I find it fascinating – really, kind of wild – that some people go through life without ever looking within. No real self-reflection. No pause to ask:
What am I thinking?
How am I showing up in the world?
What’s driving me? What’s motivating me?
And listen, if you’re just living your life and minding your business, that’s one thing. But if you’re out here leading people – especially if you’re claiming to help them – how are you not making self-awareness a priority?
It’s embarrassing to be in a position of influence and not understand yourself. Because whether you realize it or not, your patterns, your fears, and your unresolved stuff? It spills over into how you lead. And if you’re doing this in the name of God? Then let me ask – have you even read what scripture says about it?
I was curious. So I looked into it.
The Bible Has a Lot to Say About This
1. If You’re Leading, You’re Held to a Higher Standard
“Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” — James 3:1
If you’re leading people – whether in business, faith, or life – you don’t just get to wing it without consequences. You’re responsible for the impact of your words and actions. And if you’re not checking yourself regularly, how do you know you’re leading with wisdom instead of personal bias?
2. Self-Examination Isn’t Optional
“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.” — 2 Corinthians 13:5
It’s easy to call other people out, but scripture makes it clear: You are supposed to check yourself first. Are you really walking the talk? Or are you just saying the right things while moving through life on autopilot?
3. Your Intentions Matter
“All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.” — Proverbs 16:2
This one hit me. Because let’s be real—people justify all kinds of nonsense in the name of “doing good.” But God isn’t fooled. He sees beyond surface actions and looks straight at why you’re doing what you’re doing. If your motivation is control, recognition, or feeding your own ego? That’s not leadership. That’s self-serving.
4. Blind Spots Are Real – And Dangerous
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” — Matthew 7:3
If you’re leading without self-awareness, you’re probably missing some big blind spots. And that means you’re making decisions, giving advice, or influencing others from a place of personal distortion. That’s how harm happens – often unintentionally, but harm nonetheless.
5. Leadership Is About Service, Not Control
“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” — Matthew 20:26
Real leadership isn’t about being in charge. It’s about serving others. And you can’t serve well if you don’t even understand yourself. If you’re not regularly pausing to check in with God, with yourself, and with how you’re actually showing up, then who exactly are you leading?
So, Let’s Be Honest…
When was the last time you actually sat with yourself and asked:
Am I leading from a place of wisdom—or just habit?
Are my words and actions actually aligned with what I claim to believe?
What’s really driving me right now?
Because if you’re not asking those questions, then what are you really doing?
If your leadership – whether in business, faith, or life – isn’t rooted in truth and self-awareness, then it’s rooted in something else. And if you don’t know what that “something else” is?
That’s a problem.