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🌿 Rooted & Rising #05: What Happens After the Applause?

🌿 Rooted & Rising #05: What Happens After the Applause?

Navigating the post-win crashout, finding joy in the building blocks & preparing for the best-case scenario instead of buffering for disappointment.

Kimmy Coleman
August 25, 2025

Hey beloved!

Welcome back to this week’s 🌿 Rooted & Rising! This newsletter is for creatives and founders who want to build something meaningful without crashing out in the process. (If you’ve ever had a major win only to immediately spiral about “what’s next”, this one’s definitely for you).

Each week, I’ll share real-time insights from my own journey as a content creator and founder, filtered through the lens of someone who thinks Jesus has the best strategy. The goal is to give you practical takeaways you can use immediately and remind you that your worth isn’t tied to your most recent accomplishment.

If you’re open to Biblical insights, honest reflections, and practical tools to help you celebrate wins without losing yourself in the process, then you’re in the right place!

This week, I’m sharing what I learned from my own post-win crashout and how we can shift from surviving success to actually thriving in it.

This week’s themes:

Navigating success without the immediate “what’s next” spiral
Finding joy in building blocks, not just “spotlight” moments
Preparing for abundance instead of only buffering for disappointment

But first…

🥭 A Spiritual Snack🥭

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)

Painting the Picture 🖌️

I had a week riddled with humbling realizations left and right.

As I mentioned in last week’s issue, the Mars Management Launch Party wrapped up successfully. Thirty-plus creatives, artists, and entrepreneurs came together. I spoke outside of church for the first time. Everything went well. I should have been celebrating, right?

Instead, I found myself in what I can only describe as a post-win crashout. The high of success immediately followed by this deflating “now what?” feeling.

post-win crashout captured iRL in last week’s vlog

The high of success immediately followed by this deflating “now what?” feeling with a side of comparison, led to a vulnerable moment. I realized something that made want to hide under my lil desk: I had been using that event as a shield.

“Oh, I have this speaking engagement coming up.” “Look at me, I’m a real founder.” “This big visible thing is happening.” I was hiding behind the most visible work I could do instead of finding worth in the daily building blocks that actually grow a business.

The next humbling realization? I’ve become so used to there being a fire to put out or something big to prepare for, that living moment-to-moment in God’s rest actually feels foreign. Like I need drama or pressure or a deadline to feel productive or valuable.

And the final kick in the shins? I’ve still been buffering my heart for disappointment instead of preparing for God’s goodness. Though this is a new realization as of last week and I’m choosing to have grace with myself as I unlearn funky habits, I was reminded that unlearning is a verb. It has to be coupled with some action - in this case- preparation! Actively preparing for the best-case scenario instead of spending time worrying about all the things that “could” go wrong.

Here’s what I’m learning about finding joy beyond the applause and creating space for real abundance…

Let’s Break It Down: Practical Strategies 🤏🏾

1. Navigating Success Without the “What’s Next” Spiral

Here’s the thing about achievement highs: they’re followed by lows if you don’t know how to process them properly or even let yourself process them. I realized I’d been treating every win like a stepping stone to the next thing instead of actually celebrating what just happened.

After the Mars event, instead of sitting in the fact that I’d done something four-months-ago-me would never have imagined, I was already spiraling about everything that could have gone differently. I was robbing myself of the joy of what had actually worked. People showed up?! They gave great feedback and thanked the founder & I for putting the event together. They shared the value that they got in real-time.

That’s a win!

The shift: Celebration isn’t just about the moment. It’s about letting success inform your identity in a healthy way. Not “I’m only as good as my last win,” but “I am someone who can trust God with big things, create a plan and follow through.”

Try this: After your next win (no matter how small), spend 24 hours just processing what happened before moving to “what’s next”. Write down what worked, what you learned about yourself, and where you have room to grow (nicely, have grace with yourself). Let the success settle before you start planning the next move.

