I started playing little league fast-pitch softball in third grade. It was more than a game to me—it was movement, momentum, and magic. That love stayed with me, even after my competitive days ended.
Each year, I find myself captivated by the Women’s College World Series (WCWS). The energy. The precision. The stories behind the stats. This year, it was the Texas vs. Texas Tech final that pulled me in—but not for the reasons I expected.
During Game Two, Tech’s Alana Johnson stepped up to the plate. The camera flashed to a photo of her 11-year-old self at the very same WCWS, holding a handmade sign that read:
“Hey Mom and Dad, you will be watching me play here in a few years.”
She wrote it. She believed it. Her mother saved that sign. And now, she was in the stands watching her daughter’s dream come to life. In real time. On a national stage.
I felt it in my body. That was a full circle moment.
What Is a Full Circle Moment—and Why It Matters in Leadership
A full circle moment is when life loops you back to something once dreamed, declared, or desired—but this time, you arrive with more capacity, clarity, or courage. It’s not just a “comeback.” It’s a reckoning. A revelation.
And yet, most leaders miss these moments entirely.
Why?
Because we’re conditioned to chase the next big thing. Not to feel the thing that’s already here.
The Leadership Mistakes That Block Full Circle Moments
- Always accelerating. We move too fast to pause.
- No time to reflect. We skip the debrief, the integration, the soul part.
- Celebration resistance. We downplay our wins before they even land.
- Nervous system overload. When we’re dysregulated, we can’t receive resonance—even when it’s standing right in front of us.
But moments like Alana’s remind us: leadership is just as much about returning as it is about arriving.
Leadership Prompt:
Think of a time you found yourself exactly where you once dreamed of being.
What did you feel?
Did you let it in—or did you rush past it?
If this story spoke to you, leave a comment, or share it with a leader who needs to remember how far they’ve come. Full circle moments are rarely loud—but they’re always worth noticing.