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Speak Your Truth with Confidence

Try these 10 Affirmations to Speak Your Truth With More Confidence

Try these 10 Affirmations to Speak Your Truth With More Confidence

Have you ever caught yourself not saying what you really think, maybe because it felt too uncomfortable? Or found yourself hinting at what you mean, but not really being direct, and it just ends up causing confusion? It’s something we’ve all faced at some point. Let’s explore how we can move past that and communicate with confidence.

How often do you find yourself holding back your true thoughts or feelings out of fear or discomfort?

Or maybe expressing yourself in an indirect or passive-aggressive way that creates more tension than clarity?

Many people struggle with communicating assertively in certain situations. Stating our needs, opinions and boundaries directly yet respectfully, may not be something we were taught growing up.

The good news is that just like any skill, assertive communication can be developed through intentional practice. Here are three ways you can get started:

1) A powerful lesson about communication comes from a friend whose family runs a global business empire. He shared that his father’s success was based on four simple words: “What do you think?” His dad made a practice of genuinely asking others for their perspective before sharing his own. This invites open dialogue, helps others feel truly heard, and increases the likelihood they’ll be receptive to your thoughts when shared.

2) This idea is echoed by leadership expert Simon Sinek, who talks about the quiet power of being the last to speak in a discussion. By allowing others to fully voice their views first, you earn respect and your words carry more weight when it’s your turn.

Imagine how different workplace meetings, family disagreements or personal partnerships could be if we all approached them with curiosity about others’ perspectives and asserted our own with confidence yet compassion.

3) Another effective tool is the use of positive affirmations – You know how much I love using affirmations; declarations we repeat to ourselves to rewire unhelpful thought patterns and instill new positive beliefs. Think of it as telling the truth in advance!

Here are 10 affirmations designed to cultivate more open, honest and assertive communication:

  1. I communicate my needs and feelings openly and honestly, respecting myself and others.
  2. I have the courage to express my thoughts directly and respectfully.
  3. I choose clear and constructive communication over indirect methods.
  4. I am confident in my ability to address issues directly and seek resolutions.
  5. I respect the viewpoints of others and listen actively when they speak.
  6. I express my disagreements with kindness and seek understanding.
  7. I am worthy of expressing my needs and having them met.
  8. I approach conflicts with a positive attitude, looking for common ground.
  9. I am responsible for my own emotions and communicate them without blame.
  10. I foster relationships based on honesty, respect, and mutual understanding.

By repeating these affirmations regularly, we reinforce beliefs that allow us to communicate with clarity, confidence and consideration for others.

So to become a more confident and compassionate communicator:

  • get in the practice of sincerely asking for others’ views with, “What do you think?”
  • allow the quiet power of truly listening first before speaking, and
  • choose a few affirmations from this list to repeat regularly as your new self-talk.

It may feel uncomfortable at first, but stick with it – you’ll quickly become an assertive communication pro – you got this!

Intuition Quiz

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SimplyAlign cerTrac - WAITLIST - (Facebook Post)

Introducing an Exclusive Experience: VIP Day in Washington, DC!

Introducing an Exclusive Experience: VIP Day in Washington, DC!

How’d you like to spend a power-packed day with me in our nation’s capital, entirely focused on energizing your journey?

It’s a fantastic one-of-a-kind VIP opportunity, and I’m super excited to share the details!

Here’s what I’ve put together for you:

  • Personalized Energy Healing Sessions: A deep dive into energy healing that’s all about you. These sessions are crafted to tackle what’s been holding you back, in a setting that ensures comfort and confidentiality.

  • Dreams & Goals Coaching: Direct, one-on-one coaching aimed at transforming your dreams into achievable plans. Let’s outline the steps to bring your aspirations to life.

  • Monumental Inspiration: A guided exploration of D.C.’s most iconic landmarks. It’s not just a tour; it’s about connecting with the energy and stories of the city to fuel your personal transformation.

  • Culinary Comfort: Expect a day filled with a nourishing lunch and healthy snacks, chosen to keep you energized and focused as we work together.

  • Check in Channel: Voxer access to me two weeks before and two weeks after your VIP Day.

