About Progress

This monthly series features an episode sharing my recent highs and lows, how my habits are going, a Do Something List update, plus what I'm loving lately and my commitments for the upcoming month. I hope this glimpse into my life, my family, my work, and my own self development encourages you in your own journey. Around here the goal is never perfection, just to keep trying, even if in very simple ways. I think you'll see that with all of the big changes going on for me, taking the smallest of steps has helped to keep me afloat and feeling like myself. As always, I encourage you to get messy, too! Finding Me Academy My FREE DSL Training My FREE habits class Full Show Notes Sticky Habit Method Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The word 'toxic' is used a lot in current zeitgeist, but what does it really mean? And what are the greater implications it can have on your relationships, and your sense of self? In today's episode I discuss all of that with Dr. Heidi Brocke, a Toxic Relationship Awareness & Healing Specialist. After spending 14 years in an extremely emotionally and narcissistically abusive relationship she was able to leave, and turned her past into her passion; she left her 24 year career in healthcare to use her life experience and education to be the person she needed when she herself was trapped in the darkness of an unhealthy relationship. This topic may be something you personally need, or could shed some light on someone you know. The goal of Dr. Brocke's message is to provide hope, healing, and freedom to those whose lives have been affected by toxic relationships, emotional abuse, and narcissistic behaviors. She shares her real experience, tips that work, and doable exercises for rebuilding your sense of self after

Do you ever find yourself stuck in the stress cycle, thinking "what's wrong with me?" You're not alone, and there's even an explanation for why you feel that way. For starters, women are more uniquely affected by high levels of stress than men. In this episode we dig into some of the science behind why this is true, so that you can better understand what's going on in your brain and body, and why you respond the way that you do. Plus, learn ways you can better manage your stress, instead of feeling that constant state of overwhelm. This episode is brought to you in partnership with Redd Remedies. Stacey Littlefield has degrees in biology and herbal medicine, and is the Master Herbalist behind the brand of natural products. You can use code PROGRESS for 20% off Peaceful Mama & Rhythm & Flo, as well as the rest of Redd Remedies products on their website. Finding Me Academy My FREE DSL Training My FREE habits class Full Show Notes Sticky Habit Method Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/ad

When Megan met with a psychologist she came away with a diagnosis of a perfectionist, with an achievement addiction. As she shares the ways she navigated her own all-or-nothing spectrum, much of her story will resonate with this community. As a mother of four (now five) she auditioned for a choir, which snowballed into a larger and more time-consuming job. Critical feedback from a family member then caused her to quit everything. In this conversation I help her identify the priorities she cares about most, and apply those as a filter to the opportunities she wants to pursue next. Listen as Megan identifies learning, having a challenge, and finances as the filters she wants to focus on. She then sifts through some of the options she has recently had, and you'll hear in real time what this process can look like. If you, like Megan, can't figure out where your heart is anymore, this episode will give you the clarity you need to excitedly embark on finding your passions again. Finding Me Academy My FREE DSL Tra

Is there something that has made you think other people can do that, but not me? This episode is part of a monthly series to convince you otherwise. These episodes feature real women who are answering the question “How do you…?” about their various passions and pursuits. In this week's episode, I chat with Carly Adams. She should sound familiar, as she was a guest last Spring of 2022 to talk about how to simplify your spring cleaning process. Carly is a professional organizer (and new podcaster) with Tidy Revival, but she's on this special series not for organization--it's because she's become a "Plant Lady!" Carly might have had a botanist as a father, but her own interest in house plants didn't really take off until the pandemic coupled with the loss of her dog pushed her to find another thing she could nurture and care for. Carly will share more about her story, how plants cover her home, her new interest in propagating plants, as well as some basics you need to know if you'd like to get into nurturing hou

Sarah Hart-Unger is a mother of three and physician, with a passion for hobbies. She is an avid runner, and hosts two podcasts - one of which discusses all things planners. (If you think the planner-decorating-community isn't a good time, think again!) She breaks down the importance of having a hobby, how to integrate it into your life even if you have small children, and what the time commitment of finding your hobby should be. In the end, your hobby should bring you joy, and feel fun, while fitting into the life you already lead. In this episode I also share my journey to finding hobbies, making time for them, and how I learned that they are actually important. You don't need to have tons of down time, you don't need to clear your schedule, and you usually don't even need to venture too far outside your comfort zone, to find a hobby. And for those of you that seriously have no idea where to start, I have a solution for you, too. Habit Type Quiz Finding Me Academy My FREE DSL Training My FREE habits clas

