Reclaiming Your Confidence After Losing Control: A Faith-Filled Path to Bold Leadership

When Life Knocks the Wind Out of You

There are moments in life and leadership when everything feels out of control.

Not just the calendar or the workload—but your sense of self.

You no longer feel like the woman who once made things happen.

And instead of showing up with power, you're just trying to hold it together.

Maybe for you, it wasn’t a hospital bed like it was for me.

Maybe it was:

• The burnout you didn’t see coming

• A business setback that rattled your confidence

• A personal crisis that spilled into your professional world

• The slow erosion of joy, passion, or purpose

• Or just life feeling heavier than what you could carry on your own

Whatever it was, the outcome is the same:

You feel detached. Disoriented. Diminished.

What Detachment Feels Like

For me, detachment was physical.

I couldn’t feed myself. My hands were low functioning due to nerve damage and contractures.

My husband brushed my teeth. My mother brushed my hair.

My children helped lift me in a hoyer lift.

I had to be rolled side to side just to get dressed.

I was no longer modest because everyone had seen everything.

I wasn’t in control, I was being cared for. And while I’m grateful for that care, it also left me feeling like a case, not a person.

But even in that state, something powerful was happening.

The Healing Power of Human Touch

Though I felt invisible at times, certain moments grounded me in unexpected ways:

• Nurse Jenny—who didn’t just treat me, but saw me. She washed my face with a warm cloth and gently applied lotion to my skin—skin that had gone far too long without tenderness. Her touch reminded me I was still a person worthy of care.

• Nurse Sarah—who stayed an hour after her shift ended just to brush through my tangled hair. It wasn’t her job, but she did it anyway, and with gentleness that felt like grace in human form.

• Friends—who showed up and stepped in, even when it was uncomfortable. They helped shower me, held space for my vulnerability, and reminded me that love doesn’t always come dressed in ease. Sometimes it shows up in the mess.

  
  

These weren’t just tasks—they were acts of compassion.

They were moments that whispered: You are not a burden. You are still a blessing.

Reclaiming Your Confidence

Eventually, I began doing small things again—lifting a spoon, brushing my own hair, choosing my clothes. Each little win stitched a piece of myself back together, helping me reclaim my confidence.

And as my physical strength returned, so did something deeper:

• My voice

• My sense of purpose

• My willingness to be seen again

  
  

I started sharing my story. I showed my scars. I spoke about the hard things.

Surprisingly, that vulnerability made me more confident—not less.

For the Woman Who Feels Like She’s Lost Herself

If you’re in a season where your strength feels buried beneath the weight of your responsibilities or your past…

If your leadership feels shaky…

If your vision has blurred…

Please know this:

You are not broken beyond repair.

You are not behind.

You are not disqualified.

The Faith-Filled Path Forward

You don’t have to wait for the perfect moment to get back in the game.

You can rebuild while you’re still in recovery.

You can lead while you're rediscovering your voice.

Here’s what I’ve learned about coming back to life after losing control:

• God’s presence never leaves you—even when you feel lost.

• Your value is not tied to your productivity.

• Small steps count.

• Your story still carries power.

• You can rise and lead again—with more compassion, more wisdom, and more impact.

  
  

Your Detour Doesn’t Disqualify You—It Refines You

You may not feel bold today.

You may not feel ready. But boldness doesn’t always roar. Sometimes it whispers: “I’m still here. I still matter. And I’m not done yet.”

Take the next step—however small.

Let your faith steady you.

Let courage carry you.

Watch as the next chapter begins—not in spite of the detour, but because of it.