Saying “no” can be so hard to do. It’s the establishment of a boundary which is a struggle for many of us. It can feel like an escalation or confrontation, or that saying “no” will lead to disappointment in others. Let’s consider a new way that will not only make you feel more confident in saying “no”, it will also strengthen your relationships and sense of purpose.

Do you feel jammed in your personal progress? Is life feeling like a series of roadblocks? This isn’t necessarily a you problem. Rather, it’s very likely that aspects of your environment are holding you back. Let’s explore that a little.

One of the best things about growing old is becoming wise, or so we think. Contemporary scientific research finds that wisdom is not solely for the older among us. Rather, by the time we are in our mid- to late-20’s, our brains are fully wired for it. For most of our adult lives we are inhabited by a deep inner wisdom, unbeknownst to the vast majority of us.

Are you getting ready to return to office after nearly 2 years of working from home? Take solace that this is feels overwhelming to everyone. It requires that we adapt to a “new” way of being after we’ve already adapted so much over the past couple years. Our nervous systems are designed for acute stress; not for the prolonged. Therefore, it’s important that we nudge our nervous systems to baseline in preparation for reentry. Here are 4 easy practices to try.

I spent more than a decade trying to quell my inner critic. I still do battle with her. I hear people struggling with their inner critic all the time. It seems like this individual is our worst enemy: never on our side, always putting us down. However, I’ve come to believe the inner critic just needs a little TLC: some gentleness to soothe it’s activated condition so it can reveal our inner wisdom. By soothing our inner critic we give it power — not to dampen our spirit, but to light the way.

When we think of repair we typically think of obscuring damage or imperfection in the process. However, a centuries old Japanese method called Kintsugi does the opposite. Through Kintsugi, broken pottery is fixed with a combination of lacquer and precious metal, transforming the damage and giving it special meaning. An object to be discarded is instead elevated with beauty and story.

The quietest person in the room is also the smartest. How can the quiet make their voices heard? How can leaders ensure they are recognizing — not penalizing — these vital players? And how might colleagues support their quiet teammates? This world is not designed for the quiet, so we must all play a part in elevating their perspectives. We need them.

Positive or negative, all change is hard. With change we are letting go of old patterns and mindsets. We are effectively entering into a new lived experience. During this time we grieve the old as we make way for the new. This process is necessary, but it isn’t open-ended and at some point it will be time to move on. As we say goodbye to the old ways, the use of mantra as both meditative and intervening tactics can help steward our entry into a new lived experience.

We are taught to be compassionate, but is it ever in service to the self? Have you longed for pure kindness and wondered if you are worthy of it? Please accept this invitation to recognize the goodness and vulnerability of you and feel the embrace of total acceptance. Compassion turned inward opens doors to new possibilities and achievements. So let’s try it.

Ask any leader in any organization of any size (including families) and they will express a feeling of loneliness at one time or another. Here, we’ll focus on the ways that leaders can build a support system for alleviating loneliness, generating a grounded sense of belonging and connectedness.