Leading with Love: Finding Joy and Setting Boundaries That Build

Hey Friends,

Every morning, I start the same way. Coffee in hand, Bible open, journal nearby. It’s my rhythm, my anchor. Most mornings, it gives me peace. But some mornings carry a heaviness that even coffee can’t shake.

This morning was one of those. As I sat with my journal, I couldn’t help but think back to another heavy morning—September 11, 2001. I was at Central Grade School in Effingham, IL.

I can still see the faces. The confusion. The fear. One teacher in particular is etched in my memory. She was from New York, with family still living there. That day, her worry wasn’t abstract—it was personal. Her fear filled our hallways.

That moment taught me something I’ll never forget: adversity will either pull us together or push us apart. The choice is always ours.

Fast forward years later, I found myself in a leadership role, wrestling with that same choice. One night, my husband looked at me and said, “You care too much.” He meant it out of love—he wanted to protect me from the hurt that sometimes comes with leading.

But his words stirred something in me. Can you really care too much?

Here’s what I’ve learned: love is a superpower in leadership. It’s what allows us to serve, to build trust, to bring people together. But love without boundaries? That’s not sustainable. To truly love the people we lead, we must also take care of ourselves.

That means creating boundaries—not walls. Boundaries that protect our energy so we can keep showing up with compassion. Boundaries that allow us to keep choosing love, even when life feels heavy.

And recently, I had a powerful conversation about this very idea with my friend William Parker on the Lead with H.O.P.E. podcast. William is the voice behind Principal Matters and the author of a brand-new book that asks a question many of us wrestle with:

👉 What do you do when you feel stuck or wonder how to rediscover joy in your journey as an educator?

In his book, William shares wisdom from hundreds of interviews with high-achieving educators, offering a roadmap for moving forward differently. He invites us to think in pathways instead of limiting options, to embrace curiosity, and to use inquiry, experimentation, and systems as tools for lifelong growth.

Our conversation is packed with insights on rediscovering joy, building sustainable habits, and scaling your influence without losing heart. If you’ve been feeling the weight of leadership or wondering how to keep joy alive in your work, this episode will inspire you. It drops this Saturday!

🎙️ Listen here: [Lead with H.O.P.E. Podcast with William Parker]

And because I don’t just want to inspire you—I want to equip you—I also created a new tool for you: Boundaries that Build. It’s designed to help you put brain-aligned, heart-centered boundaries in place so you can sustain wellness, restore clarity, and create cultures where others can thrive.

Here’s the link: Boundaries That Build

But there’s one more thing.

Community is a group of people who are dealing with the same thing you are dealing with.

Leadership can feel heavy. It can feel lonely. But it doesn’t have to be. That’s why I’m creating a space where we can wrestle with these questions together, encourage one another, and practice building boundaries and habits that sustain joy.

Beginning October 8th, I’m inviting you into a new 6-week community experience. Each week, we’ll gather to connect with leaders who truly get it—leaders navigating the same challenges you are, committed to learning, growing, and rising together.

This isn’t just another program. It’s a space for encouragement, accountability, and real conversations about what it takes to lead with love and resilience.

Because leadership isn’t about loving or caring less—it’s about loving wisely. And when we choose to lead with love, joy, and healthy boundaries, we rise—and we bring others with us.

With heart and hope,

Brandi Kelly, Ed.D., LCSW
Chief HOPE Officer, Spark HOPE Edu, LLC

✨ Have you grabbed your copy yet?
Lead with H.O.P.E. is more than a book—it’s a guide to leading with heart, building resilience, and rediscovering joy in the journey. If you’re ready to lead with hope (and bring others with you), you’ll want this on your shelf. 💛