About Progress

“Come and give your all. Don’t say, ‘I want to look this way or I want to be this way,’ but, ‘I want to become the best version of myself.’” Emily Nelson is one of the most high-energy women I've ever "met." And she puts that energy to good use as the co-creator and co-founder of HIGH Fitness, a workout that is taking North America by storm only 2 1/2 years from its conception. In today's interview, Emily talks about how her growing up years inspired her to have a strong work ethic, what she did to get past her initial shyness, and the path she took after college that eventually led to creating a new fitness brand with her friend and business partner, Amber Zenith. Emily is passionate about their vision: to not just create a class, but a fitness community that inspires men and women to move past focusing on the exterior, and instead on becoming the best versions of themselves. There is a reason why participants tell Emily every single day that her classes are changing their lives. You'll also love hearing about what Emily thinks is the hardest challenge behind trying to balance life as an entrepreneur and a mother, why she and Amber are committed to not filling their feeds with sexy photos to increase their business, and how they have combatted the nay-sayers by staying true to their mission to inspire each person who is apart of the High Fitness community to live their best life. Show Notes Emily's Instagram, and Amber's (her co-founder) Instagram High Fitness Instagram, Facebook, and website Last week's episode with Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife SURVEY!!!! (It takes less than a minute to fill out--thank you!) Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) More Podcasts from About Progress Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Many of us resist developing ourselves into our own unique expressions of Godliness, of humanity, because we fear the exposure, and the risk, and the potential invalidation that comes through doing that . . . If that is the only paradigm we operate in, we limit our ability to really develop into beings capable of offering goodness in the world, and creating a better world through our own capacity." What is "goodness?" How do we develop it when faced with real and imagined pressures? Today, Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife answers these questions by fleshing out the term "goodness" that often comes up in her teachings. Jennifer teaches us how to discover what it is we truly want and feel we "should" do with our lives and then how to better own our choices, especially when we are often only faced with difficult ones. Jennifer also offers how to live up to the core desires we have, more fully cultivate our gifts, and how to in turn better tolerate the internal and external push-back we might experience as we develop true goodness within ourselves and our lives. Like her past episode on About Progress, this interview is one worth listening to several times to fully glean Jennifer's wisdom. There are many ways to apply this discussion to parenthood, marriage, "control freaks," "victims," and those who live their lives based on others' approval. More on Jennifer: Jennifer Finlayson-Fife grew up in Burlington, Vermont as one of eight children. She studied Psychology and Women's Studies at Brigham Young University, and went on to receive her Masters and PhD in Counseling Psychology from Boston College. She has a private practice in Chicago, IL where she works primarily with LDS couples on relational and sexual issues. She is a frequent guest on LDS-themed podcasts, and has written articles for LDS-themed magazines and blogs on the subjects of sexuality and modesty as well as mental health and faith. She is married to John Finlayson-Fife and has three wonderful children. Show Notes: Jennifer's website and upcoming workshops Video she recommended, "How to know you life's purpose in 5 minutes" Jennifer's past interview on perfectionism SURVEY! Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) More Podcast episodes from About Progress Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all know the amazing benefits of exercise: mental acuity, emotional release, increased strength, more consistent metabolism, confidence, and on and on. But we don't often talk about the effects of abusing exercise, a trap we can all so subtly fall into. This can happen through both over- and under-use, although much of this episode it devoted to abuse through too much (or too intense, too often) exercising. Alongside my two expert guests--Meg Miles and Rachel Gainer--we discuss it all. How fitness is a powerful tool for good and so essential to our well-being; but also how abusing it can negatively alter our lives and become all-consuming. Learn through our discussion how to properly make exercise an important part of your life without letting it control you. In this episode, there is a wealth of science, personal stories, and loads of take-aways. Our goal? To empower the listeners to view their bodies--and fitness--with love and "healthy enthusiasm." Show Notes: Meg Miles's website, blog, and Instagram Past podcast interview with Meg Rachel Gainer's website and Instagram Past podcast interview with Rachel Articles on effects of overexercising on metabolism: here and here SURVEY! Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) More Podcast episodes from About Progress Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"The preparation will meet your opportunity, and that is when you can have success. So, you need to work really hard and be ready for when you get that chance, because you never know when it’s going to come." Camille Andros is a woman of many interests including science, writing, and children (she has 6 of her own). For many years, she found herself focusing on one thing and then the other, all of which she loved and found fulfilling. But eventually, she found herself combining her passions into writing children's literature. She wants children to believe that they are smart and they can love science too, and her stories inspire just that and then some! Camille talks about her path towards getting published, how she believes in "a time and a season," the great importance for everyone to have hobbies and dreams, and the remarkable path her life has taken, one small step at a time! Oh, and you'll love Camille's view of how rejection can be a good sign that you're on the right path and how she has learned that slowing down actually helps her work. Show Notes: Camille's website, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and BOOK! SURVEY! Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) More Podcast episodes from About Progress Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“It starts with who you are. Then what you do comes so naturally, and so beautifully, that that is respected because you were who you are first.” There is a reason Jeni Awerkamp's mom called her "Jeni Joy" growing up. This woman radiates light and positivity! Jeni makes this choice every day, and the biggest key to her finding that joy is to focus on who she IS first, not her "successes." This is a lesson Jeni learned after selling her interest in her rising business and instead focusing on motherhood. She has a strong entrepreneurial spirit whose mind is always thinking about the next thing and a big thirst for creating; but she discovered that for her, she needed to invest her self-worth in who she was at the core and to not place her esteem on things, people, or achievements. Jeni also shares the importance of filling our buckets, how she creates and pursues goals, and how much happier she has been once she's chosen to let her hair down and embrace the "yellow" side of her personality. If you like the show, please subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!! Show Notes: Jeni's blog (it's fantastic!) and Instagram Monica's INTERVIEW with Briana from The LifeBeats Project (she's amazing!) SURVEY! Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) More Podcast episodes from About Progress Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“It’s too easy to give in to the thought that ‘Well, this terrible thing happened to me . . .’ But at the end of the day, you write your own story . . . Your life is what YOU create. And I wanted to create something awesome.” Cara Baldwin had been a lifelong "overachiever." But at 30 years old, she found herself moving back in with her parents, filing for divorce with four very young children (the youngest being 6 weeks old), and wondering how she could face the humiliation of being this version of herself she never wanted to be. Beginning with a solo two-and-a-half week camping adventure with all four kids (aka "The Magic Five"), Cara picked up the pieces of her family, plucked up her courage, asked for help, and attended law school so she could support her children. Cara credits her kids, her family, her friends, her community, her faith, and her grit in rebuilding her life and rediscovering the woman she once was: one who believed in herself. Show Notes: Monica's INTERVIEW with Briana from The LifeBeats Project (she's amazing!) Last week's episode SURVEY! Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) More Podcasts from About Progress Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts." ~Winston Churchill We have all been there: you bust your behind trying to reach a goal, you have high hopes, but then you get dismal-at-best results. It's hard to not take it personally. I've been there recently and I found myself really questioning why I've been spending all this time doing something that is meeting seemingly lackluster fruit. But then I reminded myself, "Sometimes you don't make the cut." That's life. Every person who has ever amounted to anything, whether it's in the walls of their own homes or in grand corporations, have faced failures big and small. They have faced those moments where they wonder why the heck they're doing what they're doing and evaluate if it's worth the time, sweat, and tears. For me, I've decided to tailor back in some areas (the limited writing on my blog will now be non-existent for a time) and to redefine what "success" looks like for me. In today's podcast, I talk about admirable figures in our times who have didn't make the cut, what they did to overcome it, and what we can individually do when we face similar times. Show Notes: Articles referenced: Here and Here Stephanie's Website, Instagram, and Facebook Podcast Episode with Mark Lukach Monica's interview for the Extraordinary Moms Podcast SURVEY!!!! Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) More Podcasts from About Progress Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“We didn’t recognize each other, or ourselves. How do you reconcile this? How do you go and redefine how we work together if who we are has taken some pretty fundamental changes?” Mark and Giulia fell in love at 18 years old and launched into what looked like would be a lifetime of happiness. Unexpectedly, three years into their marriage, their fairy tale fell apart as Giulia encountered struggles with her mental health that neither of them fully understood or knew how to deal with. But this isn't just a story about mental illness; it's a story about how a family chose to navigate a crisis and rebuild their lives based on love, not tragedy. Mark talks about what led to Giulia's first bout with psychosis and her eventual diagnosis with bipolar disorder. He shares how as a result they switched roles within their relationship, what it was like for Mark to battle his own depression just as Giulia started to get better, and how they learned to anchor into their new lives both together and individually. Both Mark and Giulia hope their son learns from their choice to focus on on love over fear and that life is beautiful, especially when they hold on to each other. About Mark: Mark Lukach is a teacher and freelance writer. He is the author of a memoir My Lovely Wife in the Psych Ward. His work has been published in the New York Times, the Atlantic, Pacific Standard, Wired, and other publications. He is currently the Ninth Grade Dean at The Athenian School, where he also teaches history. He lives with his wife, Giulia, and their son in the San Francisco Bay area. Show Notes: Mark's website, Instagram, and where to find his book Monica's interview for the Extraordinary Moms Podcast SURVEY!!!! Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) More Podcasts from About Progress Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Depression loves darkness . . . the only way to fight depression is to bring it into the light.” I'm sure you read that article "Marriage Isn't For You" that circulated the internet a few years ago. How am I so sure? Because everyone read it, as in 100 million strong all over the world. Seth Adam Smith is the author of that article, as well as four popular books (including his latest work of fiction!). Seth talks about what it was like to have a VIRAL article and the three years-long mind trip it sent him on as he tried to live up to the internal and external pressure to keep writing pieces to resonate with millions. Seth is much more than "the marriage guy" his article pegged him to be. He's been writing for as long as he can remember. One of the common themes he writes about is depression, and he's been doing that long before it was the cool thing to do. Seth has struggled with chronic depression since he was in third grade, and at his lowest low as a 20 year old, he attempted to commit suicide. What has risen from his broken soul is completely transformative. Seth has shifted his intense struggles to instead act as a force for good--or a "light in the wilderness," as he calls it--one that he holds high and proud, calling others to learn that life is worth living, and it is worth living well. You won't want to miss what Seth says about how we all should want to be "broken," and how he blew my mind with his thoughts on perfectionism. Please share this episode with anyone who you think can benefit. (Hint: it's all of us!) Show Notes: Seth's Website, Blog, Instagram, and YouTube Channel Seth's books: Here, Here, Here, and Here. Monica's interview for the Extraordinary Moms Podcast SURVEY!!!! Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) More Podcasts from About Progress Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"God didn’t take it away, but I have felt so many times that he has sent living angels to help me through, time and time again." Lauren Agostinelli-Gessel has been through more in her young life than most do in an entire lifetime. One week after getting married, she moved to Italy for months to receive a stem cell transplant and five rounds of chemotherapy. This was a drastic measure to help with her vicious form of Multiple Sclerosis. Lauren shares what led up to her diagnosis at 27 years old as a single mother of a two year old, how her fear of dying led to a marriage that wasn't right, what it was like divorcing with a little baby and a little boy while battling a debilitating disease, and how she found love again and married shortly before embarking on her intensive treatment in a foreign country. M.S. is different for everyone. Lauren talks openly about the physical side effects of her disease and how the hardest effects have been the mental and emotional. And yet, Lauren looks for the blessings in spite of the very hard challenges life has dealt with her; she most often finds these blessings in those around her, her earthly angels. You will not only learn so much, including how being dealt with hard life changes doesn't have to be the end of a happy life--you can look for the good and fight for your happiness. Show Notes: Lauren's email: MSIsNotTheEnd {at} gmail {dot} com Lauren's blog, Instagram, and YouTube videos on her: here, here, here, and here Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) More Podcasts from About Progress Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"There are things you can do to rewire your brain. It’s not going to be fun, it’s not going to be easy. But can you choose to do them? Yes. And will they make your life better even in the midst of depression? Absolutely." Andy is a "happiness nerd" who loves to share what he's studied and put into practice. His specialty is positive psychology, which researches the science of happy people and ways we can apply what they do and how they think. In the first half of our interview, Andy shares some of his favorite things he's learned about positive psychology and ways we can apply these lessons in our own lives. In the second half, Andy shares how his research has impacted his personal life through very difficult times where he needed all the tools he could get; those times included: divorce, remarriage, his wife's traumatic bouts with mental illness, and the following unraveling of the foundations of their lives, including the development of a Andy's panic disorder. Andy is a relatable friend and teacher, and he inspires hope for all those who will hear him out, that we are all capable of more happiness in our lives, even in the midst of inner turmoil. Show Notes: Andy's Website (where you can learn more about his classes and read his fantastic blog) Andy's Instagram Andy's Youtube channel Andy's book Referenced theories and books (some affiliate links): Broaden and Build Theory Flourish Learned Optimism Social Meditation site When Panic Attacks Via Strengths Survey The How of Happiness Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) More Podcasts from About Progress Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"If you bring forth what is within you, what is within you will save you. If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you." ~Gospel of Thomas I heard this quote a few weekends ago from Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife's workshop I attended. I had already been working on this podcast and it gave me the lightbulb moment that I so love. (Sidenote: each special podcast that I create, inspiration for that very theme is suddenly all around me. It's pretty nuts!) If you deny what is within you--your hopes, your dreams, your gifts, your capabilities, even your self-love--you're going to lose yourself. Ain't that the truth? For me, in order to find those things and dare to reach for them, I've had to use the mantra, "Fake It 'Till You Make It." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Something I’ve really internalized is that it’s never to late to create the kind of life that you want, or to uncreate the life you’re not cool with . . . It’s never too late to enjoy your life, it’s never to late to feel like you have more control over something, even if it’s just as simple as changing the way you think about it." By the age of 19, Celeste had already abandoned her modeling career and experienced the ending her first marriage. After these low-lows, Celeste decided that instead of wallowing in her sorrows, she wanted to pick up her life, own her struggles, and move onward and upward. And she did just that. Celeste shares how owning her struggles helped her find the strength to forgive her ex AND herself through grace, and move forward to finding a new man who helped her learn to trust again. This strength also pushed her through the hard times her life still brought, including her husband's battles with mental health and her own fight with postpartum depression. Celeste's surprise cure to her depression? She joined a beauty pageant. (No one was more shocked about this move than herself!) You'll love hearing about how the pageant helped her regain her confidence, changed the way she viewed herself, and formed lifelong friendships, but it also taught her the great importance of finding something that was just for her and that provided that self-care she learned was necessary to being the woman she wants to be. You'll also love to hear how Celeste found natural childbirth helped empower her, what helped her get through two back-to-back miscarriages, what she does for self-care, and the power of good girlfriends. Show Notes: Celeste's Instagram Podcast Episode with Matt Davis (Celeste's husband) Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica Do Something Highlight: Shan'tel's Article and Blog More on Do Something Past Podcast mentioned with Matt Davis More Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Realizing that I am in control of the life I want to live, really allowed me to be the happiest I can be because I’m doing the things that I truly LOVE in life.” Jessica Dahlquist is the brains behind the Extraordinary Moms Podcast (which I can't recommend enough), but this is her first time being on the other side of the interview. She does not disappoint! Jessica talks about how her own transition to motherhood manifested an internal voice she didn't like, one riddled with anxiety and self-criticism. With a lot of work, she learned the power of altering her expectations on herself and letting go of what others think. Once she shifted the internal narrative behind her work as a mother and beyond, it changed everything and led to a greater happiness. Whether or not you are a parent, Jessica teaches that once you've shifted your mentality to "I should . . ." to "I choose . . . " your life might look the same, but it will feel completely different. If you like the show, please subscribe!! Show Notes: Jessica's Podcast, Facebook, and Instagram Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica Do Something Highlight: Shan'tel's Article and Blog More on Do Something Past Podcast mentioned with Matt Davis More Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kayti Oldham is your best gal who always manages to bring the fun, willingly shares all her makeup knowledge, and makes you feel like a million bucks. But Kayti's gifts don't start and end with her makeup artistry. In today's podcast, we learn more about her past with the performing arts, how she learned from a young age to follow her passions, and how putting on red lipstick not only helped her through terrible post part depression, but inspired her passion for make up that led her to mission today. And that mission? To inspire women to love the face, body, soul they were gifted, encapsulated in Kayti's urging, "Be YOU!" Kayti shares all this, and more including how her opinion can't be bought, what she has learned from her struggles with acne, how coming from a broken home inspired the tradition of laughter in her own, and so much more. Show Notes: Kayti's Blog, Consultations, and Instagram Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica Lisa's Podcast Episode More Podcasts More on Do Something Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you want your loved ones to remember you? Your face illuminated by the light of a screen? Of course not. None of us do. But we are ALL guilty of letting our devices distract us from what is most important. If you've struggled from time to time with balancing your technology use, if you often feel sad, jealous, lonely, or apathetic, and if your devices are acting more as a task master than a tool, then it's time to refocus. In today's podcast, two guests (Kim Christenson and Jamie Cook) and I share how to recognize when your technology use is out of control, and how to turn it back into a tool for good. Show Notes: Kim Christenson's referenced blogpost and Instagram Jamie Cook's Instagram Meg Mile's Instagram and past About Progress Podcast interview Irresistible Podcast on Fresh Air Irresistible Book Simon Sinek's interview on Millennial and Internet Addiction Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica More Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“I