In business, or in life for that matter, it’s not always about us, or accomplishing, achieving or executing.  Sometimes it’s about others, and just showing up and sharing our positive energy and goodwill. When we selflessly share our time and energy, we not only are a catalyst for joy…we experience joy ourselves. 

Overcomplicating things or creating imaginary scenarios/narratives in our heads are natural human occurrences.  They are how our brains make sense of the world. However, our brains are very creative and can get carried away at times. Learn the tools to keep your mind in check to minimize anxious thoughts and maximize productive ones.

Muster up the courage, strength and heart to stick it out, to accomplish what you set out to do, to form that habit or cross that finish line.  Just keep showing up, and sooner or later, you’ll look back and realize how far you’ve come, what you are able to do and how much your life can change when you make a commitment to yourself.

We all face hard decisions in life, but it’s important to not let fear determine what you can and can’t do. The more you understand your fear, face it and change your response to it, the freer you will be to experience new things, chase your dreams, become the best version of yourself and inspire others to do the same.

The next time you get a nudge to do some spring cleaning, instead of just giving your closets, cupboards and garage a fresh overhaul, overhaul your routines, relationships and mindset as well, then watch your discipline and accomplishments skyrocket and your people and pets thrive!

It’s not always easy to decide when to say something and when to hold your tongue. While speaking up in the moment may seem justified and the right thing to do in our mind, we may fail to consider how our words will be received by others and how that will then make us feel. Learn the five situations where it would be wise to hold your tongue to encourage productive behavior and bring you peace.

Don’t let baseless fears hold you back. Learn how to monitor your self-limiting beliefs, challenge and reframe them, so you can open yourself up to new possibilities and the positive beliefs that arise from them.

We’ve all engaged in passive-aggressive behavior at some point, consciously or unconsciously.  It’s easier to avoid expressing our feelings or confronting someone and just signal to them in other ways that we aren’t happy about something they did, didn’t do, said or didn’t say. If left unchecked, this behavior can become our default to expressing negative feelings, and we can use it to manipulate other people to our desired outcome without making our position known and having open and honest discussions. Learn how to keep your own passive-aggressive behaviors in check and identify and stop those of others.

Let’s get out of our heads, off our devices and pay attention to the physical world around us. And, when we notice something positive about someone, let’s not be afraid to give them a warm and sincere compliment and spread the kind of kindness that fuels optimism.

Did you know that setting and maintaining healthy boundaries is a form of self-care, just like eating healthy and exercising?  These boundaries protect your mental well-being and limit your exposure to unnecessary stress, the resulting production of adrenaline and cortisol by your body and the emotional and physical fatigue that follows.

I have been asked by several people recently how I manage to wear many hats (marketing executive, human resources executive, blogger, mom, wife, friend, volunteer, etc.) and still maintain a healthy lifestyle.  My answer may surprise you. 

Owning up to your mistakes is not easy, but the more you hold yourself accountable, the more you will grow personally and professionally.  You will quickly learn that admitting and learning from your mistakes is a sign of strength and self-awareness, paving the way for greater consciousness, better relationships and a more fulfilling life.

Decorating the office for the holidays adds color, fun and all the seasonal feels to the work environment. In addition to decorating, it can be fun to create office activities around holidays. Not only will people look forward to them, but if you decide to forgo one or do something different, you will hear about it because unbeknownst to you they become joyful work traditions.

Get to know the learning styles of the people you work with often, so you can incorporate different ways for them to engage in meetings.  Everyone in the organization brings their unique experience and perspective to the table.  Drawing that out in a way that is natural to them is imperative to help the team arrive at the best path forward.

Did you know that clutter in your workspace can impact your mental health?  It can cause anxiety, make you feel overwhelmed and disrupt your concentration, essentially impeding your workflow. Learn the "Cash," "Dash," "Stash" and "Trash" method to keep your workspace functional and your mind clear.

One of the most commonly reported social fears is public speaking.  If you are among those who get anxious at the thought of speaking in front a large group of people, trust me when I say that you can overcome your anxiety and become a great public speaker. Don't let fear silence your voice.

Use your intuition along with your intellect to guide your actions.  It’s a process to learn to trust yourself, but it can be one of the best gifts you give yourself.  In fact, it’s very likely that you have the answers you’ve been looking for all along.

Learning to use our smartphones effectively may just be the most important lesson of our time.  We should be able to take advantage of their many benefits without it adversely affecting our downtime, mental health, relationships and ability to take part in everyday life.  Committing to conscious phone usage is a great place to start!

The next time you have the urge to call, text or message your boss for help, ask yourself if it is truly something you can’t figure out on your own. If it isn’t, ask away, but if you do have the tools to tackle it on your own, give it a try. Believe me, your proactiveness will be noticed, and when you make your manager’s life easier, you will be rewarded.

Always having something to look forward to will fuel your positivity and get you through the tough stuff.  Research has found that just the anticipation of doing something you enjoy will elevate your mood, reduce stress and create happiness in your life.