Real power is knowing you’re not the Higher Power
Because micromanaging was never your Higher Power’s idea.
As a person in long-term recovery, sometimes I just struggle to let go even though I have the tools. Even though I know my life and everyone else’s life is better when I do. Even though, when I finally release the death grip, life flows at a pace that is so much more manageable - and yes, even happy.
But here’s the honest truth:
I can know all of this in my head and still find myself clenching a tighter, white-knuckling life, and trying to control everything around me. Old habits die hard, especially when fear, stress, or uncertainty come knocking. Letting go doesn’t mean I suddenly forget the principles I’ve learned over the years. It means I need to be reminded again that control is an illusion and trust is a choice.
In recovery circles, we talk a lot about “turning it over.” Some call it trusting God. Others say Higher Power, Spirit, the Universe, or simply “something greater than me.” What you call it doesn’t matter. The essential point is this: you’re not it. I’m not it. None of us are. And the moment we step back and recognize that, leadership gets lighter. Because the role of “all-knowing, all-controlling” belongs to no one in the workplace and trying to play that role only leads to burnout and broken trust.
Here’s what happens when leaders don’t let go:
- They micromanage their team until everyone feels suffocated. (This used to be my personal go-to.)
- They obsess over outcomes they can’t guarantee, losing sleep in the process.
- They grip harder when things get uncertain - and in doing so, they choke out innovation, trust, and team morale.
Sound familiar? It’s the professional version of trying to run everyone else’s lives, only to end up exhausted and resentful.
The paradox is that when I loosen my grip, things actually start to work better.
My recovery deepens, my relationships improve, and my leadership becomes clearer. The more I practice trusting God, or handing things over to whatever I call my Higher Power, the more freedom I create for myself and for others.
So what does “letting go” look like in action?
- Delegating without hovering over your team’s shoulder.
- Allowing people to make mistakes without rushing to rescue them.
- Choosing decisions based on values instead of fear or ego.
- Saying, “I don’t have all the answers, but I trust the process.”
This isn’t soft leadership - it’s powerful.
When a leader lets go of control and places trust in something bigger, it signals confidence. It says, “I know what’s mine to carry and what’s not.” That kind of steadiness builds respect faster than any title ever could.
Now, I won’t pretend it’s easy. Trusting a Higher Power requires humility. It requires admitting we don’t have the whole picture, that our plans might not be the best plans, and that we have to release the outcome. It’s counterintuitive in a culture that worships control and productivity.
But here’s the shift: real leadership doesn’t come from control. It comes from clarity. And clarity can’t emerge if we’re frantically trying to run the show in fear of what might happen.
Here’s a practice for this week:
Write down everything that’s weighing on you; the meetings, deadlines, problems, worries. Circle the ones you can actually influence. Put a line through the ones you can’t. Then, make a conscious decision to let those go. Pray, meditate, journal whatever your version of “trusting your Higher Power” looks like. Don’t just think about letting go. Practice it.
Because here’s the truth: when I let go, my recovery stays solid. My relationships strengthen. And my leadership becomes more grounded, more credible, and more authentic. I stop reacting out of fear and start responding out of values.
And that’s where the real magic of leadership happens - not in playing God, but in trusting that we don’t have to.
For a simple step toward lighter leadership, take the FREE Expert Integrity Quiz. See my bio for the link.
Real power is knowing you’re not the Higher Power
Because micromanaging was never your Higher Power’s idea.
As a person in long-term recovery, sometimes I just struggle to let go even though I have the tools. Even though I know my life and everyone else’s life is better when I do. Even though, when I finally release the death grip, life flows at a pace that is so much more manageable – and yes, even happy.
But here’s the honest truth:
I can know all of this in my head and still find myself clenching a tighter, white-knuckling life, and trying to control everything around me. Old habits die hard, especially when fear, stress, or uncertainty come knocking. Letting go doesn’t mean I suddenly forget the principles I’ve learned over the years. It means I need to be reminded again that control is an illusion and trust is a choice.
In recovery circles, we talk a lot about “turning it over.” Some call it trusting God. Others say Higher Power, Spirit, the Universe, or simply “something greater than me.” What you call it doesn’t matter. The essential point is this: you’re not it. I’m not it. None of us are. And the moment we step back and recognize that, leadership gets lighter. Because the role of “all-knowing, all-controlling” belongs to no one in the workplace and trying to play that role only leads to burnout and broken trust.
Here’s what happens when leaders don’t let go:
- They micromanage their team until everyone feels suffocated. (This used to be my personal go-to.)
- They obsess over outcomes they can’t guarantee, losing sleep in the process.
- They grip harder when things get uncertain – and in doing so, they choke out innovation, trust, and team morale.
Sound familiar? It’s the professional version of trying to run everyone else’s lives, only to end up exhausted and resentful.
The paradox is that when I loosen my grip, things actually start to work better.
My recovery deepens, my relationships improve, and my leadership becomes clearer. The more I practice trusting God, or handing things over to whatever I call my Higher Power, the more freedom I create for myself and for others.
So what does “letting go” look like in action?
- Delegating without hovering over your team’s shoulder.
- Allowing people to make mistakes without rushing to rescue them.
- Choosing decisions based on values instead of fear or ego.
- Saying, “I don’t have all the answers, but I trust the process.”
This isn’t soft leadership – it’s powerful.
When a leader lets go of control and places trust in something bigger, it signals confidence. It says, “I know what’s mine to carry and what’s not.” That kind of steadiness builds respect faster than any title ever could.
Now, I won’t pretend it’s easy. Trusting a Higher Power requires humility. It requires admitting we don’t have the whole picture, that our plans might not be the best plans, and that we have to release the outcome. It’s counterintuitive in a culture that worships control and productivity.
But here’s the shift: real leadership doesn’t come from control. It comes from clarity. And clarity can’t emerge if we’re frantically trying to run the show in fear of what might happen.
Here’s a practice for this week:
Write down everything that’s weighing on you; the meetings, deadlines, problems, worries. Circle the ones you can actually influence. Put a line through the ones you can’t. Then, make a conscious decision to let those go. Pray, meditate, journal whatever your version of “trusting your Higher Power” looks like. Don’t just think about letting go. Practice it.
Because here’s the truth: when I let go, my recovery stays solid. My relationships strengthen. And my leadership becomes more grounded, more credible, and more authentic. I stop reacting out of fear and start responding out of values.
And that’s where the real magic of leadership happens – not in playing God, but in trusting that we don’t have to.
For a simple step toward lighter leadership, take the FREE Expert Integrity Quiz. See my bio for the link.
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