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How YOU can use a change in your organization to your advantage

How many of you have been part of an organization where you were impacted by some kind of change?  I can see most of us raising our hand.  Whether it’s leadership changes, structural changes, changes in policies, etc.

When you’re part of a small organization, you often feel those changes much more than if you were working for a global organization with a large employee base.  While you may not be able to use every change that takes place to your advantage, there ARE opportunities that can arise from some of those changes if you choose to act on them.

The idea here is, as an employee, learning opportunities come in ALL different ways and finding what that is in your current circumstances is a choice you always have.  How you respond to those changes is up to you.

In my experience, I’ve often seen a lack of manpower (one of many resources that are often needed) be a common challenge come up in organizations.  So, what can that mean for you in your organization?

  • Can you create a new position?
  • Can you learn a new skill and apply it to your role?
  • Can you distribute the work that needs to get done amongst your colleagues/peers?
  • Is the work that ‘needs’ to get done REALLY important or can you dissolve it?
  • Can you automate it?

Think outside the box and consider where and what the opportunity can mean for YOU as the employee.  Changes within an organization doesn’t always mean you need to run for the hills, however, if you do want to stay, consider how you can use the changes to your advantage.

Don’t be afraid to have an open, transparent conversation with your manager and/or leadership team and propose your ideas.

Leaders – don’t be afraid to take note and HEAR your employee’s out when they’re coming to you with ideas and recommendations.  Part of going through any change is including and considering your people in that change.

If you’re going through any changes right now in your organization, what will you propose that can not only help the organization, but help YOU learn something new?

Keep an open mind – learning opportunities come in all shapes and sizes – the best ones are also those that YOU can create! 😉

All my appreciation,

Lisa ❤

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Why negotiating ALL benefits when interviewing matters!

Negotiating is a skill we all practice throughout our lives personally or professionally. 

Whether it’s negotiating what restaurant to eat at on the weekend, where to live, what movie to see, etc. as you can see, they range from the smallest of things to major choices we make in our lives.

In our careers, it’s no different and many times, it’s in our professional lives we seem to get tripped up and don’t consider ALL our options as we consider what’s important to us, especially when we’re interviewing.  With enough experience, practice and time, it’s a skill that can be nurtured especially when it comes to negotiating money.

Most candidates when they’re interviewing think of the monetary benefits they’re hoping to earn – a bump on their base salary as they consider their next move.  Salary and bonuses are usually at the top of the list amongst a number of other motivators that are important when interviewing.  Depending on what’s driving your move and desire to change, they may vary in level of importance.

So why do we get choked up when it comes to asking for money?

The truth is, most people are uncomfortable asking for what they want, especially money and more importantly, are not always prepared for the discussion or how to ask.  When I was in the very early stages of my career, I remember sitting across from a manager I had at the time who I admired and happened to be male and I flat out told him, “I hate asking for money…” and his answer to me was, “why?  You work hard, you’re performing, you should ask for what you want.”  That’s it.  Nothing complex, no long lecture, just, ask for what you want.

Of course, there’s more to it and it takes time, experience, practice, etc. to get comfortable with negotiating (and personally, I’m still working at it), but I never forgot that.

Remember, if you don’t ask, the answer will always be NO so if there’s anything you take from this post, ASK for what you want! 

When you’re interviewing and you’re lucky enough to make it to an offer stage, here are some suggestions to keep in mind:

Be open and transparent with your salary expectations – this should really be shared before you get to this stage as most companies will want to understand if they can afford you at the early stages of the interview process.  The last thing you want to do is go through a number of interviews only to reach an offer stage and learn the company just doesn’t have the budget to meet your salary expectations.  Having said that, be clear with what you’re looking for – i.e. 10% increase on my base, $10K sign on bonus to cover X, etc.

Be prepared to negotiate ALL benefits – as mentioned earlier, everyone has various motivating drivers that are important to them and salary is not always the main and only benefit of interest.  What else is important to you?  Work from home?  Vacation time?  Commute allowance?  Think about what these options are.  Also, consider discussing what the flex is around these items early in the process.  Some benefits are company-wide policies that are less flexible to be offered to new hires coming on board.  Again, be prepared to discuss openly the benefits that are important to you.

