There’s something I’m seeing more and more across leadership teams right now.

Leaders are being asked to operate at an even higher level than ever before, often with fewer resources while navigating constant change, and teams that are also feeling stretched.

And leaders are asking themselves, ‘How do I sustain this?’

Recently, I had the opportunity to keynote speak about Leadership Resilience and Navigating Change for a group of senior HR leaders at Co-operators.

What stood out wasn’t just the conversation—it was the willingness in the room to pause, reflect, and talk honestly about pressure, burnout, and what it really takes to lead in today’s environment.

Have you ever felt like you are creating calm in the storm for others around you—while secretly feeling like you’re drowning inside? As leaders, we’re conditioned to be steady, composed, and always “on.” But the truth is, many of us carry the weight of impossible expectations, private doubts, and constant pressure.

As an Executive Coach, I want you to know leadership doesn’t just require us to create psychological safety for our teams—it requires us to create it within ourselves first.

Recently, I had one of those A-ha moments—the kind that makes you pause in your tracks and question something that’s been running silently in the background of your life.

I realized that almost everything I do has a purpose. A goal. An outcome.

Even when I think I’m doing something for me—like going to the gym or walking the dog—it’s often tied to a broader objective. Health. Productivity. Routine. Performance.

And while those are noble pursuits, I found myself asking: When was the last time I did something just for the joy of it?