Be the Woman the Moment Demands
Because sometimes the moment calls for stillness. And sometimes, for strength.
Hey hey,
This week, I fell down a YouTube rabbit hole (an admittedly guilty pleasure of mine), and in the middle of an entirely unrelated video, I heard someone say: “Be the man the moment demands.”
I blinked. Rewound. Then said out loud:
”Wait, am I the woman the moment demands?
Because the moment…?
She’s here. She’s loud. She’s layered. And she’s not waiting for us to get ready.
We are rounding out the final stretch of the year, and if your calendar looks anything like mine, it’s a color-coded storm of back-to-back meetings, holiday prep, Q4 wrap-ups, family stuff, professional pressures, and enough emotional whiplash to require a seatbelt and a clean-up on aisle 2!
And still…
We rise.
We lead.
We show up.
And it’s not always graceful. Sometimes, it’s gritty.
Back in my podcasting days (which I’m seriously considering resuscitating), I had a conversation with Jade Mathis, daughter of TV’s Judge Greg Mathis, about what it really means to “gracefully exist.”
We talked about how grace isn’t walking through life in and with perfect poise. It’s the pliability to bend without breaking. It’s the ability to hold tension in one hand and tenderness in the other. And some days? It’s having rope burn from holding it all together but climbing anyway.
I’ve had a few of those moments lately.
Recently, a “moment” demanded that I stop everything and just be. So I walked outside. I took off my shoes. I put my bare feet on the earth, tilted my face to the sun, and just breathed. On that day, the woman the moment demanded was tired. She needed grounding. She needed healing. And she deserved a break without guilt.
Another “moment?”
It demanded me to lead up and stand in the gap as a client unraveled from the weight of boardroom rebellion and internal chaos. That moment didn’t need my silence or my sympathy. It demanded my clarity. It demanded me to be truthful. It demanded a compassionate moment to level-set and to provide some tactful tough love to redirect the energy and focus it toward healing, accountability, and forward motion.
This is what it means to be the woman the moment demands.
It’s not always applause worthy. It’s not always tidy. But it is necessary.
This moment you’re in, my friend?
It’s asking you to be present. Not perfect.
It’s asking you to protect your peace. Not prove your worth.
It’s asking you to lean into the powerful woman you already are, even when you don’t feel like enough…and even if you feel like you’re more than enough (you are - so you might as well own it)!
So, here’s my nudge for the moment:
Let’s exist gracefully.
Let’s reclaim our presence.
Let’s be pliable enough to stretch, but rooted enough not to snap – literally & figuratively!
You don’t have to be everything to everyone. You just must be true to the best version of you.
And the woman the moment demands? She’s already inside of you!
Now, go on honey, go lead, go breathe, and let’s do this.
With grit & grace,
ICYMI
Want to Be More Productive? Try Doing Less
Sometimes the biggest leadership flex is not in doing more, but in doing less, better. This Harvard Business Review piece reminds us that busyness is not a badge of honor, and productivity doesn't equal burnout.
Read it here
Gracefully Exist with Jade Mathis
In honor of World Mental Health Day, take a listen to this powerful episode where Jade Mathis and I talk about navigating the hard stuff, showing up for yourself, and what it means to “gracefully exist.” A timely reminder that strength doesn’t always roar.
Listen to the episode
Favorite Thing (Right Now)
This season? I’m falling for fall.
At this moment, my favorite thing isn’t a product or a playlist, it’s a vibe. Give me all the oversized sweaters, warm mugs of cider and tea, crisp air during early morning jogs, the sound of colorful leaves crunching under my sneakers, and a juicy pot of mums at the doorstep. There’s something about fall that makes everything feel reflective and soul-filled, gentle, and grounding.
I’m here for it, and I hope you are too!