Ask a trusted colleague or friend if you’re unsure of how to deliver your message and articulate what you want – again, for the purpose of asking for what you want, if negotiating isn’t something that comes easy to you, practice ahead of time with someone you trust and know.  Ask them to role play with you and ask for feedback.  We don’t always see our own blind spots, so asking for someone else’s perspective can be helpful.

Be prepared to get a NO to what you asked for – so this is not always easy to hear and can be deflating especially if you’re trying to seal the deal with a company and new opportunity.  Going back to the above, consider other options you can negotiate, but also, consider this to be a sign that it may not be the right fit if none of your requests or asks were met.  This isn’t about giving up and walking away, however, if you’ve made every effort to explore and consider ALL your options, the one to walk away is also one to consider if you’re requirements aren’t met.

Now, I’d love to hear from you! What would you add to these suggestions? Is there a negotiation strategy you’ve used that’s been effective?

Happy negotiating!

Lisa xo

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Networking to GIVE – not to receive: 4 networking tips to keep in mind

Networking is critical as a professional.  Whether you work in corporate, you run a small business or you’re in the midst of a job search, inevitably, networking will be ongoing for you through out your career.

Relationships help drive our success in all areas of our lives and many times, business relationships can develop out of nowhere and when you least expect it.

Events, conferences, workshops, you name it – they’re great for networking. They can also be intimidating if you’re attending solo and I completely get this. They are however the perfect way to put yourself out there, without having to be attached to a buddy and unintentionally limit yourself from meeting people you wouldn’t normally socialize with or meet.

I’m sure most of you have heard, “give with the intention to give and not receive” and this I wholeheartedly agree with.  When it comes to networking, some of the most organic conversations I’ve had have come out of me sharing something with someone and with no expectation of getting anything in return.  From those conversations, in some cases, the bonus has been a friendship that has developed with a few of these individuals.

I had no expectation of if they would develop into business opportunities and for me, I was interested in the long-term connection, whatever that might look like.  I’ve heard many times as well, that people need to be mindful of being prepared to offer an exchange of some sort or to be mindful of people’s time when you’re networking, and I don’t entirely agree with this.

Again – if you’re giving to give, then you’re not concerned of ‘time being wasted’ or what you can ‘get’ in return.  It’s a mindset and being open-hearted, with offering a piece of wisdom, advice, insight, etc. that can help someone else.  If you’re ‘tuned in’ and think beyond the immediate interaction, many times, you in-turn could be benefitting from the exchange, and you might not even realize it!

The experience of meeting someone new, learning something about another person you just met, perhaps an introduction to another contact of theirs are experiences in themselves that have meaning to them.  Similar to my experience, you could ultimately be making a new friend at the very least.  It may not seem like anything in the moment, however, be open to the possibility of what could come out of that interaction.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when you’re attending your next networking event:

  1. Be OPEN – don’t be attached to WHO you’re going to meet, whether or not you have something to ‘offer’ and be yourself
  2. Give without expectations of receiving – believe it or not, you giving your time to someone is giving.  Don’t underestimate your value and what you have to offer.  Be open and genuine in giving without expectations
  3. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable – events where you don’t know a soul are the perfect opportunities to put yourself out there.  Get in the mindset of going to an event on your own – you might actually enjoy yourself! 😉
  4. You won’t connect with everyone and vice versa – it’s possible you attend an event and walk away from it not having met anyone you connected with.  That’s OK!  You may not connect with everyone you meet the first time and vice versa.  At the least, you’ve learned if that’s the type of event you would participate in again and you know for next time.

Networking doesn’t have to be an overwhelming, calculated experience when you have the right mindset towards it.  Be open and if you’re going to be open to giving your time or insights, do so without expectation of getting anything in return. 

What have been some of your favorite networking experiences? 

Happy networking!

Lisa xo

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How to be a bada$$ at work and stay true to your values!

Whether you work in a corporate job or are an entrepreneur, there’s always a balancing act of how much of the real you to show.  You want to be true to who you are, yet societal rules, unspoken politics and corporate hierarchy (in some cases) dictate that only a part of you shows up, while the other parts remain hidden.

