Ep. 18 - Beyond Hating Your Body: True Leadership Starts With Self Leadership with Elizabeth Sherman

What if your “safe problem” is secretly holding you back from your next breakthrough?
That weight, that exhaustion, that story you’ve been telling yourself—what if it’s just a distraction from the bigger leap you're meant to take?
Welcome  to Beyond the Quo with your host, Stacey Luces. In this insightful episode, we explore the critical importance of self-leadership with Elizabeth Sherman, a master certified life and health coach. Elizabeth shares her journey into health coaching, sparked by a personal mission following her mother's battle with breast cancer. 
Stacey and Elizabeth delve into why self-care is foundational to effective leadership, the impact of diet culture, and strategies for achieving body neutrality. They  also touch on the broader implications of health on leadership efficacy, generational attitudes towards wellness, and practical tips for prioritizing personal well-being. Join them and learn how to redefine leadership from the inside out with the invitation to connect with a supportive community navigating similar challenges.
🎧 In this episode:
•        04:37 Generational Perspectives on Self-Care
•        05:54 The Oxygen Mask Analogy
•        07:38 The Impact of Health on Leadership
•        23:06 Embracing Body Neutrality
•        27:44 The Impact of Socialization on Body Image
•        28:45 Challenging Negative Body Thoughts
•        31:44 Identifying and Overcoming Safe Problems
•        34:36 Strategies for Better Health and Leadership

💡 Key Takeaways:
•        True Leadership Starts with Self-Leadership: You can't lead others effectively until you lead yourself well. This episode reframed leadership not as a title, but as a way of being—starting with how you care for your own body, energy, and mindset. Burnout, self-sacrifice, and depletion are not badges of honor; they are barriers to sustainable impact. Leading with integrity starts by honoring your own health and well-being.
•        Body Neutrality Is More Empowering Than Perfection: The goal isn’t to love your body unconditionally—it’s to stop hating it. Elizabeth introduced the powerful idea of body neutrality, which is about releasing judgment and shifting focus from appearance to functionality and gratitude. Instead of chasing an aesthetic ideal, the work is to build a relationship with your body rooted in acceptance, respect, and responsibility.
•        Your “Safe Problem” Might Be Sabotaging Your Potential: Many women unconsciously use health or weight concerns as a socially acceptable excuse to avoid taking risks.
The discussion around “safe problems” was a breakthrough moment—how we often let body dissatisfaction distract us from bigger, scarier goals like showing up, being visible, or chasing our next chapter. This self-sabotage hides behind productivity and perfectionism, but the cost is our power and visibility.
•        Micro-Shifts Lead to Macro Change: You don’t need a 5-hour morning routine to transform your life. Both of you emphasized the power of small, consistent actions—like drinking more water, walking for 10 minutes, or setting daily reminders—that build momentum and self-trust. Aligning wellness with purpose (like being healthy enough to travel with grandchildren) helps reframe self-care from “selfish” to strategic..

You’ve already done the quo—now it’s time to go beyond.
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✨ Connect with Stacey Luces: Free Global Community - Rising Beyond Power Collective: https://www.skool.com/risingbeyondglobalcommunity/about
📩 Connect with Elizabeth:
•        LinkedIn/Instagram: @elizabethsherman @elizabeth.sherman.coach
•        Website: elizabethsherman.com