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I used to think confidence meant always having the answer. That I needed to be the most prepared, the most articulate, the most composed.
But the truth is, my most powerful moments as a leader, coach, and mom haven’t come from having it all figured out. They’ve come from trusting myself when things were messy. Confidence, I’ve learned, isn’t loud. It’s not flashy. It’s quiet. Grounded. Present. It’s the voice inside that says: “I can handle this, even if it’s hard.” We don’t need to perform to be worthy. We just need to show up, with intention, courage, and a little breath at a time. Brilliance Practice: Reclaiming Confidence This month, try this: Think of a time when you didn’t feel ready—but you took the step anyway. Confidence doesn’t always look like certainty. Sometimes it looks like:
Bonus: My Confidence Playlist Here are three songs I return to when I want to feel grounded:
Let’s Stay in Motion Where are you being called to step forward with more confidence right now? Ready to share what’s unfolding? → Let's Connect
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As the days get longer and the earth starts to soften, spring reminds us that renewal isn’t just about doing more—it’s about doing what matters.
But here’s the truth: renewal doesn’t happen automatically. It requires intention. It requires awareness. And sometimes, it means facing where we’re depleted before we can truly bloom. I’ve felt this deeply myself. A few weeks ago, I found myself powering through—back-to-back meetings, late-night emails, juggling all the “shoulds.” On paper, everything looked fine. But inside? I felt disconnected from the very why that fuels me. It wasn’t burnout exactly. It was that subtle, sneaky misalignment that creeps in when we’re so focused on doing that we forget to be. One morning, I paused—just long enough to sit with a cup of coffee and a journal—and asked: Where is my energy actually going? And is it aligned with what I care about most? That simple moment of reflection gave me clarity. Not a full life overhaul, just a small shift: fewer yeses out of obligation, more space for quiet, for family, for creativity. And with that, my energy began to return—not from doing more, but from doing what mattered most to me. So often, we push through exhaustion, overwhelm, or misalignment because it feels easier to keep going than to pause and ask the hard questions. But sustainable growth starts by checking in—with ourselves, our energy, and what we actually want to carry into this season. 3 Ways to Reset Your Energy This Spring Notice the Leaks: Where is your energy going lately? Are you saying yes when you mean no? Are you overthinking, people-pleasing, or staying quiet when your truth wants to speak? Awareness is the first step to change. Shift the Story: Energy isn’t just physical—it’s emotional and mental. A limiting belief can drain you faster than a packed calendar. Try this reframe: “What’s the opportunity here for me to grow, learn, or let go?” Make One Powerful Shift: You don’t need a full reset—just one intentional pivot. That might mean taking something off your plate, asking for support, or returning to a habit that fuels you. This Month’s Challenge: Reclaim Your Energy Pick one area of your life—work, home, relationships, creativity—where your energy feels off. Then ask:
Now, take one small, intentional step. You don’t need to bloom overnight—just root into your truth and start there. Word of the Month: RENEWAL Renewal isn’t just about starting over—it’s about coming back to yourself.  As winter thaws into spring, we’re reminded that change isn’t always easy—it can be messy, uncomfortable, and even a little scary. But here’s the thing: discomfort is where growth lives.
So often, we hold ourselves back because it feels safer to stay where we are. But if you want to grow, evolve, and truly unleash your brilliance, you need to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Think about it—every major life shift, every transformative moment, is marked by discomfort. The awkward first step. The uneasy in-between. The moments of doubt. But what lies on the other side? Strength. Confidence. Fulfillment. 💡 3 Ways to Embrace Discomfort & Grow Through It:
🌟 This Month’s Challenge: Get Uncomfortable.Pick one area of your life—personal, professional, or emotional—where you’ve been playing it safe. Then ask yourself:
This March, let discomfort be your greatest teacher. 🌱✨ Word of the Month: BRAVERY Bravery isn’t the absence of fear—it’s the decision to move forward despite it.  I’m excited to share some valuable insights into leadership and how managing your energy can unlock new levels of potential. Whether you’re leading a team or navigating your own growth, the way you show up each day has a ripple effect on your success and impact.