But what if something happens at your company where your values are compromised?

Recently this came up for me in my own personal experience and as much as I’d love to say it was easy to deal with and justice prevailed, sadly it didn’t, and it got me thinking. 

How often does this happen in the workplace and how do people deal with it? 

Throughout my career, time and experience have told me this is more common than you might think, and most people don’t know how to deal with it.  I’ve had countless conversations with professionals who have shared a story or an experience they’ve had where something happened that was a direct clash with their values.  In fact, in many cases, they were having a conversation with me because they chose to leave their jobs due to a misalignment with the company and their core values.

So, I got curious and thought about a few things to keep in mind if you’re faced with a situation at work that infringes on your values:

1. What’s the lesson you can learn from that experience?

When something happens where you feel your values were compromised, what’s the lesson you can walk away with?  Are you able to take a step back and consider, what is this experience trying to teach you?  Lessons sometimes come much later after an experience has occurred, but sometimes, it doesn’t take long to realize what an experience is trying to show you if you’re aware!

2. Is there an opportunity to educate your company to help them evolve?

Yes, it’s possible your efforts could fall on deaf ears and your company may not be ready to ‘hear’ or be open to receiving your message to help them evolve.  At the very least, it’s an opportunity to educate where they may be missing the mark.

3. How can you use the experience to help yourself and someone else? 

The disconnect you experienced with your company could be the very gift that you can give to not only your company or someone you know to help them evolve, but yourself.  It’s very easy to internalize and personalize an experience where you feel like you’re the only one in your organization that stands strong to holding your values close to heart.  Instead, consider this a GIFT that you’re honoring your values and recognize that they’re important enough to you to stand for.  See this for what it is and use it to help yourself assess any next steps or course of action.

It’s never easy when you’re put in a situation where your values are being compromised, especially in the workplace.  While it might be difficult to just up and leave your organization if it’s not an immediate option for you, you do always have a choice. 

Use your voice for good and speak your truth even if your voice shakes.

Have you ever faced an experience in your workplace or with a client where your values were compromised? 

I’d love to hear your thoughts.  I know it’s a bit of sticky topic but one I hope you see how helpful it could be to share with others how you might have dealt with this in your own experience.  If you have anything else to add to this topic, I’d love to hear it just the same!

Lot’s of love

Lisa 

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Spring is around the corner! What’s your new beginning?

Have you ever thought about how the ending of something in your life or business could very well be the beginning of something new?  Most of us tend to focus on what we’re losing, giving up, sacrificing, ‘ending’, vs. what it could mean for the start or beginning of something new.  Even if we don’t know what that is yet!

For me, this time of year always marks the start of new beginnings and the obvious ending of the Winter season.  Many of us in North America LOVE this time of year as it marks the start of longer days, warmer temperatures, sunshine and patio season is in sight. 

How can we apply this same meaning of changes of the seasons to our own lives?  Embracing a new start and welcoming the new, while saying goodbye to the old and why is it so hard for us to be open to what’s to come?

The idea of something ending can often be interpreted as the ‘loss’ of something.  We take it to mean something much deeper and attach a sentimental, or a symbolic meaning to the experience.  Whether we’re expecting a specific outcome or result, associating a particular achievement to an experience, associating status or even feeling like we have to prove something to someone else.

Here are a couple of examples of what this could look like in our lives.

You’re anticipating a promotion and lose the opportunity to someone else.

  • You say, “I’m not good enough”

You interview for a position and you don’t get it.

  • You say, “I’m not smart enough”

You apply for a business loan and you don’t get it.

  • You say, “They don’t think I have what it takes”

You launch your first program/workshop/masterclass in your business and no one signs up.

  • You say, “What I have to offer isn’t valuable enough”

Nearly every one of these examples, can be chalked up to your self-worth. Not feeling good enough or not feeling worthy enough as you are, regardless of how you finish any of these sentences.  We almost instinctively internalize it to mean something about our own self-worth. 

So, what if instead you re-framed your answers and said this:

You’re anticipating a promotion and lose the opportunity to someone else.

