You know when a theme keeps showing up everywhere? Like the universe is holding up a mirror, asking, Are you paying attention?
Lately, for me, it’s deciding—or more precisely, the tension between decision and indecision.
I see it in my coaching sessions, in teams navigating uncertainty, in leaders circling around choices, waiting for a sign. But it’s not just them.
It’s me too.
I’m standing at the edge of some of the biggest decisions of my life. And if I’m honest, some days I feel bold and unstoppable. Other days, I feel like I’m staring into the unknown, wondering, What if I get this wrong? What if I don’t know how? What if I leap, and nothing catches me?
Because deciding—really deciding—means taking responsibility for what happens next.
It means there’s no hiding behind maybe. No waiting for the conditions to be perfect. No outsourcing the choice to time, or fate, or someone else’s approval.
And that? That’s exhilarating. And terrifying. And exactly the place where everything shifts.
Deciding Is Only the Beginning
I’ve been leaning into The Art of Deciding—choosing my life, again and again, instead of letting it just happen to me. (If you missed my last piece, you can read it here: The Art of Deciding).
But I’m realizing: Deciding is only the beginning.
Because the bigger the dream—the more impossible the vision—the more I need something deeper than just a decision.
I need a Stand.
Rooting in Who You Are to Create What’s Next
Lately, I’ve been guiding founders, leaders, and teams through defining their Stand. (Hat tip to Tracy Goss and her book The Last Word on Power for putting language to something I’ve felt for years.)
Not their next goal.
Not their job title.
Not their strategy.
Their Stand—the declaration of who they are being, no matter what.
And the shift? It’s electric.
✨ One client, stuck in a cycle of overworking and undervaluing herself, took a Stand for leading with balance and joy. She didn’t force new habits—her actions simply aligned.
✨ A leadership team, spinning in uncertainty, declared: “We create bold, human-first solutions, even when the path is unclear.” Suddenly, they weren’t waiting for certainty—they were leading.
Because here’s the truth:
📌 When you know what you Stand for, decisions become clear.
📌 When you know who you are being, your actions align.
📌 When you root in your Stand, you don’t just react to life—you create it.
And just so we’re clear—I’m living this alongside my clients. Even when that means jumping into the chilly Mississippi River as a way to connect with my Stand.
Standing Inside the Impossible
This 2025, I am committed to what feels impossible. This is the beginning of a growing list:
🌍 Letting the world be my home, again—coaching impact-driven leaders across borders, creating spaces where they feel deeply seen, heard, and connected.
📖 Birthing a book—words that have been waiting, stirring, gathering inside me for years. Never thought I’d say it, but here we are. Gulp.
🌱 Gathering the minds, hearts, and souls that crave depth—relaunching a global Braintrust for visionary leaders, coaches, and entrepreneurs who refuse to walk this path alone.
💛 Holding my children with open hands and full heart—as they step boldly into more independence at 14 and 16, knowing they are always, always held.
🌎 Leading, co-leading, and activating spaces of transformation across the world—rooms that pulse with connection, retreats that recalibrate what’s possible (next one is here), conversations that change everything.
❤️ Learning to let love in—fully, fiercely, without conditions. To be held as deeply as I hold. To soften without fear. To stand in love, unarmored, unguarded, and completely seen.
I don’t have all the answers. But I know who I am being as I step toward this.
And from that Stand, my actions naturally follow.
What Is a Stand?
A Stand is not a goal. It’s not a title, a role, or even a responsibility.
It’s who you are being, no matter the situation.
It’s what holds you steady when fear, uncertainty, or doubt try to pull you off course.
My Hope Stand
I stand for nourishing spaces where people feel deeply seen, heard, and connected—to themselves, to others, and to the infinite possibilities of their lives.
I stand for guiding open-hearted humans to lead with integrity and live expansive, purpose-filled lives.
This means…
✨ I meet people exactly where they are—without judgment, without hesitation, and with love.
✨ I create space where the messy, the complex, and the unknown are welcome.
✨ I weave together intuition, clarity, and strategy to help people move forward with courage and grace.
✨ I remind those I serve that their worth is innate and their potential is limitless.
Because here’s what I know:
If I am not rooted in my Stand, I am easily swayed.
By fear. By distraction. By doubt.
But when I live inside my Stand, it…
Clarifies decisions. Instead of reacting, I lead from my values.
Inspires others. People follow those who are grounded in who they are.
Creates transformation. I stop waiting for life to happen to me—I shape it moment by moment.
When things get hard—and they will—our Stand is our North Star.
So Let Me Ask You:
What do you Stand for?
Not your job. Not your goals. Not your achievements.
Who are you being in the world?
Explore: Your Stand
Book a call HERE. Let’s explore whether we’re the right fit to bring clarity to your life and turn your impossible visions into reality.
Join Me: The Art of Deciding Workshop Online
If this resonates, let’s go deeper.
On February 20, I’m hosting The Art of Deciding—a live workshop where we’ll explore the decisions shaping your life and nudge you to consider a Stand that will anchor you inside the impossible.
📅 The Art of Deciding Workshop – Feb 20
🔗 Save your spot: Sign Up
Apply: Winter Camp for Adults in the Laurentian Mountains, Quebec
A private, intimate weekend in the wilds of Quebec, designed for conscious leaders to stretch and challenge themselves in a wild setting. Spots are limited. March 27-30.
Check it out HERE and send an email with interest ASAP: hope@hopepaterson.ca
See you next week. If you enjoyed this read, please invite your friends.
In your corner,
With love,
Hope
Share this post