Leading from Wholeness | Christian Leadership, Prayer Time, Imposter Syndrome, Identity, Christian Leadership Coaching cover art

Leading from Wholeness | Christian Leadership, Prayer Time, Imposter Syndrome, Identity, Christian Leadership Coaching

Leading from Wholeness | Christian Leadership, Prayer Time, Imposter Syndrome, Identity, Christian Leadership Coaching

By: Audrey Shelby - Podcaster & Leadership Coach
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About this listen

Does a lack of validation make you question your call to leadership?

Is fear of rejection preventing you from being your authentic self?

Does imposture syndrome hold you back from leading with power versus fear?

Do you want to serve in a meaningful way?

I am so glad you're here, friend. I’m Audrey Shelby, and I’ve been leading in the public sector for 20 years. I struggled with anxiety and thinking I wasn’t worthy to be in the roles I occupied. But through intentionally seeking God in prayer and His affirmation of who I was created to be, I now lead with confidence, joy, and purpose.

This podcast will help you identify the barriers that keep you from leading well. God has chosen you to shepherd over the job you’re in, the people you supervise, those children you’re raising, and the partner you have. Through the spiritual strategy of prayer and evidence-informed practices, together, we will tear down the lies that are keeping you from being free and successful as a leader.

Grab your hot chocolate and your journal, and let’s go!

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Episodes
  • Ep 08 | How the Anxious Leader Finds Peace

    Ep 08 | How the Anxious Leader Finds Peace
    Feb 19 2026
    Show Notes Are you leading while anxious? You're not alone. One in five adults battles anxiety, and as Christian women leaders, the weight of responsibility can feel crushing. In this episode, we're breaking down Philippians 4:4-9 into a practical, biblical prescription for finding peace in leadership: Prayer, Proper Thinking, and Proper Response. Plus, hear why the challenge you're facing might be exactly where God wants to meet you. The Executive Reality: 84% of executives say mental health impacts the bottom lineSleep and well-being are now recognized as core leadership toolsQuestion: How are YOU protecting your bottom line? PART 1: PRAYER – Bring the Worry to God Why Prayer Works: Prayer isn't informing God (He already knows)—it's inviting Him into your day-to-day. Like catching up with your best friend, this step alone releases worry. Be Specific (Philippians 4:6): "Tell God what you need"—not just "God help me," but detailed, specific prayers. Tool: Mindful Journaling When you're too perplexed to pray: Write what's coming up in the momentNotice physical sensations (racing heart, sweating, fidgeting, breathing difficulty)Write without judgment—just observe PART 2: PROPER THINKING – Reality Testing Key Scriptures: Proverbs 23:7: As a person thinks, so they areMatthew 6:27: "Can worrying add a single hour to your life?"Galatians 6:9: Don't grow weary—you'll reap if you don't give up Sometimes the Prayer Changes: "God, if You won't remove this, help me bear it with grace and perseverance." The 8 Virtues Framework (Philippians 4:8): Paul tells us to fix our thoughts on what is: True – Ground yourself in reality, not catastrophizingHonorableJustPureLovelyCommendableExcellentPraiseworthy Tool: Reality Testing (CBT Technique) When anxiety rises, ask yourself: What feelings are coming up right now?What's the actual worst-case scenario?What's the likelihood of this happening?What evidence supports this perspective?What's another way to look at this? PART 3: PROPER RESPONSE – Thanksgiving & Trust The Reframe: This Is an Opportunity God is trusting YOU with this problem. It's: An opportunity to practice faithA chance to apply what you've learnedA way to reveal God's goodness to othersA path to growth and spiritual maturity "Maybe you resonate with what I shared today. Maybe you lead a team member who does. Either way, anxiety doesn't have to be the boss. God is trusting you with this problem—not to crush you, but to grow you, to reveal His goodness through you, and to deepen your faith. The very thing you're anxious about might be the exact place God wants to meet you." Scripture References Philippians 4:4-9 (Main passage)Romans 5:3-5 (Trials build strength)Galatians 6:9 (Don't grow weary)Matthew 6:27 (Worrying adds nothing)Proverbs 3:6 (Seek His will)John 14:27 (My peace I leave with you) Resources Calm App Executive SurveyTherapy: Psychology Today, BetterHelp, your insurance providerDavid Jeremiah Study Bible Join us for the 2026 Pray Without Ceasing Conference, August 15, 2026 in Buena Park, Ca. Grab your tickets today Connect with Us Website: https://www.praywithoutceasingministries.com/ Merch: www.praywithoutceasingmerch.com Email: hello@praywithoutceasingministries.com Instagram: @AudreyTShelby
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    34 mins
  • Ep 07 | Stolen Identity - Imposter Syndrome

    Ep 07 | Stolen Identity - Imposter Syndrome
    Feb 11 2026
    Show Notes

    In this powerful episode, host Audrey Shelby takes listeners on a journey to uncover their true identity beyond titles, roles, and achievements. If you've ever struggled with imposter syndrome, self-doubt, or felt like you're constantly chasing the next accomplishment to feel worthy, this episode is for you.

