Have you ever ignored your body’s whispers until it started to shout, or in some cases scream?
Most of us have. Especially those of us who lead — the ones others count on to keep going, keep smiling, keep showing up no matter what.
I know this pattern well.
I recently spent two unexpected weeks in the hospital when my body finally called a serious time-out. What I thought was “just stress” turned out to be something my body could no longer carry quietly.
As embarrassed as I am to say this, I ignored many of the signs that should have raised red flags.
While I had some quiet time alone, unable to do much but swallow the pills the nurses gave me, something powerful came into focus…
Leadership and wellness are not two separate conversations. They’re one and the same.
Your Body Is Part of Your Leadership Toolkit
You can’t inspire vitality if you’re running on fumes.
Yet so many leaders wear exhaustion like a badge of honor. We push through, promise ourselves rest later, and call it resilience.
But science is clear: when your nervous system is in overdrive, your empathy fades, creativity narrows, and decision-making suffers.
Your energy sets the emotional tone for everyone around you.
Calm and grounded leadership creates safety.
Frazzled and depleted leadership breeds anxiety.
Wellness isn’t self-care fluff — it’s strategic.
The Myth of Endless Capacity
We live in a world that still celebrates the “always on” hero.
But the best leaders I know — the ones who build cultures people want to stay in — are the ones who model balance and boundaries. They show that recovery time isn’t wasted time; it’s where renewal happens.
Think of it as one of your “Power Pauses.” A moment to breathe, recalibrate, and return with the ability to see more clearly.
Neuroscience tells us that even a few minutes of mindful breathing helps your brain shift from reactivity to creativity.
When was the last time you listened — really listened — to what your body was saying? I sure wish I’d been listening harder to mine.
An Invitation to Lead from Wholeness
Imagine what might change if you treated well-being as part of your job description.
If you made sure your self-care – exercise, whole foods, and rest (and recreation) were prioritized
If you scheduled pauses before your body scheduled one for you
If you led not just with your mind and heart, but with respect for the body that carries them both.
The next time you feel those whispers — the fatigue, the tension, the quiet “enough”, take it as wisdom, not weakness.
Because when the leader gets well, everyone benefits.
With you for the long game of human flourishing,
JoAnna
