What actually helps people stay consistent over time?
Not more motivation — but a different way of defining success.

In this episode, I share a simple framework I’ve found helpful for holding goals and habits in a way that leaves room for real life, without lowering your standards. It’s not about doing more — it’s about setting things up so you can keep going, even when life doesn’t cooperate.

It’s a gentle addition to your goal-setting — not a reset, not a redo — just a more supportive way to stay with what matters.

Don't forget to subscribe so you're notified when new episodes drop every Wednesday!

Connect With Carolyn:

Website: https://simplyalign.com/

Instagram: @simplyaligncari

It’s a new year, the perfect time to take a fresh (and very doable) look at food and how it can bring more energy and light into everyday life.

In this episode of Catching Sunshine, I sit down with Ali Essig, creator of Plant Whys.

Ali shares the moment that changed everything—her husband’s stroke at age 37—and how it led her to study nutrition and embrace a more plant-based way of eating rooted in curiosity, not extremes. We talk about food, energy, and the simple idea that plants begin with light—and how choosing more whole, plant-based foods can be one practical way to lighten up!

For delicious plant based recipes check out Ali’s YouTube Channel: PlantWhys

and catch her podcast Eat Meat Sparingly:

Don't forget to subscribe so you're notified when new episodes drop every week!

Connect With Carolyn:

Website: https://simplyalign.com/

Instagram: @simplyaligncari

A simple, heartfelt Christmas reflection on a familiar part of the Nativity story—one that invites us to see it with fresh eyes and consider what it might mean for our own lives.

Don't forget to subscribe so you're notified when new episodes drop every Wednesday!

Connect With Carolyn:

Website: https://simplyalign.com/

Instagram: @simplyaligncari

One small thought can shift your whole day—here’s why, and what to do about it.

You know those days when one little negative comment or thought sends you down a spiral? In this episode, we’re diving into the science of why that happens. We’ll talk about the brain’s tendency to focus on the negative, how beliefs get formed, and what you can do to guide your mind in a better direction.

Oh, and yes—there’s a personal story to bring it all to life.

Small shifts, big ripple effects.


And if you want to keep the momentum going, don’t miss Episode 35: Spiraling Up — it pairs perfectly with this one.

Don't forget to subscribe so you're notified when new episodes drop every Wednesday!

Connect With Carolyn:

Website: https://simplyalign.com/

Instagram: @simplyaligncari

In this episode, I’m sharing six ways to tune into the signal of your intuition and turn down the noise that pulls you off center. You’ll learn how to feel the difference in your body, listen for what’s aligned, and reconnect with your calm, clear inner guidance. A gentle reminder that clarity is always available—and it’s simpler to access than you think.

Don't forget to subscribe so you're notified when new episodes drop every Wednesday!

Connect With Carolyn:

Website: https://simplyalign.com/

Instagram: @simplyaligncari

In this episode, we explore three sneaky emotional patterns that quietly drain our energy and keep us feeling stuck. Using the dung beetle as an example, we take a light, surprising look at how these patterns show up in everyday life—and how to shift into something clearer and lighter.

Don't forget to subscribe so you're notified when new episodes drop every Wednesday!

Connect With Carolyn:

Website: https://simplyalign.com/

Instagram: @simplyaligncari

What if life is trying to offer you a shortcut—but you’re too busy pushing to see it? In this episode of Catching Sunshine, we’re challenging the old belief that “there are no shortcuts in life” and exploring the idea that often, when you’re aligned and paying attention, life will gently show you a better way.

Some paths do require the long, winding climb. But not all of them. Shortcuts can be beautiful things—if they’re aligned.

You’ll learn how to spot one, how to trust it, and how to finally stop mistaking ease for weakness.

If you've been stuck in a cycle of struggle, this episode is here to remind you to stop striving and start listening. Because sometimes, the better path is already there… it’s just waiting for you to look up and notice it.

Don't forget to subscribe so you're notified when new episodes drop every Wednesday!

Connect With Carolyn:

Website: https://simplyalign.com/

Instagram: @simplyaligncari

When life gets messy, do you crumble, push through, or come out even stronger?

In this upbeat episode, Carolyn shares what it really means to be antifragile—to grow steadier, wiser, and more confident every time life tests you.

You’ll learn how to reframe stress, trust your own capacity, and keep your balance when things don’t go as planned.

Including a funny story from Carolyn’s Jr. High marching band days—with a lesson that will stick with you (but not on you!).

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Don't forget to subscribe so you're notified when new episodes drop every Wednesday!

Connect With Carolyn:

Website: https://simplyalign.com/

Instagram: @simplyaligncari