As we step into a new year, it's easy to feel pressure to move faster, do more, and fix everything all at once — especially as a private practice owner. But what if faithful leadership doesn't look like reacting quickly… and instead looks like staying steady? To start 2026, I'm sharing a January solo podcast series called Staying the Course: Faithful Leadership in a Practice That Ebbs and Flows. This series is all about slowing down, discerning wisely, and leading your practice with consistency, faith, and stewardship — even when the numbers feel uncertain. In this first episode, Faithful Leadership When the Numbers Feel Unsteady, I talk openly about the fear that can surface when profit drops, caseloads fluctuate, or staffing changes shake your confidence. Drawing from my own experience as a solo and group practice owner, I explore why ebb and flow is not a sign of failure, how fear can disguise itself as "wisdom," and what it actually looks like to lead faithfully during unsteady seasons. We'll talk about: Why fluctuating income is normal in private practice How to avoid making reactive, fear-based decisions When to slow down — and when not to pull back The role of discernment, leadership teams, and faith in business decisions Why consistency matters more than intensity over time This episode is an invitation to pause, breathe, and reframe how you view uncertainty in your practice. Faithful leadership isn't about controlling outcomes. It's about steady stewardship, wise investment, and trusting God through every season of growth, loss, and change. If your practice feels uncertain right now, you're not behind. You're right where many faithful leaders find themselves, and you don't have to navigate it alone. 02:13 Slowing Down Is Not Quitting, It's Leadership 03:22 When the Numbers Get Weird, and Fear Shows Up 05:03 Ebbs, Flows, and Why This Is Completely Normal 06:59 The Year Half My Team Left and I Didn't Quit 11:12 When Fear Disguises Itself as "Wisdom" 13:49 My 24-Hour Rule for Big Decisions 19:08 Faithful Leadership Is Consistent, Not Flashy Links and Resources Looking for support and connection: Join the Wise Practice Community Learn More about Wise Practice Consulting Connect with Wise Practice on Instagram Connect with Whitney Owens on Facebook Check out all of the podcasts on the PsychCraft Network Wise Practice Mastermind