You are the company you keep. Your character, behavior, and beliefs are greatly influenced by the people you associate with, especially those who are in close proximity. As Catholics, we must keep the saints close to our hearts and look to them for guidance, intercession, and inspiration.

God has given you particular gifts. And for all the “bossy babes” out there, this is delightful news: being direct and even confrontational in a world that shirks away from hard truths is a gift. We need people who can stand firm in the truth, and who aren’t afraid to lead with love.

If I could recommend a book to any young female professional, it would be “Something Wicked: Why Feminism Can’t Be Fused with Christianity” by Carrie Gress, Ph.D. The insights she shares about the dangers of feminism are ones that I have spent the last several years untangling as a mid-career professional and full-time, stay-at-home mom. This book would have saved younger me some heartache in terms of how I viewed the working world and myself.

Two young mothers, celebrated today on March 7, are included in the Roman Canon (Eucharistic Prayer 1) among a list of early Church martyrs. Most people don’t know their story, but we can all learn from their faith and fortitude.

Every once in a while, you come across a book and think: Every woman I know should read this. Teenagers, mothers, religious sisters, women who are committed single and those beyond menopause. When you find this book, you pray that tools like social media and the natural interconnected way women communicate will disperse the message worldwide. The Language of Your Body is that book.

Energy management is not only about the day-to-day choices we make, but also how those choices are aligned to our purpose and what gives us meaning. It may sound counterintuitive, but when we align our energy with our purpose, it expands our energy capacity.