I woke up at 3 a.m., gasping for air, tears already falling, my heart pounding like a drum in my chest. I slipped out of bed as quietly and quickly as I could, careful not to wake my husband.

I grabbed the closest blanket, stumbled outside, and collapsed onto the patio—wrapped in a fluffy blanket and fear—searching the stars for something steady, hoping to avoid a full-blown panic attack.

I remember wrapping myself tight with that blanket like it could hold me together. And then it hit me: I was wrapped in the blanket given to me by the boss who had just fired me.

I wanted to scream. To throw it into the dark night. To unleash every four-letter word I was taught as a child never to say.

And then
in the darkness
I sensed God say:

“He doesn’t cover you. I cover you.
For 20 years, you’ve built other men’s visions.
Now it’s time to build the vision I’ve given you.”

That moment unraveled me. And reoriented everything.

This painful interruption wasn’t just happening to me. It was happening for me.

Transformation doesn’t happen passively. It comes with your participation.

In our holistic leadership framework, we begin with physical wholeness because it is most important for life, but spiritual is most important for meaning.

Your spiritual wholeness is expressed through every dimension, particularly with a sense of purpose, meaning, vision, passion, and values-based decisions.

As ancient wisdom says, “without vision [or meaning], people perish.”

 

Two Requirements for Transformation

I wish transformation happened more easily. But like all sacred things, it’s rarely instant and never accidental.

Openness and willingness are the two requirements for transformation. And those are both by

• partnering with God in who you’re becoming.
• remembering that your pain can become the place of supernatural power in your life and leadership.

You won’t become the fullest version of yourself by accident.
Do the work to get the results.

 

Articulate Your Values

So, where can you begin?

One of the most powerful starting points? Knowing your core values.

Your values are the 2–3 guiding forces that shape how you live and lead.
They simplify your decisions because they clarify what matters most.
When your values are unspoken, your decisions become reactive.
When your values are clear, you become anchored, aligned, and activated.

We adapted our Patron Saint Brené Brown’s values exercise from Dare to Lead into a tool specifically for high-capacity leaders like you.

“What’s even more important than achieving your goals is honoring your values. Success is living your values, not just achieving your goals.”
– Adam Grant, Hidden Potential

 

3-Steps to Decision-Making Ease & Alignment

When life feels overwhelming, your values become your compass.
But they only guide you if they’re named, known, and lived.

Click here Brené Brown’s List of Values.

Naming your core values is a practical, powerful place to start. When your values are clear, your choices get easier.

 

Two Big Thoughts & One Aligned Action

After you articulate your top 2–3 core values, remember this:

• Values evolve.
  Your values may shift as you grow. That’s not failure—it’s transformation.

• Misalignment creates tension.
  When your life and leadership don’t match your values, you’ll feel it—in stress, dissatisfaction, or resentment.

What’s one decision you’re currently facing?
Look at your 2-3 core values.
What becomes clear when you use them as a filter?
Even if the next step isn’t obvious—take one small aligned action and watch the path unfold.

 

My Favorite Five Resources

My spiritual life is more vibrant than ever but involves more than religious beliefs. These practices and resources have served me well in my life and my leadership journey.

• Practice daily meditation & prayer. This centers me in God and my calling.
• Practice a monthly day of silence & solitude. Nothing has kept me more grounded in purpose.
• Read Dare to Lead. Brené Brown casts a vision and roadmap for the future of leadership that we live out daily at Ezer & Co.
• Read In the Name of Jesus. For the last two decades, Henri Nouwen’s book has my go-to for spiritual leadership. A sacred guide to mutual, communal leadership.
• Watch “Forgive Assholes”. In under 2 minutes, Nadia Bolz-Weber offers a potent perspective on the power of forgiveness.

 

Your Next Step

Now that you have more clarity on what spiritual wholeness looks like, download our Spiritual Guide: Overview & Pro Tips for specific next steps aligned with your goals that you can implement today.

If you want a full review of how you’re doing holistically in your life and leadership, take our proprietary 120-question Wholeness Assessment take it here: www.ezerandco.com/wholeness-assessment. It’s practical, holistic and will give you actionable steps to help you grow and reach your fullest potential.