Just like a garden needs water and sun, relationships need care and attention to grow, and communication is the lifeblood that makes it all happen. Whether you’re leading a team, having a tough conversation, or simply trying to connect more meaningfully, small shifts in how you communicate can create a big impact. This month, we’re sharing three practical tips to help your communication bloom. Think of them as small seeds you can plant—simple actions that lead to stronger, he

Time is precious. And while we tend to focus on productivity, efficiency, and doing more with less, there’s also something to be said for dolce far niente, an Italian phrase that means “the sweetness of doing nothing.” At ithrive31, our three core principles provide a model for positive and healthy living. Core Principle #2 is, “Be deliberate with your time and resources.” This principle is about how we choose to spend our time. It’s about aligning our time and resources wit

Ah, the holidays—they come with all the glitter, glam, and often far too many commitments to squeeze into a single month. As you enter December, it’s the perfect time to lean into ithrive31’s Core Principle #2: Be deliberate with your time and resources. This principle is all about setting boundaries, making intentional decisions, and choosing what truly matters to you. During the holiday season, it can feel like you need to say yes to everything: the parties, the gift exchan

Self-care is often sold to us as something external: a bubble bath, a massage, or perhaps a pedicure. While these indulgences can bring temporary relief, true self-care digs much deeper than the surface. It’s about caring for yourself from the inside out, addressing your thoughts, boundaries, and overall well-being. At ithrive31, we believe in the power of intentional self-care based on our three Core principles: Principle #1: Be Intentional with Your Thoughts Your mindse

There’s an old saying, “You can’t pour from an empty cup”. While most of us acknowledge the truth at the heart of this, many of us are guilty of putting ourselves last and forgetting the importance of self-care. On the entrepreneurial path, it’s especially easy to focus all of our efforts on moving our business forward, at any cost. In this step in the “How to Be a Dream-Chasing Realist” blog series , we’ll explore practical ways to take care of you, even when (especially whe

Welcome back to the How to Be a Dream-Chasing Realist blog series . So far we’ve explored several actionable steps to help you pursue your dream or make a major life transition. If your dream involves a professional change, you may want to consider a side business or “side hustle” to supplement your 9 to 5 job. According to LinkedIn , the number of professionals that freelance while working full-time has more than doubled in the past five years . The benefits of a side gig a

Practical suggestions for moving forward. Life is hard…and sometimes it can be overwhelming. The weight of our problems can be heavy. Really heavy. Sometimes even unbearable. It is easy to get down in the dumps. To wallow. To feel self-doubt. It doesn’t matter what circumstances we may be going through, we are wired as human beings to focus on the negative when the going gets tough. We have all been there. There are varying degrees of difficulty, but no matter who you are o

Fall: Back to CRAZY The new school year is jumping into full gear and with it comes the resurgence of parental commitments – new school committees seeking support, homework assistance to steal evenings away and sports schedules to hijack after school and weekend time. And you thought the summer schedule was busy!!! On top of all this, new commitments tug on your precious (and very few) moments. Community, clubs, churches and other organizations start their fall programming