The phrase “hustle and grind” has become synonymous with the relentless pursuit of goals and success. It’s a mindset of hard work, determination and a tireless work ethic. Although this phrase promotes a proactive approach to achieving our goals, it sparks controversy for how it disregards work-life balance. 

Thanksgiving can be a complicated holiday. On one hand it’s a beautiful and meaningful tradition, one that often succeeds in bringing family and friends together for a moment to share quality time and a meal. On the other hand…it’s not always that simple.

In today’s always-connected, perpetually-hurried life, rest can be elusive. It’s hard to stop when everything and everyone around you seems to want to go, go, go.

Many of us are operating in a state of disconnect. We’ve learned to psych ourselves up to deal with life’s mundane challenges; we’ve become experts at going through the motions even when our hearts and minds are elsewhere. We can cook a meal, keep in touch with friends and family, succeed in our work, all while mentally and emotionally feeling a little…meh.

"Meh" doesn't mean depressed or burned out; you still can have hope and energy and be surrounded by good people. The technical term for "meh," coined by sociologist Corey Keys and popularized by organizational psychologist Adam Grant, is languishing.

What matters most to me and my loved ones? What would be simple and beautiful? When I reflect back on the holidays, what memories and feelings would I like to take with me?

When we take responsibility for our lives, we no longer allow our ego and mind to keep us in a perpetual victim loop. Liberation begins the day we realize we are not our thoughts.

Life is always presenting us with opportunities to let go and accept the reality of constant change. Maybe you have kids that are heading off to college and you find yourself holding on to them too tightly, unable to face the inevitable ‘goodbye.’ Maybe a voice in the back of your head is telling you to leave a job or a relationship that no longer serves you, but you choose to ignore it or focus on excuses because the prospect of your own freedom feels too daunting. Maybe you are trapped in your own head, ruminating on conversations from long ago, letting the present float by as you wonder “what if…”

You may or may not have the word “executive” in your job title, but your life and career can still improve dramatically from working with an executive coach. Executive coaching is an asset for all sorts of leaders. Just as great athletes don’t hesitate to call on coaches, trainers, hypnotists and spiritual advisors in order to maintain their dominance, it’s a mark of wisdom and strength for leaders from all walks of life to seek professional guidance and support.

Resilience is a psychological quality that allows some people to weather adversity and come back at least as strong as before, perhaps even stronger. Rather than letting challenges, disruptions or failures overcome them and drain their energy and resolve, highly resilient people find a way to pivot, emotionally heal and continue moving forward towards their goals and dreams.

The only people who get upset when you set boundaries are the ones who benefitted from you not having them.

Boundaries are important in every facet of life and they are especially important in business. While saying yes (or, not saying no) to an unaligned request might not hurt your business, in the long run, always saying yes--whether coming from a feeling of lack or fear of being disliked--runs a large chance of negatively impacting the health of your business in the long run. When you are running a business you are responsible for what gets done and what doesn’t. That includes what you say “yes” to and what you say “no” to. What you do always comes at the expense of something else.

Setting boundaries is not an option, it’s critical to running a successful business. It’s important to determine what’s most important, set boundaries accordingly and take the necessary actions to enforce those boundaries. Doing so sets up your business for success.