growth – Ruthann M. Wilson

Rebuilding Confidence: Steady Practices for Wisdom and Strength

Like stones balanced one by one, confidence is rebuilt through steady practices and the wisdom we carry forward.

When change arrives suddenly or asks more of us than expected, confidence can wobble before it steadies again.

Transitions in our lives and work can shake our confidence, especially when they ask us to stretch, release, or reimagine what comes next. Yet they also invite us to rebuild with the wisdom we’ve gained and the lessons we’ve carried forward.

Confidence is a steady trust in yourself: in your abilities, your choices, and the decisions you make. It is fluid. It grows through reflection, practice, and affirmation, becoming stronger each time you act with trust and intention.

When confidence is shaken, it doesn’t return all at once. It’s steadied slowly, through practices that keep you grounded, through visibility, and through acknowledging the contributions you have already made. And each time we rebuild, we do so with greater wisdom, carrying forward the lessons that shape us into someone stronger and more resilient.

Confidence is not about certainty. It’s about continuing to choose and act with trust and intention.

When confidence is shaken or feels diminished, pause and ask: Which practices help me feel steady, where do I want to be more visible, and which contributions do I need to acknowledge, honor, or celebrate as I rebuild with the wisdom I’ve gained.

Confidence is built in small, steady practices that remind us of our worth. Here are three ways to begin:

Morning Pause: Each morning, name one true personal quality you will bring into the day and let it remind you of your worth.
Micro-action: Choose one small act each day that expresses your gifts.
Reflection: At the end of each day, note where your presence made a difference.

If you’re moving through a season of completion or transition, you may find resonance in a recent reflection on Finishing Strong and honoring what you’ve carried to this point.

Thank you for pausing here. If my writing offered grounding or sparked a shift in you, I would be honored to hear what stayed with you.

You’re welcome to follow the blog to receive notifications of new posts, subscribe to the mailing list to receive new posts and updates directly to your inbox, or connect with me on social media, whatever feels most supportive.

Warmly,
Ruthann

Leading from Within: Why Personal Leadership Comes First

Inner clarity ripples outward.

What comes to mind when you hear the phrase leading from within? I invite you to pause, take a deep breath, and reflect on what that phrase stirs in you. Whether you’re guiding a family, a team, a community, or a congregation, authentic leadership begins within. It is shaped by inner clarity, rooted in vision, and attuned to what feels most true for you.

Guiding ourselves is a lifelong practice, shaped by reflection, realignment, and the courage to return to what feels true. This inner work is what shapes and builds integrity. Integrity is not a fixed state. It is a return to wholeness, a noticing of misalignment, and a gentle guiding back to congruence.

Personal leadership is the practice of living in alignment with your values, your rhythm, and your truth. Your values act as an inner compass, guiding what you embrace, what you release, and how you show up each day. Your rhythm is the pace and pattern that honors your energy, your seasons, and the flow of feeling. And your truth is what feels real and congruent. It is inner knowing that lives beyond performance and outside of the need for approval.

This kind of knowing becomes the foundation for making decisions that align with your values and support your growth. It nurtures relationships that feel safe and rhythms that sustain rather than drain your energy. When we lead ourselves with clarity, its impact begins to ripple outward. Outward leadership becomes more trustworthy, attuned, and sustainable so others may lead with clarity too.

This kind of leadership feels especially important right now. Many of us are rethinking how we live, work, and lead. Many of us are also feeling the pace and the pressure to perform, and finding reason to pause and reassess.

In a time when everything seems to be moving faster and trust feels fragile, inner clarity becomes a source of steadiness. It helps us shape lives that feel true and relationships that feel safe. It allows us to lead in ways that energize and inspire others.

Inner clarity shapes how we show up, how we speak, move, and reset. When we honor our personal rhythm, we show up with more presence and ease. When we speak from a place of alignment, our words carry weight and the potential to shape trust and what comes next. When we pause, reflect, and reset, we return to ourselves, able to lead from a place that feels steady, true, and sustaining. How we live becomes how we lead. And how we lead authentically begins with clarity within.

Reflections on Personal Leadership, shared in support of your leadership journey.

Personal vision begins within
Personal vision is inner clarity about what matters and what is yours to bring to life. Leadership guided by inner clarity offers steadiness, not because every step is mapped, but because the direction is true.

Values are your compass
Values are the principles and priorities that shape how you live, work, and lead. Values guide not only what you say yes to, but also what you release. When your values are clear, decisions become less about seeking approval and more about honoring what is true. Leadership begins when you choose alignment instead of approval.

Emotional clarity is foundational
Emotional clarity begins with noticing what feels true, what feels stirred, what feels off. This kind of clarity allows you to respond rather than react. It helps you lead with steadiness and create space for others to show up fully, because you have made space for yourself first.

Boundaries protect your energy and enable integrity
Boundaries clarify your role and create the conditions for sustainable leadership. Clear boundaries allow you to lead from a place of wholeness. When you honor your own rhythm, you lead in a way that feels true and steady.

Presence is powerful
People feel when you’re fully engaged: not distracted, not performing, simply present. Whether it’s in a meeting or a conversation, your attention communicates more than words. It shows that you’re listening. It shows that you care. Build trust by consistently offering others the gift of your full attention.