2. Find Joy in the Building Blocks, Not Just Spotlight Moments

I caught myself thinking content creation and this very newsletter weren’t as “impressive” as speaking at events. But here’s the tea: spotlight moments only exist because of consistent building-block work. The Mars event happened because of months of content creation, relationship building, and behind-the-scenes grinding. Here’s what I discovered about moving beyond the applause cycle.

The shift: The work that builds your foundation isn’t less valuable because it’s less visible. God sees the work and honors the consistency when no one is watching. When I think of stories like Nehmiah’s, Joseph’s, Esther’s, David’s - they all started in inconsequential places, built quietly building up to their moment.

I’m learning to find the same joy & excitement in writing a newsletter that serves 50 people as I do speaking to a packed room. Both are opportunities to steward the gifts He’s given me.

Try this: This week, celebrate one “building block” activity with the same energy you’d celebrate a spotlight moment. Write it down, be grateful for it, and acknowledge your favorite part of that building block. Practice finding joy in the work that builds, not just the work that gets seen.

3. Prepare for Abundance Instead of Buffering for Disappointment

I saw a video from Gabby Beckford where she talked about her 30th birthday travels and asked: “If someone gave you a million dollars today, what would you do with it?” I realized I had floaty ideas, but no concrete plans.

What if the best-case scenario happens and I’m not ready?

I’m going to Japan in less than a month and don’t even have a list of things I want to do. To moi? That’s insane! I should be preparing for this to be one of the most incredible experiences of my life- especially since it’s been a dream of mine to go for years.

The shift: Stop hoping for the best and start preparing for it. What if God wants to exceed your expectations? What if the breakthrough you’ve been praying for is right around the corner? What if God is waiting on you to prepare? Are you ready?

Try this: Pick one area of your life where you’ve been “hoping for the best” but not actually preparing for it. Write down what the best-case scenario would like, then identify three concrete steps you can take this week to prepare for that reality. Stop buffering for disappointment and start getting ready for God’s goodness.

Your Monday Move: 🤸🏾‍♀️

This week, we’re practicing “abundance preparation over disappointment protection.” Instead of using our energy to brace for what might go wrong, we’re actively preparing for what could go beautifully right.

This week’s challenge:

When something goes well this week, practice processing success spend time acknowledging it before moving to the next thing.
Celebrate one building-block win with the same energy you’d celebrate a spotlight moment.
Create a concrete plan for one area where you’ve been “hoping for the best” but not preparing for it.

Bonus reflection: Ask yourself: “Where am I hiding behind visible work instead of finding worth in the foundation-building work?” Then choose to show up fully for that foundation work this week.

For me, that looks like deconstructing my entire business funnel and making sure everything is connected, (more to come on that next week 🥲).

Reminder: Your worth isn’t tied to your most recent accomplishment. God’s opinion of you doesn’t fluctuate based on your productivity. You can rest in His love while stewarding your gifts well.

“A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great.

On Rotation 💃🏾

These are the songs that helped me flow through the ebbs & flows of last week:

Week 34: 🌿 Rooted & Rising by Kimmy Coleman on Apple Music

Playlist · 17 Songs

music.apple.com/us/playlist/week-34-rooted-rising/pl.u-oD4atqyVkK7

Ready to prepare for the best-case scenario?

If this resonated and you’re tired of avoiding preparation for the best-case scenario, here’s how we can go deeper:

Reply to this email - I read every response and often these conversations become the next week’s newsletter! Your breakthrough might be someone else’s answer.
Forward this to someone who needs permission to find joy in the building blocks, not just the spotlight moments ✨
Want to work directly with me? I help overwhelmed creators and founders move from going around in plancrastination circles to having sturdy building blocks that scale. If you’re ready to trade overwhelm for clear action plans, book time here and let’s talk!

Stay rooted in God’s love for you. Keep rising in your calling!

Here for the journey with you ✨,