  • You say, “There’s something bigger in store for me”

You interview for a position that you don’t get.

  • You say, “There’s a better position out there for me”

You apply for a business loan and you don’t get it.

  • You say, “Now may not be the right time, I’ll try again”

You launch your first program/workshop/masterclass in your business and no one signs up.

  • You say, “I’ll review my offering, and launch it again”

There is ALWAYS a better way to view the ‘loss’ or ‘ending’ or perceived ‘missed opportunity’, to a greater blessing up ahead or something ultimately better for you.  You may not know what that might look like, or what it might be and you may not always get what you want when you want it, but you do get what you need in the perfect time. 

Your job is simply to be open to what could be without being attached to what was lost or what’s ending.  The first shot at something also doesn’t have to be the last, so yes, try, try and try again.

What can you look at in your own life right now that you feel you didn’t get? That promotion, that new job, that big win or sale and instead, what could be the ‘new beginning’ that is waiting for you?

Let me know in the comment box below!

Spring is around the corner, can you feel it?

Lisa ❤

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Gender bias and how YOU can move the conversation forward

On Friday, March 8th, we celebrated International Women’s Day where we honored and celebrated women around the globe for political, cultural and economic achievements to name a few.  While it’s recognized on this special day, I’m personally reminded daily of the brave, courageous and strong women I’m surrounded by and who I admire who are showing up and pushing the boundaries. 

I participated in Lean In Canada’s workshop on Friday where we discussed women’s bias and what we can do to help educate and change the conversation.  My commitment leaving that evening was to write about it through educating you with how you can help increase the conversation and hopefully influence change.

With that said, I’m hoping I can inspire you to be that brave soul who can be informed and offer new perspective regardless of your role in your place of work.

Gender bias is real and happens more often than you probably think.  It also comes in many forms in the workplace.  While it happens to both men and women, studies have shown women have experienced these biases far greater than men.

From receiving fewer promotions than their male counterparts to being passed up on important projects, to the biggest one that I think many of you will agree on where women are still earning less than men.  According to a study conducted in 2017, Pew Research Center showed that 42% of women in the United States say they have faced discrimination on the job because of their gender.

So, what does gender bias look like in the work place?

Some examples include:

  • Performance bias – A simple review of your organization to see if there’s an imbalance between men and women can speak volumes. 
  • Educate your leadership team that balance across gender helps the bottom line and brings different perspectives and experiences to the business.  Where is there an imbalance?  Is it across the whole company, a certain division?  Also, look at your company’s recruitment strategy to see how you’re attracting and hiring talent into your organization.
  • Wage gap – According to the Women’s Foundation of Canada, women with the same experience, socio-economic and demographic background earn approximately $7,200 less than their male counterparts per year, according to an Ontario Government report.  This was updated as of August 2018.
  • We’ve seen some progress in closing the wage gap with examples from companies like Salesforce.com. In 2018, a $6M gap would soon see to pay men and women equally across the company. But there’s definitely room for more improvement.  Where can you improve and how can you close the gap in your organization?
  • Maternal bias – women often face this when their male counterparts are being promoted to leadership roles or being overlooked for special projects upon returning from maternity leave.
  • There is often an assumption made when women leave the workforce to start a family, they won’t be able to handle the same level of work upon their return. Educating your leadership team that all opportunities that can help stretch and advance their employees should be left up to the employee to choose. Empower your employees to decide whether they can take on a new challenge.

There are many more types of biases that we can add to this list, however, I wanted to leave you with just a few common ones.  While moving the needle can take time, increasing the conversations in our organizations and creating awareness is a start. Educating what gender bias looks like, and how we can #BalanceforBetter, takes action.

You change the conversation by witnessing it when it’s happening and educating your leadership team on gender bias, followed by proposing a solution. It starts with having the conversation, bringing awareness to it and coming up with actionable solutions.

Remember, courage over fear, faith over fear and keep in mind, the smallest of efforts can often make the biggest impact. Don’t ever doubt that your words mean something.

What can you do in your organization to continue the conversation?

I’d love to hear from you and encourage you to use your voice and share your perspective!  Let me know in the comments below.