    What You'll Learn
    • Your Core Identity: Why understanding yourself as God's workmanship (Ephesians 2:10) changes everything
    • Recognizing Imposter Syndrome: Common symptoms including self-doubt, perfectionism, fear of exposure, and negative self-talk
    • The Battle for Your Mind: How to recognize that not every thought is your own and why the enemy targets your faith
    • The CBT-Scripture Connection: How Cognitive Behavioral Therapy principles align with biblical truth about renewing your mind
    • Finding Your Purpose: The simple but profound answer to "Why am I here?"
    • Identifying Your Thieves: What's stealing your peace, joy, and confidence—and how to stop it
    Key Scriptures Referenced
    • Ephesians 1 & 2 - Who we are in Christ and our spiritual blessings
    • Ephesians 2:10 - We are His workmanship, created for good works
    • John 10:10 - The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy; Jesus came to give abundant life
    • 2 Thessalonians 3:3 - The Lord is faithful and will protect you from the evil one
    • Romans 12:2 - Be transformed by the renewing of your mind
    • Psalm 91:4-7 - God's protection and promises
    • 2 Corinthians 10:5 - Taking every thought captive to Christ
    • Ecclesiastes 10:19 - Money answers all things (context on stewardship vs. worship)
    Practical Action Steps This Week

    Exercise: Identify Your Thieves

    1. Take a sheet of paper and draw a line down the middle
    2. Left side: List everything that steals from you—negative thoughts, worries, circumstances, attitudes, even specific people. Don't overthink it, just write.
    3. Right side: Write a scripture that speaks truth against each thief

    Daily Practice

    • Focus on ONE thing from your list this week
    • Pray about it daily
    • When the thought arises or you encounter that person/situation, read your chosen scripture aloud
    • Use your notebook or phone's notes app to keep scriptures accessible
    Understanding Imposter Syndrome

    Imposter syndrome is the persistent feeling that your achievements are undeserved, stemming from self-doubt and the fear of being exposed as a fraud—despite evidence of competence.

    Common symptoms include:

    • Inability to internalize success (attributing it to luck)
    • Fear of being "found out" as a fraud
    • Perfectionism and overworking
    • Feeling uncomfortable with compliments
    • Procrastination due to fear of failure
    • Believing others are smarter or more capable
    Connect with Leading from Wholeness

    If this episode resonated with you, we'd love to hear from you! Share your insights and breakthroughs as you work through this week's exercise.

    Remember: You are not defined by your achievements, your job title, or your past mistakes. You are a child of God, created with purpose, redeemed by Christ's blood, and called to live abundantly.

    Website: https://www.praywithoutceasingministries.com/

    Merch: www.praywithoutceasingmerch.com

    Email: hello@praywithoutceasingministries.com

    Instagram: @AudreyTShelby
    Show More Show Less
    31 mins
  • Ep 06 | Obedience in Action: Trusting God with Your Leadership - Part 2

    Ep 06 | Obedience in Action: Trusting God with Your Leadership - Part 2
    Feb 4 2026

    SHOW NOTES

    Episode Overview

    In this powerful episode, we sit down with Brandon Shelby to explore what it truly means to walk in obedience to God, especially in leadership. We dive deep into the emotions that arise when God calls us to obey—reluctance, fear, and trepidation—and discover how surrender and trust transform our relationship with Him.

    Guest

    Brandon Shelby - @mr_brandondjshelby ; website: https://www.corporatefreeagency.com/

    Key Topics Discussed What Does Obedience Mean?
    • Understanding obedience beyond simple compliance
    • Our natural reactions to God's commands
    • The heart behind our obedience
    The Struggle with Obedience

    Reluctance - Brandon shares a personal story of being reluctant to obey God and what happened as a result

    Fear - The paralysis of not wanting to make mistakes and second-guessing what we've heard from God

    Trepidation - Wrestling with uncertainty when God requires something we don't understand

    Biblical Perspective: Doubting Thomas

    We explore the story of Thomas (John 20:24-29) and discover that asking questions doesn't disqualify us from God's calling. Brandon encourages listeners to explore their feelings when God requires something they don't understand.

    Key Lessons on Obedience
    • What Brandon has learned through his journey
    • Common places where we get tripped up
    • Obedience is surrender - and it's something we must do over and over again
    • Being inside God's will is the best place to be
    Featured Scripture

    Hebrews 5:7-9 (NLT) "While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. Even though Jesus was God's Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him."

    Philippians 4:6-9 (NLT) “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.

    Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

    And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.”

    Deuteronomy 8:11-18 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%208%3A11-18&version=NKJV

    Hebrews 5:7-9 - https://bible.com/bible/116/heb.5.7-9.NLT

    Psalms 25:12 - https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.25.12.NLT

    Key Quote

    John Bevere - "Holy fear keeps us connected to the wisdom of our Creator—the only One who knows what enhances us and what undoes us." From: The Awe of God

    Practical Application: How Do We Hear from God?
    • Spend intentional time with Him in prayer
    • Read and study your Bible regularly
    • Do it afraid.
    Resources Mentioned
    • Book: The Awe of God by John Bevere https://johnbevere.com/aweofgod/
    • Book: The Garden Withing by Dr. Anita Phillips https://www.anitaphillips.com/book

    Episode Takeaways

    ✓ Asking questions doesn't disqualify you from God's calling

    ✓ Obedience is about surrender, not perfection

    ✓ Even Jesus learned obedience through what He suffered

    ✓ Fear of the Lord connects us to divine wisdom

    ✓ Being in God's will is always the best place to be

    Connect with Us

    Website: https://www.praywithoutceasingministries.com/

    Merch: www.praywithoutceasingmerch.com

    Email: hello@praywithoutceasingministries.com

    Instagram: @AudreyTShelby
    Show More Show Less
    25 mins
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