Many of us suffer from a runaway train-brain. We have good intentions to work on our thoughts and mindset, but it can be so difficult to break long-practiced patterns and start anew. Nancy Jane Smith is a certified counselor or expert on how to shift your inner critic (she nicknamed it, "the monger") into your "biggest fan." Where she wants you to start? By acknowledging and actually feeling our emotions. This is the key to everything! Nancy explain why and how you can do this to move forward to...
Dec 19, 2018•36 min•Ep. 132
When Ellyse Harris quit her beloved job as a teacher to stay home with her newborn son, she found she needed something to remind herself of who she was. So she started to sew dolls of beautiful animals. And then those dolls became something people wanted to buy, and soon without even intending to, Ellyse found herself the founder of a small, but thriving, business. Ellyse is on the show to share how doing something small--creating again for her mental health--lead to so much more. She also share...
Dec 14, 2018•27 min•Ep. 131
Some days (weeks, and months) are just plain hard. There's no way around it. Except . . . . maybe we can laugh about it? Granted, those laughs might not be appropriate or helpful during all hard trials, but at very least finding ways to see the light even in the hard can miraculously change our perspective. Mandi Winkelman is on the show to share how her own choice to see the light AND the humor in her dark times has lightened things and changed her views of her own suffering. Show Notes Mandi's...
Dec 12, 2018•41 min•Ep. 130
Do you know that children's negative actions (anger, lashing out, tantrums, wailing, etc.) are often just the misplacement of their true emotions? (Think: exhaustion, frustration, disappointment.) It's true! Kids who are reacting in negative ways actually need guidance to understand what is really happening within themselves and, in turn, better cope with what life throws at them. This is called "emotional responsibility," where one truly recognizes their emotions, takes charge of them, and care...
Dec 05, 2018•38 min•Ep. 129
It's hard to stay centered within our social media word as it is, but throw yourself into the middle of the holiday season and you'll easily find yourself spinning out of control. Courtney Casper wants to help you hit pause and reset your life based off of what really matters. For her, this includes a life of spirituality, choice, and intention. Listen to learn how to navigate difficult spiritual feelings, pressure to conform to and get caught up in the pulls of social media, and how to make the...
Nov 28, 2018•34 min•Ep. 128
WE are celebrating TWO YEARS of the podcast! And I mean "we," because About Progress would be nothing without the listeners and the community we have created together. Today, I'm sharing four big lessons this little podcast taught me the past two years, including: Do it for you Consistency trumps everything Progress is messy (embrace the "messy middle") "Done" is better than perfect Additionally, I'm giving a sneak peek to how the show will change next year. The BEST (and scariest) change is tha...
Nov 21, 2018•36 min•Ep. 127
Body positivity AND swimwear? Yes, both!! Mother-daughter duo Kristie Kemp and June Blackhurst weren't out to create a company when Kristie wanted to simply sew a swimsuit she felt confident in postpartum--but that's what happened! What sets June Loop apart? Instead of buying into having a one-size-only model approach (like most swimwear companies) June Loop strives to show that ALL women belong in beautiful suits and to feel confident about their unique bodies. From having "normal" ladies of al...
Nov 16, 2018•38 min•Ep. 126
How would you respond to your spouse, friend, or sibling who express serious doubts about their faith? Brad Packer--Monica's husband--is on the show today to share what this was like for him. He answers: How he knew something was wrong. What he felt about Monica's struggles. How he supported her. Why he sticks with his faith. Additionally, Monica and Brad go through some Q&A submitted by the listeners, including how they are raising their children in the LDS faith, what resources have been h...
Nov 14, 2018•44 min•Ep. 125
What if we changed the way we looked at doubts and times where we face great spiritual darkness? What if we decided instead that this WAS what faith is supposed to look like: a series of spiritual growing pains? Paul Cardall faced a deep spiritual crisis after surviving a heart transplant. Instead of joy, he felt consumed by trying to live up to the great blessing that it was to live. Everything in his life fell a part, and he couldn't understand why God had let him live and not the friends and ...
Nov 14, 2018•39 min•Ep. 124
If I can experience a major faith crisis, anyone can. Over the last 12+ years, I've been through an ongoing series of my own struggles with my faith in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Today's episode is an honest share of how this came about for me, what issues I have struggled with and why, what I've done about them, and why I ultimately chose to stick with my LDS faith for life. Below in the show notes, I've included the past posts I've written on this topic if you'd like to r...