All my love, ❤

Lisa

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Lead with the WHOLE you at work – not just the professional


In the past, jobs were about muscles, now they’re about the brain, but in the future, they’ll be about the heart.

Minouche Shafik, Director, London School of Economics

Showing up holistically in every aspect of your life takes courage and knowing who you are.  We’ve been conditioned to believe that, in the workplace, work is work and the parts of you that make you human don’t belong there.  Time amongst others is challenging us to evolve and begin to look at our employee’s or ‘our people’ in the workplace as a WHOLE person.  Not just the professional that’s at work Monday- Friday.

Our work places are changing, the way we work is changing and it’s time we do too.

I’m thrilled to see that there’s increasing conversations on how to evolve leadership. Thereby challenging the way we bring ourselves to work, challenging the way we hire talent, challenging our expectations of what the workplace means today.  Can we start to see more organizations modeling these changes as part of their core values?

Part of adopting this as a core value in your company – one that prioritizes people first, and thereby accepting your employee in full, is leading by example.  Leadership in its truest forms.  It’s leading with people first over profits. 

It’s understanding that as individuals, we’re whole rather than just playing a role in the workplace.  Yes, you need to make money, yes you run a business, yes you need the best people to perform to help run and drive your business. You can do all of that while accepting your people as whole individuals, vs. just professionals.

Brene Brown, author of Dare to Lead. Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts, discusses leadership in the most courageous way and challenges our definition of what leadership looks like. For me at least it has. We need more conversations around brave work, tough conversations and leading with whole hearts.

Having productive discussions on what I like to call, leading with heart, is one thing but modeling this behavior is another.  When you lead as the whole you and not just as the President/CEO/Manager, you encourage others to do the same. You create a culture where it’s acceptable to bring your whole self to the work table. You’ve invested in your people as whole human beings.

When you’re leading as a whole person and not just the professional, here’s what that leadership looks like:

  1. Leading with your whole heart
  2. Demonstrating kindness, openness, and transparency
  3. Leading with self-compassion, compassion for others and empathy
  4. Embracing diversity and celebrating inclusiveness
  5. Getting up after you fall and trying again
  6. Celebrating all wins big and small
  7. Practicing recognition and gratitude daily
  8. Honoring downtime as much as work time
  9. Embracing creative solutions
  10. Mirroring your purpose and values

What might happen if you began to lead with your whole self and created a culture where your employees were free to be themselves?

If you’re motivated to evolve and embrace a new way of leading, a new way of working, start by making a conscious choice to lead differently. Years of ‘doing things the way it’s always been done,’ doesn’t mean it needs to take years to unlearn and embrace a new way of being.

Now I’d love to hear from you!

What’s one thing you can do today to embrace a NEW way to lead?

Leave a comment below and remember, inspired action comes from a desire to change and a willingness to move forward. 👊

With so much love ❤

Lisa xo

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Will you celebrate with me? Plus – get a FREE GIFT from me!

Today’s my birthday!  OK, so it was yesterday, the 25th but who’s counting? Fireworks, balloons and cake, please! 🙌🎆🎈🎂

Ok, so this week I won’t be giving you my regular tips, recommendations, insights and ALL I got to help you in your business and life. Instead, I want to celebrate with you!!  It happens to mark the FIRST year celebrating my birthday with all of YOU on this journey and I’d love for you to join me!

They say as you get older, your birthday is just another number, but for me, it will always mark that special day where I love to get all deep and reflective and think back on the year that’s past.  Also, who’s kidding who, I’m ALL about having FUN, so you better believe, celebrations will be in order!  In fact, the longer the celebrations, the better, plus it’s an excuse to have cake. 😉

Let’s Celebrate!

Every day, every year is truly a gift.  To be alive, to celebrate with loved ones, to create, to contribute, to grow, to learn and to simply live the quality of life you desire, whatever that looks like for you.  While inevitably, life will throw us challenges and curve balls, it’s how we deal with them that truly allows us to move forward, in all areas of our lives.

As much as I love gifts, I also love giving them and this year, I’d love to give you guys a gift!  I’m so grateful for your time each and every week, and it would mean the world to me if you can help me help you.

