What Would Audrey Do?

Finding grace in the chaos of decision fatigue

I changed my mind about wearing cowboy boots again today.

That decision, along with a hundred dozen others, bogged my mind completely.

I went through at least five different outfits, cycling through fallen hangers like I was searching for some version of myself that felt right. I just couldn't quite get it there. Maybe I was a different person when I decided to wear cowboy boots all week long.

I wonder…did I make that decision before or after the payroll snafu? I definitely decided before I sent those emails to my committee with a plea to commit to a defense date. But today? The boots don't look right today!

When Everything Feels Off

You know those days when even the smallest choices feel monumental? When you're standing in front of your closet and somehow the simple act of getting dressed becomes this exhausting negotiation with yourself? That was me this morning, drowning in decision fatigue before the day even began.

It's funny how our external world mirrors our internal landscape. Here I was, needing to focus on being an academic…the version of myself that's sharp, prepared, authoritative. But instead, I felt scattered, missed as the cleanup woman for problems that weren't even mine to solve. I couldn't take on the missed punches this week, couldn't be the one taking that extra step to fix what’s broken that had somehow become my responsibility.

I missed the boat (dropped the ball…) on that one too.

Showing Up Anyway

But…beneath all that noise, I did what mattered. I met the deadline. I pressed send. I kept my vow to my chair and to myself (Psalm 15:4a). And within a few hours, I received the response I'd been hoping for, "Good job!"

Sometimes we're so focused on all the ways we think we're falling short that we miss the fact that we're actually showing up and delivering when it counts. That simple acknowledgment wasn't just about the work—it was recognition of follow-through during a week when everything else felt off-kilter.

Finding Your North Star

So beneath the rubble of my fallen closet, almost forgotten but faithful, I'm returning to a mantra that's most familiar to me: "What would Audrey do?"

Audrey Hepburn wasn't just an icon because of her style, though that timeless elegance certainly didn't hurt. She was magnetic because she embodied grace under pressure, that rare ability to make everything look intentional even when life felt chaotic underneath. She had this way of moving through the world with purpose and poise, no matter what was happening behind the scenes.

I believe she would keep it moving. Most definitely in ballet flats.

The Power of Simple Anchors

There's something profound about having a touchstone, a person, a principle, a simple question that cuts through the noise when decision fatigue threatens to overwhelm. "What would Audrey do?" isn't just about channeling old money or Hollywood glamour. It's about accessing that part of ourselves that knows how to be graceful, intentional, and authentically put-together, even when we are not feeling it.

Maybe tomorrow the cowboy boots will feel right again. Maybe they'll align with whatever version of myself shows up to face the day. Or maybe Audrey's ballet flats will carry me through whatever comes next. With a red lip, the flats are practical enough to handle the unexpected, elegant enough to remind me who I am beneath all the chaos.

Moving Forward

The truth is, we all have weeks like this. Weeks when we're pulled in different directions, when small decisions feel impossibly heavy, when we're not sure which version of ourselves to show up as. But maybe that's exactly when we need our anchors most…those simple questions or guiding principles that help us navigate through the fog and remain unshakeable (Psalm 15:5).

What would your Audrey do? What would your North Star tell you about moving forward with grace, even when everything feels uncertain?

Whatever it is, trust it. Keep it moving. And remember that showing up even imperfectly, even in the wrong shoes…is still showing up.

Selah.

Pastor Renée

What's your go-to mantra when life feels overwhelming? I'd love to hear how you find your center in the comments below.