Dear Friend,
I see the weight of leadership pulling your shoulders low, and I want you to know it’s alright to set that weight down for a moment.
Allow yourself to rest when your body and mind plead for relief. Even the strongest oak needs quiet nights to stand tall come morning.
Step away from your desk at a reasonable hour tonight. Trust your team to carry on until dawn.
I know the kind of exhaustion that sinks into your bones, a weariness born from caring deeply and fighting daily for your mission.
It is lonely. I know. You may be a fortress for everyone else, but even fortresses have gates — allow someone caring to walk through yours and sit with you a while. No great leader truly leads alone.
The responsibility you carry is crushing, and it’s commendable that you feel it so intensely — it means you care. Remember that not every burden is yours alone to bear. Trust your colleagues to handle your delegation. Permit yourself to not be perfect, and forgive yourself for yesterday’s mistakes. Every failure is a lesson, not a verdict on your worth.
Protect your own flame. Eat meals away from your screen, tasting your food and recalling there is a world outside of emails and meetings. Spend an hour on something that brings you joy — read a chapter of a novel, listen to a song that moves you, water your plants — anything that isn’t work. These small moments of peace are fuel, without which your passion cannot burn bright. Treat this time not as stolen luxuries but as necessary maintenance of your spirit.
You became a leader to change the world for the better, and in doing so you’ve given so much of yourself. Know that it’s okay to reserve a little piece of yourself for you.
When the nights are longest and doubts creep in, remember the lives you’ve touched and the good you have done — no doubt those people remember it too. Let their unseen thanks bolster you when praise is scarce. In the silence of your office after everyone leaves, close your eyes and recall one success, however small, and let pride warm you. You deserve that warmth; you’ve earned it by pouring your heart into this work.
Tomorrow, the sun will rise and the world will still need your courage and compassion. But tonight, and whenever you feel overwhelmed, promise you will pause and care for yourself as faithfully as you care for others. Leadership is a long journey, and pacing yourself is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. By taking these tangible steps — resting, sharing, delegating, and nourishing your soul — you ensure that you can continue to give this world the best of you rather than what’s left of you.
You are not alone in this, even when it feels like it. Every sentence here is a hand on your back and a voice in your ear saying you can do this, but you must also breathe. Take care of yourself, my friend, and in doing so, you will lead with even greater strength and grace.
Sincerely,
A Friend Who Understands