I started this blog several months ago with the purpose to share and contribute what I know, to help you in your business and lives.  To hopefully be an inspiration, and to guide and support you on your path of growth and development.  My inspiration is drawn from all kinds of different sources but the ones that are always so meaningful are those that come straight from you!

So, here’s how you can help:

What I’d love to know is 3 things:

  1. What’s one thing you’d like to hear more of from me?  i.e. a specific topic, sharing more resources in a particular subject, etc.
  2. What’s one thing you’re struggling with right now in your business or life that you’re having some trouble solving?
  3. What could you benefit from learning more of or having more information in — (fill in the blanks)? i.e. a specific topic you would love to learn more about, etc.

I’m here to serve you so if there’s something that’s on your mind that you’d love to hear more of, I’m all ears!  For taking the time to answer any of the above, I’ll be gifting you a hand-picked book that I think you would enjoy and find valuable.  I’ll check back a little later in the week and looking forward to hearing from you!

Now, before I get back to celebrating the big day, I wanna leave you with some of my biggest lessons I’ve learned in just this last year alone which so far, was a big one for me. I couldn’t leave without giving you something to think about!

We tend to learn mostly from our failures, our falls, our slips, our mistakes – whatever label you give the less then ideal experiences we go through.  Many times, if it’s not of our own doing, it’s those around us that have gone through something and unintentionally, imparted wisdom and allowed us to reflect and think about our own lives and how we might do something different next time we’re faced with a challenge.

We also learn through great experiences, hard work, connecting to ourselves and self-reflection. Looking at who we are, evaluating the relationships in our lives and seeing the work we do, etc. if it all aligns to what we want for ourselves.

Here are my top 5 lessons I’m taking with me into this year. 💯👏🙌

  1. I learned to let go of relationships that were no longer serving me
  2. I chose myself MORE
  3. I started showing up more and put myself outside my comfort zone
  4. I connected the dots with who I am and owning my gifts
  5. I’m still learning, still growing and I will always challenge myself to be better than yesterday

Wherever you are in your life, take pride in ALL your experiences and know they only shape you to be stronger and better.

FUN FACT:  Being a Pisces, there are a few cool famous people that share this sign with me… who knew??

Albert Einstein, Rhianna, Adam Levine, Jessica Biel, Elizabeth Taylor – just to name a few!

Until next week, sending you lot’s of birthday love!! ❤

xo

Lisa

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Can you be patient in the pursuit of your dreams?

The day you set the intention to pursue your dream is not the same day you reap the rewards.

So often when we’re chasing or manifesting our dreams, our thoughts are miles ahead than where we actually are or where we’d like to be.  But who’s isn’t?  We’re already thinking 2 maybe 3 years down the road, we imagine we have a rolodex of clients just waiting to work with us, we’re meeting if not exceeding our financial objectives and opportunities are just presenting themselves on our door step.  We’re living our dream and watching it unfold.

It’s wonderful to dream and imagine what our futures will look like, see it unfolded and we’re simply living it out, but realistic that it happens overnight?  Truthfully, no.  There’s a reason why Rome wasn’t built in a day and there’s a reason why long-term goals and objectives take time to achieve.

I know for me, I’m often reminding myself to remember the stage I’m in when I’m working on my long-term goals, when my brain is already thinking about step 50, and I’ve barely completed step 2.  My self pep talk, kicks in telling myself to cherish the space I’m in and appreciate it for what it is (even if it seems as though nothing is happening) and trust that I’ll get to the destination all in due time.

Writer Steven Pressfield author of Turning Pro, The War of Art, Do The Work, The Virtues of War and his latest book, The Artist’s Journey says this perfectly:

Each season, each stage you’re in when working towards your dreams is preparing you for the next phase, the next level and offering you the opportunity to learn, fail, fall and try again.  I know, fun right?  Theres opportunity in each step before jumping to the finish line.

Give yourself the time and space to work on your dreams, your long-term goals and be patient with yourself and the process!  Besides, there’s only one of YOU and your gifts and talents are unique to you. You’re not going to miss out or lose the opportunity to do what your heart desires by putting one foot in front of the other and allowing nature to take’s its course.

