🎤 Behind the Roar | December 6, 2025
I was asked a question recently that stopped me in my tracks:
“How do you not shrink — and choose to become more of who you are?”
I didn’t have to think long about my response. This question has been sitting right under the surface of my heart these past few months.
My answer was simple:
“It takes a lot of self-discipline, self-affirmation, and stubborn refusal to step back from what you know is right and true. We’re all built with resilience—sometimes we forget, but all it takes is a gentle reminder to discover it again.”
I always strive to bring my whole, authentic self into every encounter—every conversation, meeting, or relationship. Yet, especially in corporate spaces, authenticity continues to be quietly questioned. Not because you’re not showing up as yourself, but because someone else projects their own uncertainty onto your strength, your skillset, or your presence.
Over time, I’ve noticed a broader trend: high performers are often placed into roles without the training or support needed to thrive. Let me explain this further. When personnel and skill gaps are left in projects due to attrition, promotions, or leaves of absence, it is often the high performers who are called upon to step in and fill those gaps. But the expectation is that the high-performer will perform at 110% on day one in the role—because the gap needs filled immediately.
And then when the inevitable struggle appears, they are blamed for it. Even though they were not set up for success from the beginning—never provided the right training, proper support, or the oversight of someone experienced in that role.
“It’s just business” becomes the justification. But the people behind that business deserve better.
Without diving into details, I’ll simply say this:
I have found myself sitting in that same uncomfortable crossroads after 26 years in a company I poured my heart into. The timing was unexpected. It was painful. And it challenged my belief in fairness in ways I didn’t anticipate.
But it also did something else—something I didn’t expect:
It awakened my curiosity.
This month’s theme, Awaken Curiosity, couldn’t be more timely for me. When life shifts beneath your feet, you always have a choice:
Shrink back.
Or look inward and ask: “What is this moment trying to reveal to me?”
Being inquisitive isn’t just about asking questions—it’s about being willing to examine your life with honesty, courage, and possibility.
After leaving a 26-year career, I made an intentional decision to turn my questions inward:
- What truly excites me?
- Where do I feel most purposeful?
- What parts of myself have I been waiting to explore, because I put them off?
- Who am I becoming now that I recognize I have outgrown the space I previously filled?
And those questions led me somewhere beautiful.
I decided to invest deeply in myself—not out of urgency, but out of curiosity.
Each day now, I devote focused time to:
🎧 Studying for the certifications that will support my next career chapter
✍️ Writing (including a little magical middle-grade fantasy you’ll hear more about soon…)
🎹 Playing piano every single day, returning to a passion that has always grounded me
📚 Building my author life with intentionality and joy
Inquisitiveness has become my lifeline—not frantic questioning, but purposeful exploration.
Because curiosity isn’t about finding a quick answer.
It’s about discovering the parts of yourself you haven’t fully met yet.
And honestly?
This version of me—the one who’s asking deeper questions, listening inward, and allowing herself to evolve—feels more aligned with my values than I’ve felt in years.
What I believe even now:
Kindness still matters.
Compassion still matters.
Authenticity still matters.
Truth still matters.
You still matter.
If you’re walking through something hard—if your authenticity or identity feels threatened—please hear me:
You’re not alone.
Dig deep.
Stay curious.
Be selfishly stubborn.
Be persistent.
Ask the questions your heart has been whispering.
And let your roar be loud and full of purpose—not from certainty, but from courage.
Together—let’s keep roaring with our authentic, inquisitive voices.
— With Gratitude,
Ronda 💛
📖 Want More?
Authenticity is built one intentional choice at a time—and curiosity is what helps you uncover who you truly are.
If you’re ready to step into your own unshakeable power, grab your signed copy of Roar Like A Woman and explore the journey within.
👉 Order your signed copy of Roar Like A Woman here.