  • Follow up Strategy Session to review your progress, celebrate wins, and refine your strategy for continued growth

This day is more than just a set of sessions; it’s an immersive experience designed to facilitate growth, insight, and significant shifts in both perspective and energy. Stepping away from your familiar surroundings can act as a catalyst, bringing unexpected clarity and profound insights.

It’s about taking time for yourself, to focus deeply on your next steps, in a new setting that encourages reflection and rejuvenation. With guided support tailored specifically to your needs and goals, this day promises to be transformative.

If this resonates with you and sparks curiosity about how the day could unfold for you, I’d love to invite you to chat with me on a Zoom call. Let’s discuss what you’re looking to achieve and how this VIP Day can be a step towards that vision.

To arrange a Zoom call, simply click here and find a time on my online calendar that suits you (or reach out to support@carolyncooper.com if at a later time there are no times on the calendar).

While this experience is not for everyone, if you’re drawn to it and ready to invest in your growth, I’m here to guide and support you. Pricing and further details can be found through the link to my scheduling page.

Shine On,
Carolyn

P.S. Spots for these days are intentionally limited to ensure a deeply personal and impactful experience. If you’re feeling a pull towards this, please reach out soon. Our initial chat will be a no-strings-attached exploration to see if we’re a good fit for working together and we’ll talk about how to customize the day (or day & 1/2) specifically for you!

Intuition Quiz

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SimplyAlign cerTrac - WAITLIST - (Facebook Post)
Business and Marriage

Guess How Many Years in Business?
6 Lessons Learned

Guess How Many Years in Business?
6 Lessons Learned

August is a big milestone month over here at SimplyAlign – I’m celebrating my business anniversary! Can I get a virtual high five?

Two decades is how long I’ve been online, and that’s a lot! I started in 2003, with my “Living in the Flow” Newsletter, Tai Chi Flow videos, and energy sessions. And I recently stumbled upon an archive of my old newsletter/emails from 2010 going forward– talk about a blast from the past!

Wow, I was busy through those years. Guest spots on summits, podcasts, radio shows, speaking on stages big and small, teaching across the US and in Australia (7 times), hey I forgot that I even wrote a chapter in two best selling books – it’s been quite the ride and I’m still enjoying it…oh so much! And I’m excited about what’s coming up this fall -stay tuned more details coming in the next month.

In the meantime, I’ve been thinking of all the lessons I’ve learned along this 20-year entrepreneurial journey. I’d love to share a few of those nuggets with you because they relate to ALL areas of life, not just business. So here we go:

1. Use the 80/20 rule. Also known as the Pareto Principle: roughly 80% of outcomes come from 20% of effort. For example, 20% of a plant contains 80% of the fruit, 20% of a company’s customers bring in 80% of the profit, and I’d venture to guess – you wear 20% of the clothes in your closet 80% of the time. You get the point. I had to learn NOT to use 80% of my time for a 20% result. To instead, prioritize my highest impact tasks (20%) for the optimal, and easiest results (80%).

2. Honor the Struggle / Embrace the Suck. Running a business is fun…except when it’s not. There are parts of business that I don’t love: admin tasks, learning new technology, communication misunderstandings. But that’s like everything in life, you’ve got to take the unpleasant with the pleasant because those good parts are so worth it. I delegate what I can, and have learned to appreciate the unavoidable parts. I choose to see them as opportunities to rise and be bolder.

3. Time Blocking is my to-do list’s best friend. I started time-blocking to keep myself on task. It’s my daily to-do list put in certain blocks of time, so I never have to waste time mulling over what I should work on next, and getting distracted in the process. I prioritize that beforehand. It also helps me to totally focus on the task at hand during that block, even if another idea pops in my brain (which happens a lot). I just write myself a short note to remember it and keep on the task at hand.

4. You can’t grow what you don’t know. You can’t make a plant grow if you don’t know its soil, right? Same goes for business and life. You’ve gotta pay attention to those numbers, like that wise Peter Drucker said, ‘You can’t manage what you don’t measure.’ But here’s the kicker—once upon a time, I was hesitant about diving into my income figures. It felt like checking the scale every day when you’re trying to be healthy, ya know? Too much and it’s like getting overly focused on numbers. But fast forward to now, and I’m all about those digits. It’s one way of giving my business the respect it deserves.