When I shared about my 500th podcast episode I received a simple comment, "What are you doing to celebrate yourself?!" And that prompted me to do some thinking, and celebrating. It can be easier for us to barely acknowledge our growth or accomplishments, usually by making up excuses that they're not that important. One of the major tenets of About Progress is identity, and I realized that celebrating yourself is important for continued growth. Plus, it just feels good. Find something to celebrate today, even if it's the smallest of things. Finding Me Academy My FREE DSL Training My FREE habits class Full Show Notes Sticky Habit Method Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In my early years as a young teacher, spread really thin, I found myself engaging in certain numbing behaviors after my students left for the day. I would tell myself it was time to decompress, then start reading online blogs for sometimes multiple hours. This then led to late nights and early mornings preparing for my classes. It was a vicious cycle, and it caused a lot of shame and overwhelm. As you start to reflect on your own day-to-day life, what are some numbing behaviors you notice? In this episode I share what some of my coaching clients have dealt with - from phone scrolling to over-organizing. I will teach you my 3 N's of numbing behaviors, as well as what this has looked like in my life and the life of a client, to show you that it's possible to carry less fear and shame around these behaviors. But what if you want to continue a "numbing behavior?" When I teach you how to intentionally choose your choices, then I support that, too. These tools are meant to give you more ways to support yourself, in

This podcast is one of the things I have been the most consistent with throughout my life, and over seven years that has led me to this 500th episode. I sat down to answer your questions about the history of the podcast, the specifics of my favorite guests and episodes, what the future holds, and what I've learned from all of this along the way. I think you'll find these answers to be unexpected, enlightening, and with a few surprises about what's to come! Most importantly, thank you for being a listener and valuable member of the About Progress community, I wouldn't be here without you. Finding Me Academy My FREE DSL Training My FREE habits class Full Show Notes Sticky Habit Method Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you have an inner critic telling you that your story is too dumb to matter? Maybe you even have outer critics that make your story feel unimportant. Those things are just not true. Dan Davis joins me in this episode to help you see that you don't have to hit a certain level of drama or prestige to have a story worth telling. Dan Davis is a film producer and director, and founder of the documentary film company Stiry. I was personally so impressed by his work on the documentary about my beautiful friend Kim White who passed away after a years-long fight with cancer. Dan believes that everyone has a story worth uncovering, and worth sharing. Through his own personal experience of a difficult health story he found community, support, and purpose in sharing his struggles. Learn what he thinks the first step towards discovering your story is, and why it can propel you forward in your growth. Finding Me Academy My FREE DSL Training My FREE habits class Full Show Notes Sticky Habit Method This episode is b

This monthly series features an episode sharing my recent highs and lows, how my habits are going, a Do Something List update, plus what I'm loving lately and my commitments for the upcoming month. I hope this glimpse into my life, my family, my work, and my own self development encourages you in your own journey. Around here the goal is never perfection, just to keep trying, even if in very simple ways. I think you'll see that with all of the big changes going on for me, taking the smallest of steps has helped to keep me afloat and feeling like myself. As always, I encourage you to get messy, too! Finding Me Academy My FREE DSL Training My FREE habits class Full Show Notes Sticky Habit Method Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whether you feel like you're in a never ending chase after your purpose, or stuck on the sidelines waiting for your purpose to find you, either extreme can leave you feeling left out of actually living your life. I have found myself on both ends of an extreme spectrum and after years of working on it I'm sharing three steps you can take to live with purpose in your present. You don't need to waste time looking for one, define-able, lifelong purpose. Instead, you get to decide to stop seeking for the what and live the how. In this episode I share a simple exercise that you can do while you're listening, to help you connect with yourself and believe that you already matter. Finding Me Academy My FREE DSL Training My FREE habits class Full Show Notes Sticky Habit Method Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is there something that has made you think other people can do that, but not me? This is part of a monthly series to convince you otherwise. These episodes feature real women who are answering the question “How do you…?” about their various passions and pursuits. In this week's episode I interview my podcast manager, Taylor! She shares her path from being new to a gym and a quiet participant, to becoming a group fitness instructor. The story of how she initially became certified in her first of several different formats is one of practicality and taking a leap of faith. Now, after moving across the country, she opens up about the struggles and successes of the job, plus the biggest benefits (spoiler: it's not really about anything physical!) If you have considered getting into the instructor side of group fitness, learn some simple steps to get you started and feel inspired that you can make that dream happen for you, too. Finding Me Academy My FREE DSL Training My FREE habits class Full Show Notes Stick

