Ever had one of those weeks where everything felt off-beat? Like life played one song, but you were stuck dancing to another?
That week reminded me that success isn’t just about showing up, it’s about staying in rhythm with your purpose, even when the tempo changes.
Between cancelled flights, delayed plans, and tough conversations, that week was a test of patience and perspective.
From a Chicago layover to deep talks with family and reconnecting with my girls, I was reminded of something powerful:
Success isn’t a destination. It’s a rhythm you have to keep tuning.
And when life gets noisy, the goal isn’t to play louder, it’s to listen better.
I want to unpack that rhythm using my REAL Reflection Cycle™️ — Recognize, Evaluate, Adjust, and Launch. Because when your rhythm feels off, reflection isn’t a luxury. It’s a leadership skill.
1. Recognize: You can’t realign what you don’t acknowledge.
When my flight was cancelled in Chicago, I sat there frustrated, tired, and irritated. Not just by the delay, but by the disconnection. It’s easy to blame circumstances or people when things go wrong.
But reflection starts with recognition.
What’s really throwing you off?
Sometimes, it’s not the delay, it’s the feeling that you’re falling behind.
Leaders often skip this step. We jump straight to fixing instead of facing. But until you recognize the root cause; whether it’s exhaustion, resentment, or lack of clarity, you’ll keep repeating the same patterns.
Reflection Prompt:
What’s currently “off” in your life or leadership rhythm? Write it down. Name it before you try to fix it.
2. Evaluate: Shift your perspective before you shift your plan.
Talking with one of my Auntie’s this week reminded me that status means nothing if it costs your peace. Her stories about family, faith, and promises unkept made me pause and evaluate:
Am I leading from pride or purpose?
From position or peace?
Leaders often fall into the trap of performing instead of aligning.
When you take time to evaluate, you begin to see life not as punishment, but as preparation.
Try this:
Ask yourself, “What is this situation teaching me about myself?”
You’ll find lessons where you once saw losses.
3. Adjust: Real leadership is rhythm, not rigidity.
I came home to find my daughters thriving again. Big sister asking to go potty, Little sister progressing in therapy. Despite the chaos, growth was happening in the background.
It reminded me that leadership, like parenting, business, or marriage; isn’t about being perfect. It’s about adjusting with grace.
When the world feels off-beat, don’t fight the rhythm.
Flow with it. Realign. Then re-engage.
4. Launch: Don’t just bounce back — build forward.
The last part of reflection is not staying stuck in the lesson, but launching from it.
For me, that means approaching next week with a renewed mindset:
✔️ Stay grounded, not reactive.
✔️ Choose presence over performance.
✔️ Trust that peace is progress.
Success, I’ve learned, isn’t speed. It’s sync.
Summary:
You can’t control every delay, disappointment, or disagreement — but you can control your response.
When you feel off-balance, use the REAL Reflection Cycle:
- Recognize what’s really wrong.
- Evaluate with perspective, not panic.
- Adjust your actions with grace.
- Launch again with intention.
That’s how intentional leaders realign — not through force, but through reflection.
If you’re tired of feeling out of sync and want to start leading from peace and purpose again, download my free Intentional Leader Roadmap.
It’s your step-by-step guide to regaining clarity, alignment, and control over your rhythm.
Interactive Poll:
How in sync do you feel this week?
- ⭐ Totally aligned and flowing
- 😐 A little off-beat but adjusting
- 😩 Completely out of rhythm — need a reset
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