Recently, I caught up with my long-time friend, Kim Specker, a leadership coach I’ve known for years. Kim radiates joy; it’s one of her defining qualities. But when we sat down together, she shared something that struck me deeply: “I decided to renew myself in 2025.”
The year 2024 had been extraordinarily difficult for Kim. In February, she lost her mentor of 32 years, a woman who had been her anchor through decades of life’s ups and downs. Her newborn grandson required open-heart surgery. Her mother, for whom Kim had been the primary caregiver for 12 years, passed away. Then her mother-in-law died. All while running her coaching practice and caring for another grandchild.
By December, Kim realized she was depleted; mentally, physically, and emotionally spent.
So, to use her words, she made a radical choice: to renew herself. Letting go of performance requirements and meeting the expectations of others.
She gave herself permission to restore. To rest. To stop pushing and simply allow whatever needed to come, to come. She stepped back from the relentless forward motion we’re all conditioned to maintain and just… breathed.
The transformation was remarkable. Kim entered 2026 with renewed energy. She landed a long-term consulting assignment that lights her up. She describes herself as more present than she’s ever been, ready for her next season with genuine enthusiasm.
Her concept of “renew” isn’t about giving up; it’s about giving yourself space.
Here’s how you might renew yourself when times get tough:
- Grant yourself permission to pause. You don’t have to keep performing at peak capacity during your hardest seasons. It’s okay to say, “I’m going through something, and I need to slow down.” This isn’t failure; it’s wisdom.
- Trust the process of healing. Kim didn’t have a five-step plan or a timeline. She simply trusted that rest and time would restore her. Resist the urge to control every aspect of your recovery. Sometimes the best thing you can do is get out of your own way.
- Stay open to what emerges. Renewal creates space for unexpected possibilities. Kim’s consulting opportunity came because she was present and available, something that wouldn’t have been possible if she’d stayed in survival mode.
Renewal isn’t resignation. It’s a recalibration. It’s trusting yourself enough to know when to step back so you can eventually step forward with renewed strength.
Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is simply let go.
Happy Networking!