 Credit: Style My Soul, www.stylemysoul.com | Managing Boundaries, Yes or No Saying “yes” can be a powerful tool for growth, but it also comes with its challenges. We address the crucial lessons learned from embracing opportunities and the importance of setting boundaries. Drawing on insights from experts in personal development and professional management, it offers practical advice for balancing ambition with well-being.
Secrets Harm More Than Help As a therapist specializing in trauma and addiction for 14 years, I’ve seen countless clients struggle with boundary issues. One specific instance where saying “yes” is almost never wise is when someone asks you to keep their substance abuse or self-harming behavior a secret. I worked with a family where the mother knew her teenage daughter was using substances but agreed to keep it secret from the father to “maintain peace.” This secret eventually escalated the daughter’s TBI complications and created deeper family dysfunction. When the truth emerged, trust was shattered on multiple levels. Healthy boundaries require honesty, especially with dangerous behaviors. I teach my clients that true compassion isn’t enabled through silence, but rather having the courage to speak up even when uncomfortable. This principle applies whether you’re dealing with a loved one’s addiction or someone asking you to compromise your own well-being. The mind-body connection workshops I facilitate emphasize this exact point: when we ignore red flags to keep others comfortable, our bodies often signal distress through anxiety, sleep issues, and physical tension. Learning to recognize these signals and honor them is essential to breaking unhealthy patterns and achieving the internal change that drives external change. - Holly Gedwed, Owner, Southlake Integrative Counseling and Wellness Protect Your Energy and Commitments A friend once asked me to help them move on a weekend I had set aside for rest. I said yes because I didn’t want to disappoint them. I spent the entire day lifting boxes, skipping meals, and answering work messages between tasks. By Sunday night, I was exhausted and short with my team on Monday. That one decision affected how I showed up for my company, and it wasn’t fair to anyone. That experience reminded me that saying yes when your body or mind needs rest doesn’t serve anyone. As CEO, I need to lead with energy and clarity. If I burn out helping someone in a moment of guilt or pressure, I show up depleted in places where I’m responsible for big outcomes. Now, I pause before I commit. I check my calendar, my energy, and my priorities. If the timing doesn’t work, I offer a different day or suggest another solution. People who value you will understand. Saying no when the timing is wrong isn’t selfish. It’s responsible. You protect your commitments, your health, and the quality of what you bring to the table, at home and at work. - Aspen Noonan, CEO, Elevate Holistics Set Boundaries for Patient Safety As a nurse practitioner with 30 years of experience, I’ve learned that saying ‘yes’ to working extra shifts when I’m already exhausted isn’t just unwise — it’s dangerous. Last month, I caught myself almost prescribing the wrong medication dosage after working 16 hours straight, which really drove home the importance of maintaining healthy work boundaries for patient safety. - Lori Leonard, Chief Medical Officer, Mindset & Body Reset Pause Before Agreeing to New Tasks We all want to be helpful, but saying “yes” isn’t always the smart move. From my two decades steering businesses through stormy markets, I’ve learned that boundaries protect your time, energy, and sanity. Let me share a moment when agreeing too quickly backfired, and the wisdom it burned into me. It’s a lesson anyone can apply, whether you’re running a company or just navigating life. Years ago, a client asked me to take on a massive project with a tight deadline. My gut screamed, “We’re already stretched thin!” But I said yes, eager to please and confident I could juggle it. The result? My team burned out, quality slipped, and we missed the mark. Rushing to say yes ignored the reality: we didn’t have the bandwidth. That mistake cost trust, sleep, and nearly our reputation. Why does this happen? Saying yes without thinking often comes from wanting to seem capable or fearing we’ll miss out. But every yes is a commitment that pulls resources from somewhere else. If you’re already maxed out, agreeing to more creates a chain reaction: stress spikes, work suffers, and relationships fray. It’s like piling extra weight on a creaking bridge; something’s bound to snap. The wisdom here is simple: pause before you agree. Check your capacity, your priorities, and what you’re sacrificing. That project taught me to ask, “Can I deliver this well?” If the answer’s shaky, it’s a no or at least a “not now.” Boundaries aren’t about being selfish; they’re about being honest with yourself and others. Next time someone asks for your time or energy, don’t reflexively say yes. Take a beat to weigh what’s on your