Leading Thoughts for September 25, 2025

IDEAS shared have the power to expand perspectives, change thinking, and move lives. Here are two ideas for the curious mind to engage with:

Matt Cooke on surrender:

“Surrender isn’t giving up; it’s letting go of the need to control what’s never been yours to carry. There’s power in releasing the grip. In trusting the process even when you can’t see the outcome. You weren’t meant to figure it all out; you were meant to feel your way through it. When you surrender, you create space. When you trust, you allow movement. That’s where things shift, not through force, but through flow. So, if it feels uncertain right now, that’s okay. You’re not lost. You’re just in the space between. Let go. Lean in. And trust that what’s meant for you knows exactly how to find you. So, remember, surrender isn’t giving up, it’s allowing in.”

Source: Beyond Wanting: The Art of True Manifestation

II.

William Vanderbloemen on self-awareness:

“Being self-aware makes you better at finding solutions. Knowing yourself comes with a guaranteed pinch (or more) of humility, so when a self-aware person is faced with a challenge, they can decenter themselves from the issue. Being self-aware is knowing all about you while knowing that it’s not all about you. Whatever the crisis, the Self-Aware remain even-keeled and committed to the goal. A great summary of how self-awareness can serve you in a crisis is the first few lines of Rudyard Kipling s “If.” It’s all about keeping calm while others are losing their heads.”

Source: Be the Unicorn: 12 Data-Driven Habits that Separate the Best Leaders from the Rest

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Look for these ideas every Thursday on the Leading Blog. Find more ideas on the LeadingThoughts index.

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