Leadership inventory offered as a way to reflect, realign, and return to what feels true.

What values are guiding me right now?
Are they clear, or do they need revisiting?
Where am I honoring my rhythm, and where am I overriding it?
What shifts might support more ease?
What feels congruent in how I’m showing up?
What feels off or performative?
Where might a boundary support my energy or integrity?
What would it look like to honor that boundary?
How does my presence feel to others?
Am I leading with attention, or distraction?

Move through the questions at your own pace. Let them deepen your inner clarity, and help guide how you lead from within.

Lead with clarity. Make space for others to do the same.

Thank you for pausing here. If my writing has offered meaningful insight or sparked a shift in how you see, feel, or move through the world, I would be honored to hear what stayed with you.

All the best,
Ruthann

Summer Reflections: Freedom, Growth, and Abundance

Each season brings gifts and opportunities for growth as we journey through the year.

June 20 marks the beginning of the summer season in the northern hemisphere. Summer themes include freedom, optimism, growth, and abundance.

Suggestion:

Create a powerful affirmation or two (short, positive statements) that align with the themes of the summer season.

Here are a few examples:

Freedom: I am free to choose what is best for my own life.
Optimism: I expect the best for my life.
Growth: I surround myself with people who want to see me grow.
Abundance: I am blessed beyond measure.

Begin and end each day with your affirmation.

Morning: State your affirmation out loud. Write it down three times in a journal or notebook. Sit with it for a few minutes. Repeat your affirmation throughout the day.

Evening: Reflect on your day in the context of your affirmation. Were your thoughts, words, and actions aligned with your affirmation? Write about your day in your journal or notebook.

Summer invites us to embrace growth, welcome freedom, and open ourselves to abundance in ways that feel true to who we are. The affirmations shared here are simply starting points, sparks to inspire your own words of intention. Let this season be an invitation to pause, reflect, and name what growth, freedom, and abundance mean to you. Use that clarity to shape affirmations that speak to your own path.

You can learn more about the power of affirmations here.

Thank you for pausing here. If my writing has offered meaningful insight or stirred a shift in how you see, feel, or move through the world, I would be honored to hear what stayed with you.

All the best,

Ruthann

In-Progress, LLC | Walk your path with intention, at your own pace

Weekly Reflection Prompts for Personal Growth

Each week carries its own rhythm. When we take time to look back and gently look forward, we honor our progress and invite clarity.

A weekly reflection, just 15–20 minutes, can become a sacred pause. It’s a way to gently realign, notice what’s unfolding, and make space for what matters most. I have outlined a few questions, best answered in writing, to help get you started.

Look back

What felt complete or meaningful this week?
What remains unfinished, and what might that reveal?
What did I learn?
How did I grow?
What felt aligned?
What felt off, heavy, or resistant? What gentle shift might help me meet it differently?
What felt like a gift this week?
Where did I offer presence, support, or light?

Look forward

What matters most in the week ahead? Why?
Based on my review of last week, what might I do differently in the coming week?

Let this weekly reflection become an anchoring practice. A way to honor your movement, your learning, and your becoming.

Thank you for pausing here. If my writing has offered meaningful insight or sparked a shift in how you see, feel, or move through the world, I would be honored to hear what stayed with you.

All the best,
Ruthann

In-Progress, LLC | Walk your path with intention, at your own pace

Career Journey: Things I’ve learned along the way

I’m grateful for a fulfilling career across multiple industries. In this post, I’ve shared a few practical lessons that helped me grow, adapt, and lead with purpose.

Be where you are

Know what’s expected of you and do it well. Being present means making the most of your current role: learn, grow, excel, and enjoy the work in front of you. It has a way of opening doors and drawing people and opportunities to you that will enable you to grow into your next role.
Learn from the past. Plan for the future. Live in the present by making the most of where you are right now.

Develop transferable skills

Develop skills that are relevant across roles and industries (e.g., communication, collaboration, problem-solving, adaptability, etc.). My career has spanned several industries including pharmaceuticals, telecom, consumer goods, and hospitality, made possible by developing and applying transferable skills.

Stretch Through Projects and Roles

Welcome assignments that help you stretch and grow. Growth doesn’t always come through promotion. Sometimes it’s a lateral move or a stretch assignment that helps you build new capabilities and prepare for what’s next. Embrace the journey of growing into your next role. Be as open to a lateral move or stretch assignment in your current role as you are a promotion if it will help you grow and ultimately achieve your career goals.

Listen & Learn

Feedback is a gift. Be open to constructive feedback from peers, managers, leaders, etc. Solicit feedback in a way that it is constructive and enables you to grow (e.g., behavior-based, example-based, suggestions for improvement, etc.). Ideally, leaders should include feedback gathered from business partners, peers, etc. as a part of mid-year and/or year-end conversations. If you’re not receiving regular feedback, ask for it, and be open to what you hear.

Surround yourself with people who want to see you grow

Spend time with people who genuinely want to see you grow. We all need inspiration, encouragement, reality checks, and people with whom we can be vulnerable in our personal and professional lives. Spend time with people who genuinely want to see you grow and be that person for others too.