Nov 07, 2018•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 123
Positive parenting is all the rage, and for good reason. But what if praising the good and ignoring the bad behavior isn't working for your spirited, willful child? What if another's special needs or incredible gifts demand a far more unique approach than what worked with other kids in your family? Wendy Bertagnole loves to guide parents through these exceptional parenting moments--because she has had to navigate them herself with her own three children, each with their own challenges that had t...
Oct 30, 2018•48 min•Ep. 122
No matter how you crack it, life is plain hard. To endure it well, learn to laugh alongside the tears! Shaun and Nicole Johnson have inspired thousands of people to find the silver lining in their struggles because they've done the same for themselves. Their Instagram page is full of posts of lip synching and hilarious skits that have inspired so much fun and laughter. But the greater purpose behind sharing them? Shaun and Nicole are seeking the humor through the trials they face as a married co...
Oct 24, 2018•51 min•Ep. 121
"Life is noisy, and crazy, and disruptive." Amen, sister! So how can we find hints from our Creator that we aren't here alone amidst all the distractions? Especially when we are facing trials we never expected to? Heidi Tucker was a brand new empty-nester looking for her place. After hitting a series of dead-ends and an early return of her missionary son, Heidi wondered how God was possibly involved in her life. But the hope came. And it came in ways that took time and practice for Heidi to reco...
Oct 19, 2018•45 min•Ep. 120
For many of us, we suffer in silence due to shame. For others, it's because our struggles are connected to someone else's choices that we can't publicly share. For all of us, there are still ways to cope better with the quiet trials we face. Erin Shepard of Yarrow Therapy has faced silent suffering in her own life due to chronic illness, and she often counsels people who do, too. In this episode, hear how to better cope with your trials, overcome shame where needed, and seek confidential guidanc...
Oct 17, 2018•37 min•Ep. 119
Carina Heilner was held back by her intense perfectionism for decades: with eating disorders, a big-time running obsession, and a overall focus on her appearing and looking the part. But she's a fighter and now talks back to the negative voices in her head that used to drive her. Carina learned that she needed to voice how a trauma from her childhood affected her view of herself, and that the best way she could show herself she mattered was by allowing more room for compassionate imperfection. N...
Oct 12, 2018•32 min•Ep. 118
Accepting and loving yourself does not mean you stop trying where it counts. In fact, it's quite the opposite. This is the same where your health is concerned. There is a big difference between trying to get healthier due to aesthetics and self-loathing, vs. working on your health because you want to show yourself and your body a truer love. Charity Lighten is a nutritionist who believes there is power behind loving yourself enough to make some changes when you need them. She encourages people t...
Oct 10, 2018•49 min
Listen, we all know that practicing more mindfulness is life-changing. We know this because it's all over the internet, newspapers, and even via our nosy neighbor who is working on it, too. So why is it so hard to actually implement? That's because mindfulness is another muscle that needs to simply be trained. And training that mindfulness muscle? Anyone can do it. Andy Proctor--a happiness advocate and educator--is going to show you how. And that it can start by simply being more fully "present...
Oct 03, 2018•40 min
There are a LOT of things that get in the way of our productivity. Because LIFE HAPPENS!! And life includes a whole lot of good that deserves our attention. It's not all bad! However, it's time to end the frustration of our to-do lists and get in some real, practical ways to transform how we choose to devote our time. Tonya Dalton of inkWELL Press is a productivity expert who is allllll about boosting your productivity in ways that are lasting (and DOABLE!). She's a believer in "a time and a sea...
Sep 28, 2018•39 min
A good marriage takes work, that we know. But when mental health struggles come up for one or both spouses, it can try the most important relationship of our lives in very unique ways. Matt and Celeste Davis believe that facing these struggles together can instead make a marriage even better. Both have taken turns struggling with depression (see their past solo episodes with me here and here !), so they know first-hand how to guide a spouse through a very difficult time. The Davis family thrives...
Sep 26, 2018•56 min
Today's "Do Something Highlight" is with Melissa Lewis. After moving and facing huge trials, Melissa found herself again by making her own bucket list. Doing these small, fun, and challenging things helped Melissa get out of a dark place and helped her remember who she is. Listen in to hear what this looked like for Melissa and how you can do it, too! Show Notes Melissa's Instagram Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica for podcast consulting and Progress Coaching More Podcasts from Abou...
