There is a park near my house, lively in the summer with concerts, festivals and family gatherings.  Until recently, I thought of the park solely as a place for events.  When I decided in January to increase my walks to include the park’s lake, my perspective changed.  The shift was slow at first, I was so focused on how many steps I was clocking in.  The lake only came to life when I started to bring my 35mm camera.  Taking pictures expanded my view from a place to exercise

Creativity isn’t just for artists and designers—it’s a critical leadership skill. In today’s fast-paced world, leaders who embrace creativity can drive innovation, solve complex problems, and inspire their teams. But let’s be honest: many leaders struggle to tap into creativity amid daily pressures, decision fatigue, and the need for quick results. The good news? Creativity isn’t an innate talent reserved for a select few; it’s a muscle that can be strengthened with intentio

What does self-love have to do with leadership and the workplace? Absolutely everything. Self-love is the origin point of how you live, lead, and influence the world around you. When you love yourself, you lead with intention, clarity, and strength. Remember: Who you are is not the same as what you do—though meaningful work matters. Your worth is not earned through performance, title, or achievement. No role, relationship, or circumstance defines you. Your past is written, bu

The Meriam-Webster dictionary defines integrity as, “firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values.” Put simply, I like to define integrity as “choosing the hard right over the easy wrong.” When we lead with integrity, we demonstrate through our words, deeds, and actions our commitment to alignment with our values.  Leading with integrity is about taking positive action in the face of challenges. It’s about moving forward with intention. It’s about knowing w

February is Heart Month—a reminder that heart health is about far more than diet and exercise. It’s deeply connected to stress, burnout, and the changes we experience in midlife. ❤️ Does this sound familiar? We wake up already thinking about the day ahead. Meetings, deadlines, emails, and the quiet pressure to perform. Coffee in hand, we move through the morning on autopilot, telling ourselves, For many professionals in midlife, burnout doesn’t announce itself loudly. It rar

We live in a world that spotlights self-improvement, goal setting, and becoming your “best self.” And those things matter. But sometimes we forget one of the most powerful catalysts for growth: Your brain’s “happy juice” is real, and it responds to simple, human moments. A six-second hug. Learning something new. Connection plus insight. Both help you feel steadier and more confident, especially when life feels uncertain or in transition. Here’s the thing: small groups offer s

The return to work after the holidays can feel abrupt. One day, you’re spending time with loved ones, travelling, or simply resting. Then, the clock strikes 12:01 am, and you are expected to be entirely focused, productive, and “back to normal.”  If your energy feels off just thinking about these abrupt shifts, you’re not alone.   Think “Warm-Up,” Not Sprint January doesn’t need to begin at full speed.  Think of it as a warm-up to a marathon, where we can be intentional about

When you think "new year, new me," your brain isn't just being naive. By creating psychological distance from your past self, it genuinely makes change feel more possible. So, the key is understanding why it works so you can actually use it. Scientists in behavioral research call it the “fresh start effect.” We're more likely to pursue goals after time markers, whether it’s the new year, birthdays, Mondays, even the first day of a new month. Something about crossing a speci

As we step into the new year, setting goals is a common and powerful way to create focus and momentum. In our January ithrive31 newsletter, we shared our 31-day approach to goal setting. This method encourages you to dream big while breaking down your aspirations into manageable actions that drive progress over the next 31 days. For the past 10 years, I’ve used this approach myself—writing down my goals 31 days at a time. I use the ithrive31 Goal Setting Worksheet and keep m