plate. Protect your ability to show up fully, whether it’s for work, family, or yourself. A thoughtful no today saves a world of regret tomorrow. - Justin Abrams, Founder & CEO, Aryo Consulting Group Guard Your Time and Team’s Focus Saying “yes” without thinking costs more than people expect.There was a time when someone asked for a favor that didn’t fit our schedule. We had a full plate. Still, I agreed. It felt easier than pushing back. That one “yes” set off a chain of problems. We rushed our work. Quality slipped. Deadlines were missed. What started as a quick favor turned into a reputation issue. It wasn’t worth it. That decision taught me a simple rule. Every “yes” takes time, energy, and attention. If the team doesn’t have the capacity, saying “yes” does damage. It pushes good people too far. It lowers the standard. And it tells others those boundaries don’t matter. Saying “no” isn’t negative. It’s necessary. It protects the work. It protects the people doing it. Leadership means choosing what to ignore, what to allow, and what to stand firm on. A clear “no” today prevents bigger problems tomorrow. Guarding your time and energy isn’t selfish. It’s how you stay consistent. It’s how you deliver what you promised without apology. - Pepe Nieto, General Manager, Cannons Marina Align Decisions with Core Goals I once agreed to take on a request that wasn’t aligned with our core goals. It sounded quick, and I wanted to be helpful. However, that small “yes” pulled resources, delayed priorities, and created confusion across teams. What looked like a gesture of support became a source of friction. The cost manifested in missed timelines and frustrated teammates. It sets the wrong tone for what we value and how we work. Saying “yes” too often blurs direction. It makes every problem feel urgent. It spreads your team thin. The roadmap becomes a suggestion instead of a plan. People start working on tasks that aren’t tied to outcomes. Energy gets wasted. Progress slows down. You lose the momentum that comes from focus. Every decision in product management has a trade-off. You either protect the work or you chase distractions. Saying “no” gives clarity. It sets boundaries. It signals what matters now. That discipline builds trust and speed. It keeps the team aligned and confident in what they’re delivering. Boundaries aren’t about being difficult. They’re about staying effective. Every “yes” should support results, not reaction. - Travis Rieken, Sr. Director of Product Management, Easy Ice Choose Quality Over Quantity in Opportunities As the founder and CEO of Omniconvert, I’ve discovered that agreeing to every possibility can often result in overlooked priorities and unnecessary pressure. Early in my journey, I accepted a client assignment despite realizing it didn’t match my expertise or my company’s goals. I believed saying “yes” would foster growth and build strong connections, but instead, it overextended my team and led to uneven outcomes. That experience taught me the importance of setting boundaries to remain aligned with your purpose. By declining opportunities that don’t resonate with your core principles, you create space for those that truly matter. It also underscored the value of understanding your limitations and maintaining honesty with clients to build lasting trust. The lesson I gained is straightforward yet impactful — choosing quality over quantity when it comes to opportunities fosters meaningful and sustainable progress. Today, I carefully evaluate opportunities to better serve my clients and grow my business intentionally. - Valentin Radu, CEO & Founder, Blogger, Speaker, Podcaster, Omniconvert Stay Within Your Expertise Saying yes to every client request, especially when it’s outside the scope or expertise, is a fast track to burnout and poor outcomes. Early on, I agreed to manage a client’s full-stack dev build on top of SEO and ads. I said yes because I didn’t want to lose the project, but it backfired. Deadlines slipped, performance tanked, and our core work suffered. That taught me the power of staying in our lane. Now we politely decline what doesn’t align with our strategy or capability. That boundary protects our team’s focus and the results we’re known for. For me, it is better to say no early than to apologize later. - Callum Gracie, Founder, Otto Media Consider Energy Levels Before Committing Once, I said yes to joining three back-to-back industry panels in one week. It sounded like great PR. What I didn’t consider was how drained I’d be. By the second panel, I was mentally checked out. By the third panel, I was answering questions with one-word replies and staring into space. That week taught me that just because something looks good on paper doesn’t mean it’s good for you. If your energy is low or your plate is already full, don’t pile more on. Saying no can actually help you show up better the next time you say yes. - James McNally, Managing Director, SDVH [Self Drive Vehicle Hire] Avoid Sacrificing Personal Priorities Not long ago, I accepted a last-minute mold job that started just before a holiday weekend. Helping my client demanded sacrificing my family time. My work commitment extended beyond the expected time, which caused me to miss my son’s baseball game. It wasn’t worth it. Since then, I’ve learned that saying “yes” out of guilt or pressure always backfires. There’s a big difference between being helpful and being stretched thin. If you have to sacrifice something important to you, think twice. - David Struogano, Managing Director and Mold Remediation Expert, Mold Removal Port St. Lucie
