Hey Friend,
Some days, you carry it all so well that people think it’s easy. But the truth is—it’s not. I know personally for a few decades now.
You’re raising a family, leading a team, running a business or department, serving in your church or community, and still showing up every day with excellence. You’re the dependable one—the one who makes things happen. But under that calm presence, there’s often an unspoken exhaustion—the kind most high-performing women won’t admit out loud.
This isn’t about complaining. It’s about being real. Because pretending that you can do it all, all the time, without rest or release, is a setup for burnout disguised as strength.
People talk a lot about “balance,” but what most women are really searching for is breathing room—space to reset, reflect, and realign. Do you agree? Balance isn’t the problem; believing you can meet everyone’s expectations and still have peace is the problem.
There’s no award for running yourself into the ground trying to keep everyone happy. You can’t keep everyone happy so stop trying. You will be stretched, falsely judged, misunderstood, disliked, gossiped about, undermined and more but that’s part of what servant-leadership looks like. That’s why boundaries and grace are essential. Boundaries protect what God gave you; grace allows you to breathe while you manage what He’s called you to do with the help of the Holy Spirit.
But let me say this for those in the back of the room: Not everything that comes your way is a God assignment. Some things are just expectations—and if you’re not careful, those expectations will bury the vision God gave you.
It’s important to ask yourself: Is this a God assignment or pressure from people?
Let’s talk about something else we may not say out loud…
Leadership can be a lonely walk—especially for women. Whether you lead in business, ministry, or corporate spaces, there will be moments when you will be misunderstood, or even dismissed because of your gender or your leadership style. Some men—and even some women—may resist your leadership, not because you’re incapable, but because your strength challenges their comfort. That’s not your problem to fix.
You don’t have to imitate men to lead well. God didn’t call you to be them; He called you to be you. Your leadership doesn’t need to be louder or harsher to be effective. It needs to be anchored in integrity, wisdom, and discernment. Women lead differently—not lesser. We bring, among other things, intellect, empathy, creativity, strategy, and spiritual sensitivity to the table. Not that men don’t. They do! It just looks differently, and the world needs both men and women and the way God made us as servant-leaders now more than ever. We need to unite!
God didn’t intend for us to walk alone on the journey of leadership. You can’t do this walk effectively alone. Every leader needs one or two people she can talk to without judgment—those who will listen, speak with wisdom, and encourage you to stay focused on what God said. Someone who reminds you to rest. Someone who prays with you when you’re weary. Someone who holds you accountable to the calling when you’re tempted to quit because of people’s behavior or due to your own personal challenges that come–sickness, illness, family situations and so on.
These are not just cheerleaders—they’re steady voices of faith and wisdom who help you stay grounded in your purpose. If you don’t have that kind of support, pray for it—and also be that kind of woman for someone else.
I learned early on in my walk with God as a leader, that there’s a sustainable rhythm leaders must protect—the rhythm between peace and productivity. When you live in that rhythm, you stop chasing approval and start leading from alignment.
Sustainable rhythm looks like:
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Guarding your prayer and reflection time as tightly as your meetings.
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Allowing yourself to rest without guilt. I’m still battling this one at times and I’ve been a leader for a long time.
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Structuring your days around purpose, not pressure.
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Listening for God’s direction before saying yes to another request. Ok, I saw you shake your head in agreement!
It’s not about perfection. It’s about protecting the space where peace and clarity live. Because when peace leaves, everything else begins to wobble—relationships, focus, creativity, even health.
Listen Friend, you’re not weak for feeling the weight of it all. What you are is human, called and capable! But even the strongest leaders need rest, connection, and grace.
So today, take a breath. Revisit your boundaries. Release what isn’t yours to carry. Something we are NOT very good at and remember—God didn’t ask you to do it all. He asked you to do what He called you to do.
Proverbs 19:21 says, Many plans are in a person’s mind, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
I want you to know that coming together with women in-person and virtually is important to me and not for nonsense but for real connection and collaboration–real sisterhood in business and leadership so stay tuned–The LisaShawCares Collective launches in 2026—a community where faith, leadership, strategy, and purpose collide. Stay connected at LisaShawCares.com and subscribe to the email list so you don’t miss the details when it’s time.
Remember, lead with peace. Work with purpose. Build with boundaries and grace. And trust God’s leading.
