

Signed,
Running on Empty in Raleigh

Dear Running on Empty,

Oh friend. I feel this deep in my bones. You are not alone. Leaders everywhere are navigating what I call the so muchness, so much change, so much uncertainty, so much coming at us all at once. And it’s not just the schedule that’s heavy—it’s the invisible load, the mental capacity drain of carrying it all.

And right now, that load can feel even heavier. As summer winds down and fall routines gear up, we expect calm. But often, the opposite happens—new schedules, new expectations, new demands pile onto an already overflowing plate.

And let me be real: over the past few weeks, we’ve moved Jack into his first apartment. We’ve gotten Adelaide settled in Kansas City as she begins her first job after college. At the same time, my busy speaking season is ramping up, all while still caregiving, running a business, and holding space for my family. Shew. It’s a lot.

Here’s what I’ve learned—often the hard way—from my own life, my work, and my research: leadership isn’t about muscling through the so muchness. It isn’t about carrying it all yourself. It’s about adaptability. It’s about giving yourself permission—I Am Allowed permission—to pause, to let go of perfection, and to take intentional steps that create momentum. That’s what sustainable resilience looks like. It’s not about bouncing back. It’s about bouncing forward, stronger, steadier, and wiser.

I call those intentional steps Momentum Micro-Moves™. They’re small, doable shifts that help you move forward without burning out. One step at a time, they create Unstoppable Momentum. Building these habits also strengthens what I call your Momentum Muscles—the everyday practices that make it possible to adapt and thrive in the middle of so muchness.

Here are three reminders I come back to again and again—both in my own life and in what I teach leaders—when it all feels like too much:

1. Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is pause.

For years, I believed pausing meant falling behind. Now I know it’s the opposite. Pausing is how you stay grounded in the chaos. It doesn’t have to be big—five minutes of stillness, a walk around the block, or blocking “think time” on your calendar. Pausing isn’t weakness. It’s what allows you to improve your well-being, increase your productivity and lead better in this nonstop world. 

Momentum Micro-Move: Each morning, ask yourself: What’s on my must-do list today? Not the hundred things calling for your attention—the one to three things that matter most. Starting here resets your focus and helps you respond instead of react.

Why it Matters:
A must-do list helps you reclaim control from the noise. It shrinks the “so muchness” into something manageable and fuels confidence when you finish what matters most.

2. One of the most powerful things you can do is let it go.

I used to call myself the General Manager of the Universe. Maybe you know that role? If I didn’t do it, it wouldn’t get done. But every season—raising kids, cancer, divorce, caregiving, building businesses, navigating change—taught me the same truth: I can’t do it all. And neither can you. Delegating, letting go, and trusting others doesn’t make you less of a leader. It actually makes you a stronger one.

Momentum Micro-Move: Resign as General Manager of the Universe. Hand off one thing this week and let it go. Say out loud: “I trust you.”

Why it Matters:
When you let go, you lighten your load and create space for others to rise. Delegation builds trust, strengthens teams, and breaks the illusion that you have to carry everything alone.

3. Progress—especially the messy kind—beats perfection every time.

Perfection is the enemy of momentum. Waiting until everything is just right only keeps you stuck. What builds confidence—and resilience—is keeping the promises you make to yourself, even the small ones. When you do that, your trust in yourself skyrockets.

Momentum Micro-Move: Keep a done list alongside your to-do list. At the end of the day, write down what you actually finished, no matter how small. And celebrate that!

Why it Matters:
A done list shifts your brain from scarcity (“look at all I didn’t do”) to progress (“look at what I’ve accomplished”). It reinforces that imperfect action is better than no action at all and that resilience is built by bouncing forward one small step at a time, especially in a world of uncertainty. 

Adaptability: The Core of Leadership Resilience

Adaptability isn’t about pushing harder or doing more. It’s about building what I call your Momentum Muscles—the everyday practices that help leaders stay grounded, lead themselves first, and bounce forward in a world of “so muchness.” When you strengthen those muscles, you expand your capacity, protect your energy, and create space to lead with clarity instead of chaos.

Here’s what I want you to know:
You don’t have to do it all.
You are allowed to pause.
You are allowed to let it go.
You are allowed to take imperfect action.

Because leadership in this season of so much change and uncertainty isn’t about carrying it all yourself. It’s about adaptability. It’s about grace-filled permission. It’s about leading yourself first—with grace, grit, and grounded momentum—so you can show up stronger for others without losing yourself.

And when you do, you model what sustainable resilience looks like—for yourself, for your team, and for those you serve. That’s how momentum multiplies—person by person, team by team—creating Unstoppable Momentum™ even in a world of “so muchness.”

Your Turn: What’s one thing you’re letting go of this week—one pause, one imperfect step, one way to reclaim your momentum? Share it in the comments or with someone who needs this reminder.

Here’s to leading with strength and heart—without losing yourself.

Kim