Own Your Career by Knowing Yourself

Know your values, gifts, talents, passions, abilities, and areas of opportunity. Define what success means to you and revisit that definition as you grow. Your vision may evolve, and that’s part of the journey. Create a plan of action to bring your vision to life. Consider working with a mentor and/or coach. Know the difference between the two and work with them accordingly.

Thank you for reading. If this message feels true or timely, you’re welcome to share it with someone who may benefit by clicking on a share button below.

All the best,

Ruthann

In-Progress, LLC | Walk your path with intention, at your own pace

Journal Practice: Tips and Benefits for Reflection and Growth

In this short video, I discuss the benefits of beginning and maintaining a journal practice.

Thank you for taking the time to watch this video. If you know someone who might benefit from the message, please share it by clicking on a share button below.

All the best,

Ruthann

In-Progress, LLC | Walk your path with intention, at your own pace

Master Prioritization: Align Your Actions with What Matters

“Things that matter most must never be at the mercy of things that matter least.”—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Prioritization is a powerful way to bring clarity and focus to your life. Becoming aware of where you have gaps between what you say is important and what you actually do on a day-to-day basis is the first step to creating better alignment between priorities and actions.

This week’s challenge:

🔸Begin each day with a list of your three most important priorities and actions.

🔸End your day by reviewing your priorities and actions.

🔸Did you focus on your most important priorities? If so, make note of what helped you stay focused on your top priorities. If not, why not? Use what you learn to make changes/adjustments.

If there is a gap between your priorities and action, see it as an opportunity for personal growth. Recommit to your list of priorities and take action.

The same practice of prioritization that brings clarity to life also strengthens your ability to focus on career goals and professional growth.

All the best,

Ruthann

In-Progress, LLC | Walk your path with intention, at your own pace

Embrace Your Career Journey: The Power of Being Present

In addition to being a writer/author, I’ve had a long and fruitful career in corporate America. I had an opportunity to speak with a group of graduating students about my work and experience growing a career in a corporate setting. The students were a part of intensive training program that provided them with technical and professional skills. I love new beginnings and the energy of new graduates about to embark on their careers. I recall graduating from college and being excited about my first job post graduation. I had a very supportive supervisor and transition into my career.

One of the six career lessons that I shared with the graduates is to be where you are. The lesson was shared through a corporate lens; however, it’s also a powerful life lesson.

My message as it relates to being where you are in a corporate setting is to know what is expected of you, do your current job really well, and be open to new assignments/opportunities that can help you stretch and grow into the next role. Oftentimes, when people are early in a career, the goal is get to the next level quickly. The focus often becomes getting promoted/getting to the next level instead of learning, growing, excelling, and enjoying their current role. Moving too quickly can be problematic when an employee is promoted and not prepared for their next role. I encouraged them to be fully present and embrace the journey of growing into their next role.

The bigger life lesson is to live in the here and now; not in the past or in the future, but where you are right now. You can make the most of where you are by cultivating habits and practices that enable you stay grounded and present in your life. A few things to consider:

Give thanks for your life, even if it’s not exactly as you wish it to be
Reduce multi-tasking and focus on doing one thing at a time
Give other people the gift of your full attention
Spend time in nature and literally put your feet on the ground
Be intentional with your time
Breathe deeply
Meditate/embrace silence

Being where you are is about making the most of where you are right now. It has a way of opening doors and drawing people and opportunities to you.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. You can receive notifications of new posts by clicking on the follow button or click here to join my mailing list to receive email updates. If you know someone that might benefit from this message, please share by clicking on a share button below.

All the best,

Ruthann

In-Progress, LLC | Walk your path with intention, at your own pace

Summer Reflections: Freedom, Growth, and Abundance

Each season brings gifts and opportunities for growth as we journey through the year.

June 21 marked the beginning of summer in the northern hemisphere. Enjoy the gifts of this radiant season.

Suggestion:

Create a few powerful affirmations to align with the themes of the season. Learn more about the power of affirmations here.

You can receive notifications of new posts by clicking the follow button. You can share posts with others by clicking a share button below. Join my mailing list to receive email updates (Join mailing list).

All the best,

Ruthann

Link to autumn

Unlocking Your Intuition: 4 Essential Techniques

Your intuition is a rich source of information that is always available to you. There are many ways to tap into your intuition. Here are a few:

Questions: Ask your wise self a question and listen [deeply] for an answer. You may receive an answer immediately or it may take a few days or even weeks. Be patient and trust the process. Link to Harnessing the Power of Questions for Personal Growth.

Silence: Give yourself the gift of silence on a daily basis so that you can cultivate peace and calm to hear your inner guidance. Link to The Power of Silence.

Keep a journal: Put your thoughts on paper without filtering what you are writing. Review and reflect on what you have captured in your journal on a regular basis. Link to Journal Practice: Tips and Benefits.

Take action: Taking action on inner guidance opens the door for you to receive more.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. I hope you found it helpful. If you know someone who might benefit, please share it by clicking on a share button below.

All the best,

Ruthann