Does your day-to-day life have you feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, or irritable? Maybe you are squeezing in some self-care here and there, like a rare sweet treat, an occasional long shower, or other surface level practices. It's possible that you are practicing self-care, and still not feeling cared for. Why does that happen? Because the things that we have been taught to look at for self-care, are really just barely scratching the surface. Taylor Morrison, author of Inner Workout, sees self-care as a skill to be strengthened just like a physical muscle. She identifies, and debunks, the most common myths, to help us get to the root of effective self-care. You'll also hear her explain the five dimensions of self-care, which gives us a holistic approach to the greatest act of care that we can give ourselves: understanding, and acting upon, what makes you feel like you. Finding Me Academy My FREE DSL Training My FREE habits class Full Show Notes Sticky Habit Method Episode Sponsors: Use code PROGRESS fo

Do you remember the children's book, "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day?" I think we've all had days that at least match the description in the title. I had one just before I sat down to record today's episode, and it made me think about how we can handle those inevitable bad days. We often have the best intentions for our day, even setting ourselves up with all the right support, and then still things can change. I'll tell you what went wrong for me, why bad days are normal, and the three things I do to not get stuck in the feeling of despair that accompanies them. Finding Me Academy My FREE DSL Training My FREE habits class Full Show Notes Sticky Habit Method Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For most of my childhood and into my young adulthood I had a habit identity that was closely tied with my perfectionistic tendencies. I had decided that if I followed a very precise prescription, I could be successful. For example, when it came to my faith or my dancing, my habits were tied to rules I created, the kind of thing that I refer to as 'shoulds' now. This led to an impossible cycle and I ended up on the other end of the spectrum, staying safe and not trying anything new. In this episode I guide you through how to determine your own habit type, how to choose your 'shoulds' and identify the habits you might need that could transform your life. Spoiler alert: mine was sleep! When I uncovered this about myself it had a beneficial ripple effect, and I think the same is possible for you, too. Take the free habit quiz! Episode 391 about Dangling Habits Finding Me Academy My FREE DSL Training My FREE habits class Full Show Notes Sticky Habit Method Episode Sponsors: Use code PROGRESS for 20% off a 9

I’ve recently been sharing growth spurts where I share principles that guide my work with clients and my own life, too. We’ve covered: the discomfort zone, courage, compassion, and curiosity. Today, I want to discuss the internal shift that I've clung to during even the most disparaging moments of my life, and that is my ability to choose. And to be clear, we don't always get to choose our choices, but given the choices in front of us, we often have to choose something. In this episode I'm sharing some personal choices I have had to make, and they might not be what you're expecting. If you've found yourself feeling out of control with your life and your choices, I hope my words help you feel empowered to own your agency, and take back power in your life. Finding Me Academy My FREE DSL Training My FREE habits class Full Show Notes Sticky Habit Method Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever wished that you could love motherhood as much as you love your kids? That's a little line I borrowed from my dear friend, Rachel Nielson of the 3 In 30 Takeaways for Moms podcast, who is an expert on that exact subject. Motherhood is full of wonderful surprises, but also hard surprises, and it does not come instinctually to everyone, as you'll hear was the case with me and Rachel. If you struggle with what you think motherhood SHOULD look like, and would rather uncover what you want your motherhood to look like, Rachel has several actionable steps you can take. She uses the analogy of cleaning out a closet to explain the steps to declutter your motherhood, and it really makes sense. While this may be a long process, it is possible to feel some change right away, as you find joy and alignment in your role as the mother you want to be. Get 10% off Rachel's course "Declutter Your Motherhood" with code 'ABOUTPROGRESS' Finding Me Academy My FREE DSL Training My FREE habits class Full Show Notes

This monthly series features an episode sharing my recent highs and lows, how my habits are going, a Do Something List update, plus what I'm loving lately and my commitments for the upcoming month. I hope this glimpse into my life, my family, my work, and my own self development encourages you in your own journey. Around here the goal is never perfection, just to keep trying, even if in very simple ways. I think you'll see that with all of the big changes going on for me, taking the smallest of steps has helped to keep me afloat and feeling like myself. As always, I encourage you to get messy, too! Finding Me Academy My FREE DSL Training My FREE habits class Full Show Notes Sticky Habit Method Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a pet peeve of mine when people say they "don't have regrets." While I understand what they mean by that, I think it's too dismissive of the lessons we learn from a life fully lived. In fact, I can name several regrets I have, without hesitation. From the way I handled friends and extracurriculars in and after high school, to my own missteps as an emotionally dysregulated young mother, plus a few more examples, you'll see that I am far from perfect. When regret leads to resentment and shame, it can be more harmful than helpful. What's helpful is learning lessons from our past mistakes, what's harmful is dwelling on our imperfections and making them mean something untrue about our identity. In this episode I walk through some of my regrets using my four step method designed to help you do the same on your own. My hope is that this helps you disentangle your identity from your mistakes, and allows you to move forward in your growth. Finding Me Academy My FREE DSL Training My FREE habits class Full Show