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 Credit: Style My Soul, www.stylemysoul.com | Offline Social Connections Expanding your social circle offline in 2025 doesn’t have to be a daunting task. We explore unconventional methods to meet new people and form genuine connections, backed by insights from social experts. From joining luxury travel clubs to participating in community projects, these strategies offer fresh approaches to broaden your social horizons beyond the digital realm.
Join Luxury Travel Clubs for Extended Stays As a digital nomad therapist who’s traveled extensively while maintaining an online practice, I’ve found luxury travel clubs create powerful social connections. When I joined Inspirato (a luxury travel club), I unexpectedly found myself meeting fascinating professionals during extended stays in their high-end properties. The communal spaces in these luxury accommodations naturally foster genuine connections with like-minded travelers. I’ve formed lasting friendships with entrepreneurs, creatives, and other professionals during my seven-month stays in various locations — connections that would never happen in typical tourist settings or rushed hotel experiences. What makes this approach unique is the combination of extended time (weeks/months rather than days) and shared living spaces designed specifically for community building. During my extended stay in Mexico, I connected with a business consultant who later became both a podcast guest and valuable professional contact simply by sharing morning coffee in the communal kitchen. For those without luxury club budgets, look into co-living spaces or extended stay accommodations with community amenities. The key is finding environments where you naturally interact with others over time through repeated, casual encounters rather than forced networking events. These prolonged proximity situations create authentic relationships based on genuine shared experiences. - Kym Tolson, Therapist Coach, The Traveling Therapist Participate in Local Park Clean-Up Days One thing I do that surprises people is drop in on public park clean-up days hosted by smaller churches or neighborhood groups, especially ones I’m not affiliated with. It’s not glamorous. You’re pulling weeds, painting benches, and picking up trash. But when you’re doing that side-by-side with someone who grew up on that block or a teen serving community service hours, it leads to conversations you can’t replicate anywhere else. I’ve walked away from those mornings with invitations to speak at local schools, connect with youth groups, or collaborate with pastors on recovery outreach. These aren’t people who network on purpose. They just care deeply about their space, and if you show up and do the work, they notice. The social capital you build by showing up with no agenda is worth more than any seminar. - Timothy Brooks, CEO, Synergy Houses Attend Library-Led Community Discussion Groups One overlooked way to meet people is by joining local library-led discussion groups, not just book clubs, but forums on mental health, veterans’ affairs, or parenting. These aren’t industry events or curated social mixers. They’re grounded in lived experience. I’ve attended sessions on trauma recovery and family resilience where every person had something real to share, no resumes involved. The moderator isn’t a keynote speaker; it’s usually a social worker or community liaison. You find yourself sitting with grandparents raising their grandchildren, college students exploring psychology, and caregivers navigating burnout. The relationships formed in those circles aren’t fleeting. I’ve stayed in touch with people I met there for years. In a field like mine, where professional detachment can become isolating, those connections keep me empathetic and connected to the human side of what we do. - Justin McLendon, LCMHC, LCAS & CEO, New Waters Recovery Collaborate in Community Gardens and City Meetings Joining a community garden compels you to engage in practical collaboration with individuals outside your usual circle. You discover who arrives early, who brings tools, and who listens attentively. There are no titles or presentations — just shared work. I joined one near our clinic launch in Missouri. We exchanged produce and stories, and within weeks, I had formed connections with a local therapist, a food bank coordinator, and a nurse practitioner. None of these connections came from exchanging business cards. They developed from sweating