Every Friday I am going to feature a woman that I adore. They exude all the qualities of an Alpha Female and I want to dig into their lives to get some nuggets of knowledge to help us all live happier, healthier lives balancing life & work.
Definition of an Alpha Female
An Alpha Female is a powerful and assertive woman. Her confidence is due to her being an intelligent and intellectual problem-solver. Being an Alpha Female is a State of Mind based on choosing ambition and being proud of it. She strives for a happy and healthy work/life harmony.
Type A Alpha Females often come across as strong-willed and selfish. When we stay true to our authentic selves and stay true to our mission we shine. A true Alpha Female puts their needs of herself first without sacrificing her principles or dignity. She fills up her cup or gas tank first so that she has enough energy for her friends, family, and coworkers. A true Alpha Female strives for synergy with the world around her. She wants a perfect work/life balance but knows that it requires being true to your priorities and what makes you happy. She is never complacent about striving for better and nurtures relationships with the people in her life.
Meet Courtney Johnston!
Courtney Johnston is the founder + copywriter at The Rule Breaker’s Club where she teaches entrepreneurs how to sell their products and services with words. She’s been featured on Inc.com, CreativeLive, and the Huffington Post. You can learn her Rainbow of Sales method for free at www.rulebreakersclub.com/rainbow
LINKS: Website, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram
How are you an Alpha Female?
I can totally resonate with the feeling of being “selfish” or “dominant” for my beliefs. I don’t feel nervous about asserting my opinions. I grew up in a loud family where if you wanted to be heard, you needed to speak up. Honestly, I’ve never really resonated with the common belief that women are people pleasers. I’ve always taken care of myself first because I can see the value in having a full tank. It’s only when I am full that I can do all of the magic that I need to do to help others 🙂
What does work/life harmony look like for you?
I love my work so much that I definitely over do it. Being in a relationship forces me to shut my MacBook Pro because I’d hate to sacrifice my personal life for work even though I love it so much. For me it’s about doing the minimum — I have a goal to get out of the house once per day (which is challenging for me!), to drink 8 glasses of water, to attend an event every week, and to take a week off every 12 weeks. I find that by not giving myself extreme goals, I’m able to achieve my minimums which makes me feel accomplished. I’m not a fan of extremes and I do think we each need to find the balance that works for us.
What are you most passionate about?
Catalyzing people into action. I’ve been told that I’m good at giving people a kick in the pants to get up and do the thing that they’re procrastinating. Nothing makes me more excited than seeing someone expand their comfort zone.
What are your daily health habits that keep your immune system boosted?
I’m all about the basics: sleep, drink water, laugh as much as possible, and eat simple foods. For me, health is about pleasure and joy and simplicity.
What is your weekly fitness routine like?
I might be a bit of a contrarian here! I’m not a fan of formal exercise. I think spending 8 years as a figure skater training every single day took the joy out of it for me. I had fun, but it was so intense and when I see people working their butts off at the gym it looks like torture to me. When I was living in France, I learned about adding more movement to life in general without formal exercise. I live in the city and walk everywhere. I also love to do yoga and run every once in a while (I’ve done 2 half marathons) but I won’t force myself to do any sort of plan or regimen unless I feel inspired. When I was living near my dad I used to lift weights with him because it was fun. Once something isn’t fun I stop doing it. I’m a rebel like that!
How do you challenge yourself fitness wise?
I prefer to be inspired than challenged. Honestly, I don’t really challenge myself unless I feel inspired to take on a big goal (like running a half marathon, which I’ve done twice). If I pick a goal like that, I stick to it. Once I hit that goal, I give myself a break. I live an active lifestyle in that I walk everywhere and have to walk up 2 flights of stairs to get to my apartment.
What are your daily/weekly nutrition habits that keep you well nourished?
I’m all about creating “systems” so that I don’t have to think too much about what I eat. It also helps that I enjoy healthy foods, but I don’t go crazy with the nutrition stuff. As with everything else, I’m all about the pleasure of eating. I eat simple meals and buy produce from a big, open-air market near my apartment. My boyfriend is from the Mediterranean and he loves to cook, which is awesome! I could eat a salad for every meal for the rest of my life and be happy.
What are your daily habits for winding down at night and reducing stress?
Love me some tea! Recently I’ve been drinking Yogi “Sleep” tea but I really love this Sweet Rose tea from the Tulsi brand. Unfortunately, I can’t get it anywhere in Canada! I also love the routine of cleaning up my living area, putting on my pyjamas, and brushing my teeth. It makes me feel like I’m prepared for the next day.
What are some pain points of being an Alpha Female that you have to problem solve for? (Whether it be how people perceive your personality or managing ourselves – for example, the amount of things we do, etc)
I’ve had to work on not feeling guilty for being so ambitious. I’m at a point where my goals are so much bigger than anything I ever thought they would be when I was younger. It was hard for me to get past the point of feeling bad for wanting to make more money than my parents (which is silly because of course they would love that!). But I’m fine with that now 🙂 I’m a direct, no-nonsense gal and that often puts people off. I’m a nice person, but I won’t waste my time with people who aren’t taking responsibility for themselves. I’m sure that if I ever have kids, I will totally be the disciplinarian!
What is your definition of happiness?
Being present in the moment. Not easy for me! However, I think it’s way too easy to get wrapped up in “future tripping”. I’m a daydreamer by nature and I love dreaming about the future, but without gratitude and presence, this type of obsessing over the future only leads to unhappiness. Find joy in what you have, and stop taking life so seriously. We’re just on a rock that’s spinning through space. Enjoy the ride!
Untethered Soul &