Hi Reader,

Over the last couple of weeks, I have been inspired by my clients, through 1:1 work and in the group workshop.

Inspired by hearing them go through life situations where they listen to what is right for them, and what might be wrong for them…or in other words, what is aligned or not aligned with their values and beliefs. And then taking action from that awareness instead of out of automatic habit.

What I have been seeing and hearing, is them taking a stand for themselves, by saying no. And finding their voice.

But the really cool thing is how they are feeling while doing it. Before, they would have said no to a request; in doing so, they would have felt shaky or fearful, worrying about the consequences or what the other person would think.

This time around they're feeling the aligned ‘no’ and said no with confidence and determination. Yes, the nerves were there, but they were much quieter, and they felt confident and proud of themselves for saying no.

Where once they would have said yes to somebody else's needs, making sure the other person felt good and happy. While they would feel worse, resentful, unhappy, or frustrated. And this time, they said no to protect their happiness, to protect their well-being, to protect their mental and emotional state.

And they felt great about it!

Learning how to use our voice and stand up for ourselves and our needs can feel exciting and hopeful! And it can also feel very unfamiliar and scary…. And like, ‘Oh my gosh, what did I just do?’. All of which is totally normal. That is our human experience, when life, lifes.

That's where practice comes into play. We continue listening inward to the signs and signals of yes or no.

For example, asking yourself – “Am I feeling a leaning in or an excitement towards the request…. Or am I feeling a backing away, a tightness or a tension about the request?”.

Just even getting curious about that can be powerful for us to determine if it's something that we want to do or not do.

Now don't get me wrong, there are a lot of things that we must do in life that we're not going to be thrilled with, that are required of us. That is part of adulting.

And yet what I'm talking about is those situations or life experiences where we are on autopilot, saying yes for other people instead of ourselves.

When we truly start listening to our own needs and wants and taking aligned action, there will be a positive ripple going out to the world.

Try This at Home

A few small practices to help you build this awareness in everyday moments:

The Body Check-In​
Before responding to a request, pause and notice: is there a leaning in, an openness, an energy toward this? Or a tightening, a bracing, a subtle pulling away? No judgment, just information.

The Delayed Yes​
Practice saying, "Let me get back to you," before answering requests that usually pull an automatic yes. Even 24 hours of space lets you settle enough to check in with what's actually true, instead of reacting from habit or guilt.

Aligned 'No' Journaling​
At the end of the day, jot down one moment where you said yes on autopilot and one moment (even a small one) where you paused and checked in first. Over time, this builds the muscle of noticing before reacting.

So, I leave you with these questions:

• Where have you been saying ‘yes’ out of obligation to someone else’s needs or happiness, but you really wanted to say ‘no’?
• Where are you saying yes to someone else’s needs, but if you were truly honest with yourself, you’d say no?
  • This one can be a bit sneakier, as it hides under ‘But that’s what I need to do as a parent, a partner, an employee, a student, a leader’, gosh, name any of the hats that you wear.
  • If you find yourself saying, ‘ya, but it’s just the way it is.’, I invite you to get curious. Is it really the way that it is or what has to be? Maybe yes. Maybe no.
    • If no….Ask yourself – What do I want?

If you try any of these out...I'd love to hear. What was it like? What shifted if anything?

Service Spotlight: Reiki + Sound Healing

A recent client described it perfectly: "Reiki on a rocketship, getting to the relaxed state faster."

The Woojer Sound Healing mat translates sound into physical vibration, so instead of just hearing the tones, you feel them in your muscles, your chest, your nervous system. Paired with Reiki's gentle energy work, it creates a deeper kind of stillness, one that's harder to reach through rest alone.

Clients often describe this combination as the fastest way they've found to quiet a racing mind. The vibration gives the body something to focus on, which makes it easier to let go of the mental chatter that usually keeps us on edge.

This pairing is especially supportive for:

• Chronic stress or a nervous system that feels stuck "on"
• Difficulty relaxing, even when you have the time
• Emotional overwhelm that's hard to put into words
• Anyone curious about energy work but new to it

Sessions are available as part of 1:1 offerings or as an add-on to The Reconnection to Self Method™.

​Book a Reiki + Sound Healing session →​

What's on the Calendar

• Infinite Possibilities Workshop — New 4-session series begins October 20, in person in Lodi. Sessions run Oct 20, Oct 27, Nov 3, and Nov 10. Details and registration →​
• Oct 15: WI SHRM State Conference — I'll be speaking on "Courageous Communication" and how to navigate difficult conversations with confidence.
• Oct 21: Onsite Acupressure at Moraine Park Technical College — Bringing stress relief to their team as part of our ongoing partnership.

Out of Office

• Sept 16–20: Girls Trip Vacation
• Sept 23–26: Midwest Coaches Conference (Des Moines, IA)

I'll have limited availability during these windows, so please plan ahead if you'd like to book a session in September.

Wishing you well!

Emily 😊