Sometimes it just takes one sentence, heard at the right time, to change how we lead and how we live.

“Don’t let anything get in your way,” he said.

Seven weeks ago, I had treatment for a long-term back injury, thanks to the ingenuity of Dr. Paul Winston and his incredible team. I’m very lucky. I have the mobility to move, and I don’t take that lightly. Exercise, for me, is as much about psychological well-being and mental acuity as it is about physical health. After that treatment and recovery, I remembered those words and got started again, even when it felt hard as heck.

“Don’t let anything get in your way” became my mantra as I protect a few days of precious time off to recharge this month, even as inspiring opportunities to serve wonderful clients keep knocking at the door. And let’s be honest, the to-do list that comes with adulting can feel endless at times.

“Don’t let anything get in your way” reminds me to stand in my values and say “no” to projects that, while intriguing, don’t align with the clear criteria I’ve set for the work I want to say a true “hell yes” to.

It also nudges me to make space for creative joy, like experimenting on the potter’s wheel my almost 80-year-old dad surprised me with last weekend. There’s always time to spin, get hands dirty, and create something imperfectly beautiful, even when life feels full.

From reclaiming energy and motivation, to asserting boundaries, to leading in values with stronger alignment, to stepping into playful creativity, “Don’t let anything get in your way” has stayed with me.

I owe thanks to Scott Richardson M.A. (Leadership Training) MCC, a mentor coach and faculty member of Royal Roads University, who whispered those words to me at the close of our program, now years ago. He saw the fire in me to coach others to do great things and build healthier human systems. But I can’t serve that mission if I’m not equally conscious of what gives, versus drains, my life energy.

Sometimes all it takes is one mantra to inspire motivation, clarity, and alignment. For me, it’s this one.

Now it’s your turn:

– What if you applied these seven wise words to your life?

– What barrier might you move aside to make space for what really matters to you and how you lead?

– Or what if this sparks another truth in you, one that shapes your very own mantra to guide you forward?

Enjoy the reflection and until next time, may you live, lead and love with fervor!

Eva