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Redefining Success: A Life You Lead, Not Just a Role You Play

Leadership often demands a lot—focus, energy, and dedication. But what if being a great leader wasn’t about giving more, but about living more? What if true leadership came from a place of balance, where health, joy, and freedom weren’t luxuries but essentials? What if you simply modeled what you believe?

This isn’t just a nice-to-have mindset; it’s a powerful approach that sustains you and inspires others. They see you do it and then realize it also brings success and joy. 

Health: The Foundation of Leadership

Your energy fuels your vision. Without prioritizing your physical and mental health, your ability to lead diminishes. Reflect on these questions:

  • Am I taking care of my body with movement, rest, and nourishment? Consistently?
  • Do I give myself permission to recharge mentally and emotionally? How often?
  • How can I model well-being for those I lead? And as a reminder to myself?

Remember, health isn’t selfish—it’s strategic.

Joy: The Spark of Fulfillment

Leadership doesn’t have to feel heavy. It can be an act of freedom and creativity. Joy is what connects you to your purpose and reminds you why you started this journey. Ask yourself:

  • What brings me genuine happiness in my day-to-day life?
  • How can I integrate more play, curiosity, and gratitude into my work?
  • When was the last time I celebrated—not for what I achieved, but for simply being?

Joy is contagious; when you embrace it, others follow. Give them the opportunity. 

Freedom: The Space to Thrive

True leadership means having the freedom to focus on what matters most. But freedom isn’t just given—it’s created by making intentional choices. Reflect on:

  • Where am I overcommitted? What am I proving? and what can I let go of?
  • How can I create space for creativity, visioning, and connection?
  • What does freedom mean to me, and how can I honor it in my life?

Your Challenge for This Month:

Pick one area—health, joy, or freedom—and commit to one small change this week. Maybe it’s a daily walk, reconnecting with a hobby, or saying no to something that doesn’t align with your priorities.

Balanced leadership isn’t about doing it all; it’s about doing what truly matters. When you lead from a place of health, joy, and freedom, you don’t just build success—you build a life worth living.

Dorothy

Dr. Dorothy’s life story of coming from an orphanage, being raised in the housing projects of South Boston, becoming a Catholic nun, an international airline stewardess, a wife, mother, graduate faculty member, Clinical Instructor at a Medical School, and so much more provides the perfect backdrop for her message of joy, humor, passion and faith as the necessary tools for life.