{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"The Secret to Leading Without Losing Yourself","description":"If you\u2019ve ever thought \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with me? Why can\u2019t I just handle this like everyone else?\u201d... this one\u2019s for you. Because nothing\u2019s wrong with you. You\u2019re not \u201ctoo emotional.\u201d You\u2019re not lazy for wanting more freedom in your schedule. And you\u2019re definitely not broken because hustle culture makes you want to burn it all down. This week on The Cycle Advantage Podcast, I sat down with Jessica Steele, a former high school principal who walked away from a picture-perfect career to become a leadership and energetic alignment coach. We went all in on the conversations most people avoid\u2026the ones about humanity, emotional intelligence, and what it really takes to lead without losing yourself. Why This Conversation Matters We live in a world that celebrates doing over being, reacting over pausing, and \u201cleaving your feelings at the door\u201d like that\u2019s a badge of honor. But suppressing your emotions doesn\u2019t make you stronger; it disconnects you from yourself. And when you\u2019re disconnected from yourself, it\u2019s impossible to lead with clarity, empathy, or confidence. Jess and I talked about what happens when you finally stop trying to fit into a life you never consciously chose\u2026 and start creating one that actually works for you. What You\u2019ll Hear in This Episode \u27a1\ufe0f How Jess climbed the career ladder without ever stopping to ask if it was her ladder to climb \u27a1\ufe0f The turning point moment that made her question everything she thought she wanted \u27a1\ufe0f The cost of living by society\u2019s script (and why so many women don\u2019t realize they\u2019re doing it) \u27a1\ufe0f The difference between reacting to a trigger and carrying someone else\u2019s energy \u27a1\ufe0f A simple question that can diffuse almost any emotional outburst \u27a1\ufe0f Why pausing before reacting will change your relationships at home and at work \u27a1\ufe0f The role of meditation, stillness, and nervous system regulation in leadership \u27a1\ufe0f How to raise kids who see differences as normal and humanity as non-negotiable 3 Key Takeaways You Can Use Today \u2705 Your emotions are data, not flaws. Anger, fear, sadness\u2026 they\u2019re all information. When you learn to sit with them instead of suppressing them, you stop making decisions from a triggered place. \u2705 Ask yourself: \u201cWhat\u2019s true for me right now?\u201d That tiny pause between feeling and reacting can be the difference between a fight and a productive conversation. \u2705 Lead yourself first. You can\u2019t offer empathy, clarity, or grounded leadership to others if you haven\u2019t practiced it with yourself. Why It Matters If you\u2019ve been living on autopilot, following rules that were never meant for you, and measuring success by someone else\u2019s yardstick, you will burn out. Not because you\u2019re weak, but because you\u2019re human. And humans need connection, stillness, and space to breathe. When you reclaim your humanity and lead from that place, you don\u2019t just create better results\u2026 you create a better life. This Episode Is For You If\u2026 \u27a1\ufe0f You\u2019re tired of white-knuckling your way through work and life \u27a1\ufe0f You want to respond thoughtfully instead of reacting instantly \u27a1\ufe0f You\u2019ve been told emotions don\u2019t belong in leadership (and you\u2019re ready to call BS) \u27a1\ufe0f You\u2019re craving inner alignment before another strategy, hack, or to-do list item \u27a1\ufe0f You want to model emotional intelligence and empathy for the next generation Meet Jessica Jessica Steele is a leadership and energetic alignment coach who\u2019s spent nearly two decades transforming lives through purpose-driven leadership. With a background in psychology, secondary education, and instructional design, she\u2019s served as a high school principal and held various leadership roles, all while staying rooted in her mission to empower others. Her journey hasn\u2019t been linear\u2014it\u2019s been guided by intuition, soulful pivots, and a deep trust in her inner knowing. From one-on-one and small group coaching sessions to large-scale PD for schools and organizations and launching the Dear Jess app and The Empowered Educator Series, Jess continues to merge strategy with soul to elevate leaders from the inside out. A published author, passionate creative, and devoted student of energy, Jess brings empathy, alignment, and authenticity into every space she enters. Whether she\u2019s coaching, hiking in nature, or creating tools for conscious leadership, she leads with love\u2014and lives with intention. Ready to Grow Your Business in Flow Without Burning Out? If you\u2019re a coach, healer, or feminine leader scaling to $10K\u2013$20K months and tired of hustle-based strategies, here\u2019s your next step\u2026 \u2714 Apply for Your Cycle Advantage: A 6-week business planning program that teaches female entrepreneurs how to create a cycle-synced business strategy, build consistent $10K months, and grow without burnout. For the woman ready for aligned business planning, feminine CEO leadership, and sustainable income growth\u2026 \u2714 Join the Flow Collective Mastermind: A high-level mastermind for women entrepreneurs scaling to $20K+ months using cycle syncing, feminine business strategy, wealth energetics, and embodied leadership For those cycle curious and ready to get started with understanding your body and its impact on your income and business\u2026 \u2714 Grab Your Free Cycle Sync Your Business Book: A guide to planning your coaching business around your menstrual cycle. Designed for women ready to stop hustling and start syncing for more impact, income, and ease. ","author_name":"The Cycle Advantage","author_url":"https:\/\/www.renaefieck.com\/podcast\/","html":"