Happy New Year! As soon as the calendar turned to 2023 my inbox and Instagram feed were inundated with posts offering possible New Year's resolutions. Eat better, lose weight, sleep more, stop smoking, start exercising, dry January…the list, posts, and emails go on and on. To me, these types of resolutions come from a deficit and negative perspective.

I like to think of a boundary as an invisible, protective shield that helps us separate ourselves from the other. Boundaries empower us to be our best selves and to lead productive, fulfilling lives. Just like Brené Brown says, setting a boundary is an act of self love. Read on for tips on how to set boundaries.

Assertiveness is a key component to effective leadership, teaching and parenting. In a 2007 article published by the American Psychological Association, “New research suggests that the best leaders employ just the right amount of assertiveness.” Yet many of us struggle to understand what assertiveness is and how to employ it in our daily lives.