together in the soil. Another often overlooked method is attending city hall meetings. Most people disregard them, but they are filled with teachers, business owners, and neighbors who care enough to speak up. I’ve encountered veterans advocating for medical access, parents organizing mental health events, and retired EMTs seeking volunteer opportunities. These individuals weren’t on LinkedIn. They were present in the room, ready to discuss what mattered to them. I listened, followed up, and continued to attend. This is how you build genuine connections that transcend mere talk. These aren’t quick solutions. However, they lead to relationships built on action, not convenience. This has always been our approach to growth. You don’t need more followers. You need people who show up, just as you do. - Aspen Noonan, CEO, Elevate Holistics Volunteer for Short-Term Urban Improvement Projects One strange, but effective, avenue to grow your network and get to know new people in 2025 — the non-internet way — is to volunteer for unique, short-term community efforts like urban farming projects, helping with local election logistics, or painting neighborhood murals. Because these positions attract people who care and are often quite different, they deliver much more in terms of true, non-surface connections. You are not networking; you are working together. This makes them less pressured, increases the speed at which trust develops, and can result in unexpected “friendships” or “projects” that would have never developed as a result of a traditional meetup. TIP: Find a role where some demand is placed on you to work with others shoulder-to-shoulder, versus just being there to attend or spectate. That is where the connection happens. - Mary Case, Founder, The Happy Food Company Engage in Municipal Advisory Boards One unusual but refreshingly effective way to meet new people in 2025 — without relying on online platforms — is to volunteer for hyper-local community advisory boards or public consultation events hosted by your city or town. Most municipalities regularly seek input from residents on things like urban planning, transit, sustainability projects, or even cultural development. These gatherings are often under-attended but attract a unique mix of professionals, activists, retirees, and curious citizens — all with something to say and a shared interest in improving the place you live. You’d be surprised how naturally connections form when you’re debating how to fix a traffic bottleneck or improve access to parks. Not only do you meet people you’d likely never cross paths with otherwise, but these forums also build social capital and foster genuinely meaningful conversations — a rare thing in today’s interaction-light world. It’s grassroots networking with real-world impact. - Kalim Khan, Co-founder & Senior Partner, Affinity Law Connect Through Hobby-Based Volunteer Groups In 2025, one unusual but successful way I’ve grown my network is by joining hobby-based volunteer groups. For example, on weekends, I worked with a veterans-supporting car repair crew, which had nothing to do with law or business. You meet people from all walks of life who all help out. The experience is not stressful, serves a purpose, and encourages honest conversations. The added bonus? I gained two excellent recruiting partners just by showing up with a wrench. - Mark Hirsch, Co-founder and Personal Injury Attorney, Templer & Hirsch Network at Niche Industry Conferences You’d be surprised at how many conversations you can initiate with people at niche industry conferences. Most major conferences charge for attendance, but if the opportunity to attend presents itself, seize it and engage in conversation at an open icebreaker, discussion, or workshop. Not only is it an excellent way to make professional connections, but it’s also an opportunity to step out of your comfort zone and chat with interesting people. If you approach these conferences with an open mind, they can definitely serve as a gateway to new social circles. - Maurice Harary, CEO & Co-Founder, The Bid Lab Explore Group Tours During Solo Travel Traveling can be a great way to meet new people. Whether you take a solo trip but sign up for group tours, stay at a hostel with other travelers, or simply strike up conversations with other people while traveling, it can be a fantastic way to meet brand new people you otherwise wouldn’t. You’re already out of your comfort zone when you travel, so that can actually make it easier to go out on a limb and socialize with brand new people. - Steve Schwab, CEO, Casago How we begin our mornings can set the tone for the rest of the day. A chaotic, rushed start can make us feel stressed and scattered, while a calm, intentional morning routine can foster productivity, mindfulness, and happiness. The good news? You don’t need to overhaul your entire life to start your day right. Just a few small habits can create a major shift in your outlook and energy levels. Here are four simple, effective ways to start your day on a positive note.
