Do You Have a Mentor and/or Mentee?

We grow by learning from those ahead of us and by helping those behind us.

One of the most powerful and underrated questions we can ask ourselves is this: Who speaks into my life and who am I showing up for in return?

We were never meant to walk this journey alone. No matter how gifted, driven, or spiritual we may be, we all need guidance, wisdom, and accountability. And at the same time, we’re called to pour into others. That’s the beauty of mentorship—it’s a cycle, not a ladder. You reach up to be led, and you reach back to lead someone else. Both matter.

In my own life, I’ve come to realize that leadership is influence, not a title. And that influence becomes powerful when it is intentional. Mentorship is one of the most proactive ways to grow into the person God created you to be. Whether you're being mentored or mentoring someone else (or both!), you're stepping into a life of purpose, humility, and growth.

I wrote something in Get Serious and Other Principles to Pull You Through, in the chapter called “Experience Calms You.”“The more we live, the more mistakes we make, the more lessons we learn, the more colours we get to choose from in the crayon box of life. And before we know it, we are calmly and comfortably holding a well-earned collection of colourful experiences to instruct us in any given situation.”

That’s what mentors do. They help us make sense of the colours in our box. They’ve lived through the chaos. They’ve weathered the storms. And because of that, they’re able to speak into our fears with wisdom and grace.

Sometimes we’re just worried because we’re walking on unfamiliar ground. Having a mentor is like having a tour guide—someone who’s been there and can help calm your fears. They won’t take the journey for you, but they’ll point out the potholes, help you pace yourself, and remind you not to panic when things get bumpy.

But here’s the other side of the coin: don’t be a Dead Sea. Don’t just receive and hoard wisdom. Let it flow through you. Pour into someone else. Mentor a student, disciple a new believer, encourage a young leader, or simply be a listening ear for someone in the season you just came out of. Your story could be the survival guide someone else is praying for. I'm a witness!

I heard someone say, “If you're the smartest person in the room, maybe you're in the wrong room.” So, make space for voices that sharpen you, not just echo you. And be that voice for someone else too.

Nugget of Truth:

Be led and lead. We grow by learning from those ahead of us and by helping those behind us. Leadership isn’t just about standing out or standing up; it’s about lifting others up. So find a mentor. Be a mentor. Lead up and lead down. That’s how we change lives, starting with our own.