This doesn’t mean you can’t work with a sense of urgency, in fact, high fives to you if you’re dedicating and committing yourself towards your dreams each and every day.  As they say, if it’s important to us, we’ll make it a priority, if it’s not, we’ll make an excuse.  What I AM saying, is to recognize that time is not working against us in the commitment of our dreams, but for us.

In the meantime, enjoy the journey, appreciate the stage/season/space you’re in and get ready for the next level in the pursuit of your dreams.

For some extra inspiration, check out entrepreneur, writer, and philanthropist, Marie Forleo’s interview with Steven Pressfield. Their conversation is full of juicy topics including, how to overcome resistance and why talent doesn’t really matter.

Now, I know I’m not the only one who get’s ahead of herself when working on my dream or a long-term goal, so I’d love to hear from you.

It’s a two-part question.

Where do you get caught up on your journey while pursuing your dreams?  Is it expectations on the speed things are happening?  Is it resistance or self-doubt?  All the above?

What can you do to stay focused and appreciate the season that you’re in RIGHT NOW?

Remember, it’s not about the destination, it’s the journey.

Leave a comment and remember, you can inspire someone with your story, so don’t be shy!

Lot’s of love

Lisa xo

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Why boundaries are not just important, but necessary

When we think of boundaries, you might think of a boundary that separates or divides something.  Today, I’m talking about healthy boundaries that allow us to protect ourselves and our energy in ALL areas of our life.  It’s your way of saying, “I’ll accept this…” and “I won’t accept this…”.  It’s understanding and knowing your limits.

Before I understood the importance of boundaries, I really didn’t understand what a healthy boundary meant, let alone applied them to my own life.  In my twenties, I remember being in a constant state of giving so much of my energy to everyone and anyone that I often felt depleted and drained and really didn’t understand why. 

I thought I was being nice and helping people who were coming to me either for advice or asking for my help, yet why was I leaving those interactions feeling drained?  Since much of my work and by nature, I’m open and giving with others, it was a game changer for me once I realized that boundaries weren’t just important but necessary. 

Once they were put in place (and still are), it allowed me to remain grounded in my own energy and FEEL like I still had energy for me while still being able to give energy to other things in my life that were important.  It also demonstrated that while I’m able to connect and be open with others as I always do, there’s a boundary I’ve placed for myself that I am now respecting.

Boundaries are not the same as blocks or walls people armor themselves with.  So, to be clear, a boundary is meant to be a healthy often, invisible barrier that allows you to preserve and protect your energy and yourself.  You’re respecting yourself and showing others what you will and will not tolerate. 

If you’re unsure of how to apply healthy boundaries to your life, take note of some of these simple practices and things you can keep in mind to help protect yourself and your energy.

  • Boundaries can be applied to ALL areas of your life; not necessarily at work or in your relationships.  Where do you feel you need to put a boundary or have more boundaries in place?
  • What are the boundaries you want to put in place and with who?  For example, the boundaries you might set at work with your colleagues might look different from those you set with your loved ones and friends.
  • Ask yourself what it is you need?  Is it more time?  Energy?  Power?  Respect? If you feel like there’s something you need more of and not getting, that could be a sign that you may want to create a boundary for yourself where your energy might be leaking or given away.
  • Set the intention before heading into that coffee with your friend, that meeting at work, etc.  Especially in the beginning as you’re just implementing this practice, think about what your intention is ahead of time until it becomes second nature.

One of my favorite writers and motivational speakers, Gabby Bernstein shares what healthy boundaries (2:37 min watch) look like for her. Take note of how she explains that while having a healthy boundary in place, she can still be kind and open.

Boundaries are for anyone who can use that invisible barrier in order to protect the most important thing you can control – YOUR energy.  You are in charge of where it goes and who you give it to.  While it may only be required in one area of your life, consider putting those healthy boundaries in place to serve your needs, whatever they may look like for you.

I’d love to hear from you!

Where in your life have you applied healthy boundaries?

Share in the comments below and let me know how boundaries have helped you in your life.

With so much love,

Lisa xo