You've probably been exposed to toxic positivity. You may have a friend who always seems overly happy, even when you know they are going through a hard time. While most of us strive to be happy and healthy, there can be too much of a good thing at play when positivity becomes toxic.

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us feel insecure, frustrated, and scared. With so many question marks on the horizon, we can't plan for the future. Uncertainty runs rampant as long-term decisionmaking becomes a thing of the past. However, we can learn from these uncertain times, emerging stronger than we were before. 

I recently learned of the term "quarantine fatigue" and it helped me understand more about what I've been experiencing. Quarantine fatigue can be different for everyone but the effects are real. Read on to learn about my quartine fatigue experience and what I am doing to combat the symptoms.

Have you heard about the power of saying "no?" It's an important lesson to learn as many of us are busier than ever. Both at work and in our personal lives, we juggle countless obligations, hoping to please everyone. However, when we agree to take on too many responsibilities, we end up spreading ourselves too thin. Instead of doing a few things well, we only achieve average results. Here, we're going to discuss the power of honing focus on just a few priorities. In order to focus, we have to appreciate the power of saying "no."

It's been difficult staying positive during the coronavirus lockdown. The last week has been a whirlwind of canceled flights, just-in-time border crossings, and mandatory lockdowns. It's been stressful, to say the least. But despite the occasional frenzy, I've been able to stay positive, finding the humor in the madness.

Do you find yourself often feeling defensive? Perhaps you have relationships with others who seem to get defensive easily. Responding to another person with defensiveness is never the most effective way to solve a relational conflict, but many of us tend to jump into a defensive stance without thinking much about it.

This is the story of how I began a lifestyle of kindness. I befriended a homeless family, talked to strangers in the airport, and learned to get out of my comfort zone. 

I've learned something about not taking things personally from some thieves in Columbia. This is the story of how two men tried to rob me in Colombia, and what happened to me when I didn't take it personally.

A fear of flying can be debilitating for a person who enjoys travel. I have been afraid to fly for as long as I can remember. I'm not your run-of-the-mill anxious flyer, either. I've struggled with a crippling fear of flying throughout my life. Recently, I took a class for fearful flyers; and to my great surprise, it has changed the way I fly. I want to share with you the most helpful things I've learned to calm my fear of flying.

Using personal boundaries to survive the holidays is a good idea. Let's face it, the holidays aren't always a blissful time for everyone. Grief, dysfunctional family relationships, and old resentments can rear their ugly heads this season. It can be especially difficult to manage painful feelings when the messages you see and hear all around you say this should be the happiest time of the year. One thing that can be especially helpful as you survive the holiday season is to practice using personal boundaries.