5. Outdoors + Movement = Clarity. I love working and it seems there is always something to be done. That’s not a good combo…it means since there is always work to do and I like working…well, I’ve learned to get myself away from my office. Outside in nature is a great place to be – it “sharpens the saw” and can be pure gold for creativity. Some of my best ideas have come to me because of sneaking away from work to enjoy nature on a walk or high-speed bike ride.

6. Do Less Better. When overwhelmed, PRUNE. When I get too much on my plate for too long, I’ve learned the answer is to take a look at what’s feeling overwhelming and ask myself the 3-Ds: “What can I delegate, delay, or delete?” I find most tasks fit into one of those buckets. Pruning back the non-essentials makes it possible to do the essentials – to do less – better. It frees up more creative power for the most important things. Keeping it simple is always a good thing in my book!

Those are just a few of the lessons I’ve learned on this journey. I’ll probably share more in the future, but this is long enough for now.

Oh, and guess what?

August isn’t just about SimplyAlign’s birthday bash – it’s also my wedding anniversary month! Yup, Dean-the-dream and I are marking 42 years together! Holy cow, that’s a long time! Maybe next week I’ll have a list of what I’ve learned from marriage, but probably not because even 42 years does not an expert make, haha!

Business and Marriage

But have you ever noticed how business and marriage share a bunch of similarities? They both involve navigating tough times and celebrating victories. Both demand care, patience, teamwork, and a good sense of humor.

Just wanted to say thanks for being part of my journey. Your support means a lot!

Much Love,

Carolyn Cooper

PS – If you missed last week’s email and the downloadable PDF of “Time Affirmations,” it’s waiting for you below:

Intuition Quiz

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SimplyAlign cerTrac - WAITLIST - (Facebook Post)
Angel

Are You An Angel In the Marble?

Are You An Angel In the Marble?

Angel

“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.” – Michelangelo

I love this quote by Michelangelo because I truly believe we all have light, we are all angelic in our special way. And when I work with a client in a SimplyAlign session I feel like this is what I’m doing.

I’m simply helping to carve away the marble…or to say it differently, to release the heavy parts that are limiting their perception of themself and what they are capable of. Once the false beliefs are discovered and diffused that opens up confidence, self love, clarity and endless possibilities for growth. It’s light-filled, powerful work, and I’m humbled to work with amazing clients and students.

The way I see it, we are all in this University of Life to have experiences, to learn and to grow.

Sometimes those life circumstances and experiences can feel heavy…literally like a block of marble.

It helps to have tools to help chip away the marble so the true “angel” (you!) can shine.

SimplyAlign is simply a tool. It doesn’t take the place of prayer, meditation, medical advice, exercise, or even medication. But it does work alongside any and all of those. You don’t need to give up what you’re already doing to get your energy cleared and balanced.

If you’re feeling heavy and would love to ‘set free’ any worries, doubts, sadness, etc. Here are three ways I’d love to help:

1) My 30% off Summer Session coupon code: SUMMER22 is available through August (I still have a few time slots open in Aug. but my schedule is filling, so you can use the coupon through this month, even if you can’t find a spot on my online calendar until Sept).

2) I now have space for 3 more clients in my Move-Up Mondays, 15-min laser sessions. I’d love to work with you for the next 6- months in this effective program! Learn more about it here and email support@carolyncooper.com to secure a spot.

3) Or, join me online for the October SimplyAlign Training. If you’re ready to learn this graceful and effective way of aligning energy to enhance all areas of your life, then please consider our next cerTrac > that’s what we call our “Certification Track” – because it’s way more than just 4 days of online training. All the info about it is right here: https://simplyalign.com/certify/

If you feel more comfortable talking with me first, I’m here to help you get clarity on the best move for you. You can book a fre-e 20-minute Ask CC call here.

Shine On,
Carolyn

 

Intuition Quiz

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Peak Bloom - Cherry Blossoms

Cherry Blossom Photos @ Peak Bloom

Happy Spring! (or Autumn for my readers down unda’ and thereabouts).

I want to talk to you today about “Peak Bloom” – what is it? And why should you care?

Here are a couple of the pics I recently posted on my Instagram (SimplyCari).

They’re from the Cherry Blossom Festival, on the day designated as “peak bloom”.

