How to Connect with Your Soul: Leading from the Inside, Out.

Are you totally drained by the end of your workday?

Feeling stuck in your own head in cycles of stress and self-doubt?

Just all-around disconnected from the you that wanted this role in the first place?

You are likely experiencing stress and burnout, and you are not alone.

Recent data shows that 71% of leaders at any level are experiencing significantly more stress since stepping into their current roles. Among those, 54% are concerned about burnout, and 40% have considered leaving leadership behind entirely, even when they worked hard to land in the role they’re in!

Where do we go from here? It’s clear that something needs to change, and there’s one highly effective way to start:

Learning how to connect with your soul and leading from the inside, out.

At ALTAR, we believe leadership starts from within—by listening to the quiet wisdom of your soul. When you're aligned with that inner truth, leadership feels lighter, more intentional, and less reactive. You reclaim clarity, calm, and a deeper sense of purpose in your work.

So, have you checked in with yourself lately? If not, consider asking yourself:

• How do I lead when I’m feeling my best?

• In which environments do I thrive?

• What are the things—both large and small—that help me feel grounded?

• Are there times or places where I keep stumbling?

Self-reflection is a powerful buffer against burnout.

According to DDI’s Global Leadership Forecast for 2025, one of the most powerful buffers against burnout is self-reflection. An astounding 74% of leaders cite it as one of their top strategies for managing stress.

Learning to connect with your soul and practice greater self-awareness is more than a wellness gimmick. As we learned from our conversation with executive coach Jody Michael, cultivating true self-awareness should be the first, neuroscience-backed step to reduce stress, perfectionism, and burnout.

If you’re not sure where to start, you can try:

Taking note of when a moment, no matter how large or small, sets you off.

When you begin to notice the patterns of what shifts you from a place of calm to a place of stress, you have the data you need to begin making changes. You can keep a running note on your phone or even a small notebook to keep track.

Incorporating meditative practices throughout your day.

Belly breathing, body scanning, or your favorite guided meditation practice can give you dedicated spaces of calm. You’ll feel more connected to your body and mind.

Acknowledging your self-worth through affirmations.

Remind yourself of how far you’ve come and how proud you are of where you’re headed. Need inspiration? We wrote about affirmations and one of our favorite affirmation artists here.

Write down what's going right.

Write down 10 things that you achieved today, no matter how big or small. From completing a project, to sharing a laugh, or nourishing yourself well, recognizing these moments builds self-trust and nurtures your sense of wholeness.

Self-reflection, when done with compassion and intention, helps us build resilience from within. It invites us to lead not just with our minds, but with our hearts and our souls. Pick one of these tips and practice it for a week, then check in with yourself to notice any shifts in your stress levels.

At ALTAR, we believe in soulful leadership.

What is soulful leadership? It’s leadership that isn’t afraid to pause. To ask hard questions. To listen for what your soul is craving and honor it, even in small ways. When we strive to lead from this place, we don’t just reduce stress. We increase alignment within ourselves and our teams. We feel more satisfied. We feel lighter and more at ease.

There’s a power in staying connected to your soul—what makes you, you—it shapes how decisions are made, how relationships are built, and how thriving becomes possible.

ALTAR Community, located in Chicago’s Logan Square, is holding space for women in all levels of business and leadership to reconnect with themselves. If you’re ready to explore soulful leadership in your own work or within your organization, we’d love to meet you. Learn more about us here.