Word of the Month: Intention Leadership is most effective when it’s intentional. It’s about aligning your actions, decisions, and energy with your core values. By leading with intention, you create meaningful connections and outcomes. This month, I encourage you to think about how you can be more intentional in your leadership—whether that’s in how you approach challenges, communicate with your team, or plan for the future. Leadership Goes Beyond Strategy—It’s About Energy We often get caught up in strategies and decisions, but it’s the energy we bring to those decisions that shapes the results. Leadership isn’t just what we do, but how we do it. Every conversation, every challenge is influenced by our energy. My Story: Leading Through Crisis During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, as Executive Director of a Destination Marketing Organization (DMO), I faced one of the toughest moments of my leadership journey. Imagine leading an organization whose core mission is centered around tourism—an industry that came to a sudden standstill overnight. Everything we had worked for was thrown into uncertainty. There were no clear answers, no roadmap, and every decision I made seemed to carry consequences that rippled far beyond the organization. As a leader, I felt a profound sense of responsibility. My team was looking to me for guidance and support, but I was grappling with the same uncertainty and fear as everyone else. It was a humbling realization that, as leaders, we don’t always have the answers. I had to make an incredibly difficult decision to temporarily let my entire staff go—a decision that weighed heavily on my heart because these were not just colleagues, but individuals who had dedicated their time, energy, and passion to making the organization thrive. The hardest part was delivering the news. I remember sitting down before the meeting, taking a deep breath, and asking myself, "How do I communicate this with integrity, compassion, and optimism when I’m feeling so much doubt?" It was a defining moment, not just as a leader, but as a human being. In that moment, I realized something powerful: while I couldn’t control external circumstances, I could control how I showed up. I had a choice—I could lead with fear and uncertainty, or I could manage my energy, staying present, intentional, and optimistic, no matter how difficult the situation. I chose the latter because I knew my energy would set the tone for the organization. If I faltered, the entire team would falter with me. I began to focus on leading with purpose, even as we navigated the storm. Each day, I made a conscious effort to remain grounded in the present. Predicting the future was impossible, so instead of dwelling on what we couldn’t control, I focused on what we could do in the moment. This shift made all the difference. As time passed and the world slowly began to reopen, I led the organization with renewed clarity and energy. It wasn’t easy, but by managing my own energy and inspiring others to do the same, we made it through the crisis. When it was time to rebuild, we did so with a stronger foundation, rooted in resilience, teamwork, and intention. This experience taught me that leadership is not just about making decisions—it’s about how we show up in the toughest moments. It’s about taking charge of your energy so that you can lead others with clarity, confidence, and hope, even in times of uncertainty. That’s when I truly began to understand the power of resetting in leadership. In moments of high stress, rather than pushing harder or reacting out of fear, I learned the importance of stepping back, recalibrating my energy, and then stepping forward with intention. This reset allowed me to lead from a place of empowerment instead of helplessness. This experience also inspired me to start my coaching practice, Brilliance Unleashed. Having seen firsthand the transformative power of energy management in leadership—both in my own journey and in helping others—I knew I wanted to dedicate my time to guiding leaders through their challenges. My mission is to help leaders tap into their energy, reset when necessary, and lead from a place of resilience and purpose. Simple Tips to Boost Your Leadership Energy
 Ego, in its simplest form, is our sense of self. It’s the voice inside our heads that tells us who we are, what we believe in, and what we are capable of achieving. It can be a source of confidence, driving us to pursue our goals with vigor. However, unchecked, it can also lead to arrogance, blinding us to our flaws and alienating those around us.
Ego is a double-edged sword. On one side, it fuels our ambition, giving us the confidence to step out of our comfort zones and chase our dreams. On the other, it can create blind spots, making us resistant to feedback and growth. The key lies in striking a balance—harnessing the positive aspects of ego while keeping its negative tendencies in check. Strategies for Balancing Ego
If we let our ego determine what we see, what we hear, and what we believe, we’ve allowed our past achievements to jeopardize our future potential. By understanding its dual nature and implementing strategies to balance it, we can harness its power for personal and professional growth. |
Unleash the life and leadership that light you up. Carrie Simmons, helps leaders reset, realign, and rise with purpose through coaching, strategy, and a spark of brilliance. Let’s create magic.
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