Peak Bloom - Cherry Blossoms

I love this huge MLK Memorial. It’s especially stunning when the blossoms are at peak!

Peak Bloom - Cherry Blossoms

Peak Bloom is defined as the point that 70% of the blossoms are open.

Not 90%, not 100%.

Only 70%…and as you can see these trees look exquisite!

Because 70% can be good.

 

I’m not one to tell you to lower your standards, or your expectations.

And as a Certified High Performance Coach I’d never tell you to stop striving for progress.

But I will remind you of two phrases I have to remind myself of often:

 

Progress over Perfection
and
Done is better than perfect.

 

This is where 70% can come in helpful.

Not everything needs to be perfect, or even 90%.

I know, I know it goes against the old saying: “a job worth doing is worth doing right.”

But let’s be real, some jobs really are worth doing at 70%.

Going in at 70% helps you overcome perfectionism, over-thinking, indecision, self doubt, and procrastination.

Because simply being in action brings clarity, which brings creativity, energy, momentum and growth.

Think of something you’ve been putting off for far too long – I’ll wait…got it?

Now give yourself permission to do it 70%. Remembering, done is better than perfect.

That allows you to just get started on it without worrying about the end result.

Peak Bloom for the Cherry Blossoms isn’t 100%, it’s beauty at 70%.

What’s your Peak Bloom?

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can”.
Arthur Ashe

Have a fabulous weekend~

Carolyn Cooper

PS: I normally post my fun photos on my Instagram – including a lot of Washington, DC this past year -whee! I’d love it if you follow me there, and I’ll also try to remember to add more fun “sightseeing” pics to my emails, since that’s been requested by many of you!

Simple Breathing Exercise

Simple Breathing Exercise

Hey…got a minute?
For today’s Energy Shot I invite you to try this simple breathing exercise
4-7-8 breathing.

And seriously, I timed myself and it only took me 55 seconds
to do the whole thing!

We all know the benefits of deep breathing…

for our body:
deep breathing calms anxiety
it releases stress
it slows the heartbeat
it lowers blood pressure
it helps keep the immune system strong

for our mind:
deep breathing connects mind and heart
it brings us back to center
it helps us feel grounded
it quiets our mind
it allows us to disengage from distracting thoughts
it brings clarity and calm

So I hope you’ll take a minute and try this out:

Sitting down with your back straight
place one hand on your belly
and the other on your chest

Your belly should push your hand out when you inhale
and your belly should go in as you exhale.
This is a healthy way to breathe as it is from the diaphragm,
the way a baby’s belly naturally expands as he/she inhales.

Place the tip of your tongue on your upper palate,
on the ridge right behind your two front teeth, and
try to keep it there throughout this exercise.

Next exhale with an open mouth to let all the air out.

Now you’re all set up and ready to begin.

The next part is easy, it goes like this:
inhale quietly through your nose for a count of four
hold the breath for a count of seven
and exhale strongly to the count of eight making a
whooshing sound, and pushing out as much air as
possible for the last 3-4 counts. Pursing your lips helps,
because remember you are still holding the tip of tongue
on roof of your mouth.

Repeat three more times for a total of four breath cycles.

Dr. Andrew Weil (renown holistic health expert)
who prescribes this for his clients says to do this at least
twice a day, but never more than four breath cycles at a time.

He says doing this consistently over time can
Lower heart rate and blood pressure
Improve digestion
Eliminate insomnia
Relieve anxiety
and calls it a “natural tranquilizer for the nervous system”

WOW!
It’s simple, quick & easy to do, and can make powerful changes.

Don’t you just love how our bodies respond to simple, natural
methods so effortlessly?

 


Fall Courses Coming Up!
~ Only time offered in 2019 ~


 

Vibrational Energy Healing

Vibrational Energy HealingVibrational energy healing is based on the fact that at a quantum level we are all patterns of light and sound frequencies and as such we are constantly sending messages to the Universe. For thousands of years sages have taught that everything in our material world — animate and inanimate — is made of energy, and everything radiates energy. Einstein used the laws of physics to demonstrate the same thing. Every object, every being, every color, every emotion has a vibration. Even our thoughts and words have a unique vibrational energy. Read more