Grace Under Pressure

It’s the holiday season, which means twinkle lights, plans, parties… and for many of us, pressure.

Especially if you’re a "recovering perfectionist".

This is the time of year when we want things to go exactly right, every meal on time, every gift thoughtful, every detail handled just right. We tell ourselves, “It’s fine, I’ve got it,” while quietly holding our breath.

And, in reality, we all know that somewhere, somehow, along the way, something won’t go as planned.

We’ll forget a present. We’ll double-book an event.We’ll say something we wish we could take back.

Or we’ll just run out of bandwidth and realize… we’re REALLY tired.

And in those moments, we don’t need more pressure.

We need more grace.

The number one defense against perfectionism isn’t control, it’s self-awareness and self-compassion.

When we pause to notice how we’re feeling, the tension, the hurry, the fear of letting someone down, we can choose how to respond instead of reacting on autopilot.

Grace under pressure doesn’t mean lowering your standards. It means recognizing that your humanity is not a flaw in your leadership, it’s the foundation of it.

You don’t need to do it ALL. You just need to be in it fully, even if it’s messy, delayed, or imperfect.

What Self-Aware Leaders Do  

1. Notice Your Tells Where does stress show up for you? The jaw clench? The shallow breath? The mental checklist running at midnight?  The internal "martar" chatter? Awareness is the first cue to slow down before the spiral starts.

2. Name the Gap, Not the Guilt When something goes wrong, skip the self-blame. Try saying, “That didn’t go as I hoped, but I can repair it,” instead of, “I can’t believe I did that.”Compassion fuels accountability far better than criticism ever will.

3. Offer Yourself the Same Grace You’d Give Someone Else If a friend forgot a gift or snapped from stress, you’d tell them it’s okay, they’re human. Be that friend to yourself.

Reflection Questions  

• Where am I holding myself to impossible standards this season?

• What does grace look like for me when plans go sideways?

• How can I model calm recovery instead of panic perfectionism, at home and at work?

Because the holidays aren’t about perfection. They’re about presence.And sometimes, the most powerful thing you can bring to the table is your humanity: fully seen, fully felt, and offered with grace.

You matter. Especially when you give yourself the same kindness you give others. 💛

As many leaders begin looking ahead to 2026, we’re checking in to see how we can support their growth. Several clients are choosing to invest in self-aware leadership training now so they can enter the new year with clarity, confidence, and stronger habits. If that would be helpful for you, we’d love to chat.