Moving Forward While Letting Go of What No Longer Serves You
Recently I found myself at a familiar crossroads for leaders striving to improve their ability to make quick decisions and balance work and life: an invitation to a high-profile work event. Think DAVOS!
Attending would open doors, but it would come with a cost. The decision loomed. Instead of spinning in circles, I put down my Google calendar, phone, and endless WhatsApp messages and turned to pen and paper. This small step to face myself on the page is one I have taken many times but have mostly neglected recently. I’m not the only one who turns to journaling to figure things out and enhance leadership acumen. Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, Oprah Winfrey, Arianna Huffington, and many others have done it too.
Within minutes of sitting down to write, clarity began to emerge—the pros, the cons, and my true priorities unfolding in ink. That quiet moment led me not just to a choice but to peace. I’m doing this, I decided and then realized what I thought was the obstacle, my daughter’s pivotal event, became the way.
I said no to the coveted, high-profile gathering and in doing so something interesting happened. The people I wanted to connect with at the event reached out and said let’s have a one-on-one meeting afterwards. I won’t get the accolades that would have come with being there but will benefit from the outcome of meeting more directly and enriching current and new work relationships.
Throughout my life, challenges and opportunities like this have come and gone, each needing sorting, prioritizing and reflection. What’s urgent? What’s just noise? What is inspiring? Most importantly, how can I hear my voice amidst it all?
Quietly at the Desk:
Here’s how I did it so you can try it too. I took one small step. Picture this: after a day filled with decisions, challenges and triumphs, I sat quietly at my desk. The world outside hums with noise, but here, in this moment, there is calm. I reached for a journal, its pages blank, waiting for thoughts, to put pen to paper—and with that simple act, I began to unlock clarity, strength and purpose. This isn’t just a mindful exercise, it’s a leadership tool as old as time, practiced by warriors, philosophers and history’s greatest leaders.
The Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, facing war and political turmoil, turned to journaling. His private reflections, later known as Meditations, were never meant for the world. Yet through his writing he honed his ability to lead with resilience, empathy and purpose. He learned this practice from his mother, a leader in her own right, who instilled in him the discipline of reflection and the understanding that leadership begins within. “Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be,” he wrote. “Be one.”
Today, leaders face battles of a different kind—market shifts, competition, complex human dynamics—but the principle remains the same: before we can lead others, we must lead ourselves.
When I discovered the commonplace books and journals of my ancestor, Princess Esperanza de Sarachaga-Bilbao, I saw how journaling could chronicle a life filled with business, politics, romance and loss. Her journals were part art, part chaos, capturing everything from reflections on music to messy, raw thoughts. In one entry she detailed a pivotal decision: to support an artist financially or invest elsewhere. Her doubts and convictions filled the pages, yet through her writing, clarity emerged. This decision helped a little-known artist at the time, who we now know as Wagner. Journaling also helped her decide to send military and financial aid to the Kingdom of Bavaria during the war with Prussia. Even amidst the whirlwind of her life, she had a method—her personalized process to sort through it all and lead with intention.
The Warrior’s Inner Practice
In ancient Japan, samurai followed Bushido—the “way of the warrior.” Journaling was their internal practice, a means to develop the unshakable clarity required for split-second decisions. Before facing the chaos of battle, they faced themselves on the page. These warriors knew chaos begins in the mind, and only by calming that inner storm could they lead with wisdom and strength.
Journaling for Today’s Leaders
Some of today’s most influential leaders use journaling as a secret weapon. Oprah Winfrey credits it with helping her process gratitude, setbacks and vision. Arianna Huffington calls it a tool for reflection, preventing burnout and reconnecting with purpose.
Imagine sitting with your journal at the end of the day, to capture the small meaningful bits of life and to wrestle with bigger questions: What did I learn today? How did I lead? Where can I grow? That act of writing doesn’t just document our lives—it shapes who we are becoming.
Why Every Leader Needs a Journal
Journaling is a powerful practice that benefits leaders in innumerable ways, including these three:
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Clarity in the Storm: Journaling clears the mental fog, untangling complex concepts to see a path forward with precision.
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Emotional Mastery: It provides a private space to process frustrations, celebrate wins and cultivate empathy—essential for resilience.
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Legacy Building: A journal can capture one’s growth, lessons and insights, becoming a treasure trove of leadership wisdom for future generations.
A Night to Remember: Journaling with Your Daughter
One evening I said to my 10 year old daughter, “We’re journaling because this is what warriors have done for thousands of years.” We made it an adventure—not just a quiet activity but a bold act of self-discovery.
I invited her to decorate the pages, dream big and ask herself deep questions. Now it’s a gift I try to give my daughter nightly, a chance for her to discover her own inner warrior and to love and compete against herself.
The Warrior Within
I told her, leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about asking good questions, staying grounded in the storm and growing into the leader those looking up to us need.
“The Obstacle becomes the way.” -Marcus Aurelius
By Stephanie de Sarachaga-Bilbao
Princess Stephanie de Sarachaga-Bilbao is best selling and award winning, coauthor of the Winner of the Los Angeles Critically Acclaimed Book Award and Los Angeles Tribune #1 Bestseller, and Best Seller in Barnes and Nobles, “Triumphs of Transformation: Inspiring Stories of Resilience and Life Change” She adeptly combines her rich heritage with modern business leadership, propelling her legacy forward with strategic insight and a commitment to societal progress. Despite her prestigious background, Stephanie had to pave her own way through resilience and determination. She excels in private equity, venture capital, and real estate, transcending borders and impact across the US, Europe, Mexico and Israel. Named one of Israel’s most influential women, she has significantly shaped fashion, culture and technology startups, focusing on female empowerment and ethical AI development. She is a leader and committed to a better digital world for women through her work as an Advisory Board member of the social network of Communia, a company recently highlighted in Forbes. Her fusion of innovation and community upliftment defines her unique approach to business and social entrepreneurship.
Originating from the esteemed Garcia de Leon family of Mexico and the Princely family of Sarachaga-Bilbao, Stephanie is also a cultural ambassador for the Le Pays Charolais-Brionnais in France, where her family founded the Musee de Hieron in the mid 19th century.
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