Sep 23, 2018•16 min
It's easy to dismiss someone else's success. "They have such good genetics!" "Amazing that their dad got them their first big break." "Wish I had that talent!" The truth is, progress is HARD. For everyone, regardless for how "blessed" they are. Ashton Barrett is on the podcast today to share how improving oneself is both messy and magical. As a crossfit junkie, macro coach, and nutrition specialist, Ashton has walked herself and others through the roller coaster of progress. She understands the ...
Sep 19, 2018•43 min
Natasha Grasso quit her high corporate job with big hopes to slow down her life and finally get pregnant. In the process, she started a new jewelry-making hobby that became a real passion. Natasha looked past what was practical and logical, listened to her intuition, and took a leap into making her hobby into a business that supported the greater purposes of her heart: one focused on her family. Learn how Natasha allowed the hard things in her life inspire perspective, rather than bitterness. Na...
Sep 14, 2018•26 min
How often do you say the words, "I'm sorry?" Odds are, it happens much more than you think. And most of the time, they're unnecessary apologies. As women, we tend to fall into a cultural trap of apologizing for taking up space, for being human with human flaws, or for even getting bumped into at the grocery store. At times, our apologies are a way of avoiding facing the parts of ourselves that are hard to own up to and work on. Jody Moore of Better Than Happy wants to help you stop apologizing b...
Sep 12, 2018•32 min
If you're not naturally a morning person (Monica is a member of that club!), you know the viscous cycle of going to bed too late and never starting your day off on the right foot. But there is hope for us snooze queens! Establishing a morning routine that works for YOU can be done in a very manageable, doable way. You have to ditch the all-or-nothing thinking and start smaller than you think you should. But in time, you'll be able to add to it and start your day off before your to-do list comes ...
Sep 06, 2018•43 min
Kim White has been told she has only months to live more times than she can count the past 4 1/2 years. And yet, she's still kickin' it! But doing so hasn't been born purely from her ability to see the good in her trials. In fact, Kim readily shares that for a few years she struggled in BIG ways emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. BUT as Kim decided her own "WHY" behind her cancer and other health battles, she has been able to find deeper empowerment to better face them. And also those good-...
Sep 05, 2018•48 min
"Vulnerability" is a popular term these days. But for very good reason. Forget thinking "vulnerability" is where your distant relative shares all the horrible minutia of her life. True vulnerability demands courage. The kind where we look at our true selves in the mirror, see what needs to change, and get going. It's also the kind that lends yourself a tremendous amount of compassion as you navigate growth and the "humanness" you'll experience along the way. Sarah Carpenter and Stacy Weinstein o...
Aug 29, 2018•41 min
"Stop being so childish!" What if we encouraged the child-like strengths our children gravitate to instead of demanding they grow up? What if we thought about what we liked to do as children ourselves--what our personalities were like, our interests, dreams, and even things we liked to do--and made that the basis for who we can better become as adults? Neena Warburton believes that becoming more child-like is the key to unlocking what our spirit longs to be AND helps us better parent our kids. S...
Aug 22, 2018•52 min
"I want to. I can. I will." This is the mantra that got Kristina Southam to her goal of running a marathon and hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro. She's our "Do Something Highlight" today and sharing ways that she has done things that have scared her and the effect of them. One of these included taking a break from a graduate program she had worked so hard to get into, and how deferring ended up being the best way to reset her life. Listen to hear about how she wanted to show up better for the people in her...
Aug 17, 2018•22 min
As an international model turned student, turned missionary, turned business owner and clothing designer ,n speaker, advocate, and author (phew!), Rosemary Card has done and seen more than most almost-30-year-olds! Rosie's gift of using her unique voice was forged through years of standing up to bullies, living up to her values amidst great pressure, and speaking up even within her own religious culture. She shines so brightly, and Rosie knows YOU can, too! In this interview, Rosie shares how sh...
Aug 08, 2018•43 min
Camille Andros is used to juggling a lot of balls. As an author and mother of six, she often battles having a lot of important priorities and all at the same time. Not just in spite of this, but because of it, Camille has learned that in order to be "all in" and present with the task at hand, you have to practice the mindset of intentionality. Creating this mindset shift has enabled Camille to be a better author, mother, and work on her own self-development. Listen to learn how this is the case ...
Aug 03, 2018•31 min