Start Your Day Off with Gratitude Starting your morning with gratitude can shift your mindset and increase overall happiness. Instead of jumping out of bed and immediately thinking about everything you have to do, reflect on a few things you’re thankful for. These don’t have to be major things, something as simple as the comfort of your bed, the sound of laughter, or a loved one’s smile can be powerful. These thoughts allow you to focus on good tidings. These thoughts can be transcribed in a gratitude journal. Each morning, write down three things you’re grateful for. This practice helps train your brain to focus on the positive and develop a more optimistic perspective over time. Regular gratitude journaling can improve mental health, reduce stress, and even help you sleep better at night. Take those thoughts pen to paper to understand the power of being grateful. Move Your Body Break a sweat to learn you’re alive! Find the optimal time that aligns with your body rhythm to exercise. Even gentle movements, like stretching, yoga, or a brisk walk , can greatly impact your body and mind’s energy levels. Exercise in the morning increases endorphins (your body’s natural mood boosters), enhances mental clarity, and helps decrease brain fog. Newcomers can start their day with short duration of exercise to promote flexibility and attend to those muscles. The combination of physical activity and fresh air can improve your mood by helping you feel grounded before facing the demands of the day. Practice Mindfulness A few minutes of mindfulness or meditation in the morning can help you stay centered and calm throughout the day. In our fast paced world, we often wake up and immediately dive into emails, and social media. But by taking a few moments to be still, breathe deeply, and observe your thoughts without judgment, you give yourself space to respond to the day instead of reacting to it. Try a simple breathing exercise known as box breathing: inhale slowly for four counts, hold for four, exhale for four, and hold again for four . Alternatively, apps like Headspace, Calm, or Insight Timer offer guided meditations making it easy to find one that fits your schedule. Regular mindfulness practice has been linked to reduced anxiety, improved focus, and a greater sense of emotional well-being. It helps you become more intentional with your time and energy. Set a Positive Intention for the Day Instead of letting your day unfold haphazardly, try setting a positive intention in the morning. This could be a word, phrase, or goal that captures how you want to show up that day. For example: “I will be present in every conversation.” An intention acts as a compass, helping you stay aligned with your values and desired state of mind, even when the day gets busy. You can write your intention down on a sticky note, say it aloud in the mirror, or repeat it silently during your morning commute. The key is to keep it simple and specific, and to revisit it throughout the day. Over time, this practice cultivates greater self-awareness and helps you stay focused on what really matters to you. In conclusion, you don’t need to become a morning person overnight to start your day off well. Implementing even one of these habits can help you feel more grounded, positive, and empowered. The goal is not perfection but progress, creating a morning that supports your mental, emotional, and physical well-being. The way you begin your day influences how you live your life. Start it with intention, kindness to yourself, and a little positivity. Meet Our Contributor — Kerri Scholl Kerri is a dedicated stay-at-home mom of four who finds joy and purpose in the everyday moments of family life. With a deep passion for wellness, Kerri writes about finding balance, health, and mindfulness amidst the beautiful chaos of raising children. Her writing blends practical tips with heartfelt reflections, aiming to inspire other parents to prioritize self-care and cultivate a sense of calm and intention. Through her wellness journey, she hopes to encourage others to embrace a lifestyle that nurtures both the body and the soul. |