Imagine if your worth wasn’t measured by how much you could carry.
Imagine being seen for your focus, your wisdom, your mastery, not how much you could pile on your plate.

Confidence doesn’t come from keeping up. It comes from finally stepping back and asking, “Is this even mine to hold?”

But in places where unrealistic expectations are the norm, that kind of confidence gets buried. The more capable you are, the more people ask of you, until the praise disappears and the pressure just keeps climbing.
And when there’s no recognition in sight, most leaders either burn out trying harder or start believing they’re the problem.

You’re not the problem.
The expectations are.

A young chef once found herself in this exact spot. She was told the only way to earn her place was to be flawless. Every dish had to be perfect. Every plate a masterpiece. No room for error. No time for rest.

Eventually, she stopped enjoying the food. Stopped sleeping. Stopped thinking for herself.
All she did was try to meet impossible standards, until she broke down during service.

After the rush, her mentor sat beside her and said:
“You’re not here to be perfect. You’re here to be great, and those aren’t the same thing.”

That moment didn’t lower her standards. It gave her the confidence to set her own.
To value growth more than approval.
To lead from skill, not fear.

That’s what confidence does.

It gives you the strength to see the expectations for what they are and decide what’s worth meeting.

Let’s explore how to rise, connect, and discover what that kind of leadership really looks like.