Leading from the Scar, Not the Wound

Raw wounds are dangerous places to lead from.

They distort vision, amplify emotion, and make everything personal. When leaders operate from unhealed pain, they often bleed on people who didn’t cut them. There is no shame in being wounded. But there is responsibility in recognizing when it’s time to lead and when it’s time to heal.

Scars, however, tell a different story.

Scars are where the fire touched you but did not destroy you. They are the visible reminders that you endured. That you faced something unbearable and walked out carrying wisdom in its place. Leading from the scar means you remember the pain, but it no longer controls you. You share the lesson without projecting the trauma.

This is the difference between catharsis and clarity. Catharsis vents. Clarity guides.

Those who lead from the scar walk with empathy, not ego. They listen more than they speak. They hold space for others without being swallowed by their own story. If you’re still in the storm, pause. Don’t try to preach while drowning. Heal first. Then return as a lighthouse.

Next: The Firestarter's Dilemma—When your gift is ignition, how do you keep from burning everything down?