think that it’s so important to make that effort to try and not to worry so much about the result . . . The real satisfaction comes in the effort, not the outcome.” You know my "Do Something" campaign, where I encourage people to try things that scare them? That is Amy Nash's entire life story. This woman has done so many incredible things that required courage and testing her limits: she has traveled around the world (including with kids!), graduated from law school, worked at a big firm, learned photography, and started a blog that will make you drool. She's also had to deal with five failed adoptions among other though times that taught her to rely on her connections--family and friends--and power through with her optimism in tact. Amy's sense of adventure has acted as the foundation for her life--and the foundation of her family--while her go-getter attitude has been coupled with a conscientious choice that what matters more than the destination is the path that got you there. Show Notes: Amy's blog, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica More Podcasts More on Do Something Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“When new clients come in, my job is to see them and to let them know, 'You are seen. I recognize that you have a name. I see that you are hungry, and I will feed you. I see that your clothes are dirty and you are essentially naked, and my job is to clothe you. I see that you are heartbroken . . . and my job is to be present with you. My job is to hear your story and hold your hand.'” My friend Juliana is a softy, but she has a really hard job: she works with the homeless. Juliana has always been drawn to helping the underserved and the underprivileged: from the elderly, to refugees, to battered women, to the clients she now serves who don't have a home to call their own. With any one who is suffering and in need of help, Juliana teaches us that the most important thing is to be present with them, to connect with them on a human level. She also teaches what she learned from personal experience, that as we help other we actually help ourselves. Juliana shares what brought her to social services, how she resisted her call to this work, what are some common misconceptions of the homeless population, and what she does to empower her clients and herself so she can better serve them. She also talks about how service helped her through a profound loss in her family, and how it has changed her. You'll also love to hear how Juliana thinks discomfort is a good thing, how we need to celebrate the good news just as much as the bad, and how the sassy side to her personality has served her well and complimented her softy side. Show Notes: Monica's Facebook and Instagram profiles Contact Monica More Podcasts More on Do Something Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"I had to find a new way. And I had to stop believing that I could do it all by myself, that I could get through everything on my own." Rachel Gainer was a lifelong perfectionist, until her world fell apart. She struggled through infertility, she let "getting healthy" go too far, she was overworked and not taking care of herself, and then she and her husband suffered two devastating losses in a row: a failed adoption and then the death of their baby girl. After adopting three more children, Rachel decided she needed to rebuild her life, and for her that meant surrendering control, getting rid of shame, and learning to love herself. Rachel shares about how harshly she viewed herself for so many years, what her true motives were behind striving to be perfect, what she learned from the lowest lows a parent can experience, how her daughter's death pushed her to rethink the way she viewed herself and her body, and how it's taken her six years of hard work to begin to see herself becoming the woman she wanted to be. You'll love what lessons this woman has to share with you, and her great bravery in her willingness to share her struggles and her weaknesses. Show Notes: Rachel's website and Instagram Monica's Facebook and Instagram profiles Contact Monica More Podcasts More on Do Something Do Something Highlight: Kelly Andrew's blogpost Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The past year, I feel as though I have gone through a metamorphosis. The underlying factor? Goals! I've been an OCD planner and extremely goal-oriented; and I've also gone years without making them. Fear drove both of those phases for me. I've learned better how to use goals without them using me. In today's podcast, I speak about the power of goals, some stories of progress with my goals this year, and THREE TIPS on how to make your goals work for YOU, rather than the other way around. This is an informal podcast, and you even get lots of sound effects from my 20 month old who was munching way on crackers, drawing (loudly, somehow), and playing with trains. I hope you enjoy it! Show Notes More on Do Something Monica's Live List for 2017 and 30 Before 30 Monica's posts on swimming: here and here Monica's other posts on goals: here, here, here, and here The planner referenced Podcast with Heather Fujikawa, mentioned Podcast with Meg Miles, mentioned Another goal-centered podcast with Jaimee Davis More Podcasts Monica's Facebook and Instagram profiles Contact Monica Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"This isn't something you chose. This is a disease your body has." Kyle is a physician in Utah who is very open about his long history with anxiety and depression. These bouts started as a teen and came and went with intensity throughout his 14 year marriage to Becki, who has also dealt with circumstantial depression while they were in the stressful years of medical school. Kyle speaks from both a doctor and patient's point of view, having the physiological know-how about what is happening with the brain when someone is under the grasps of depression/anxiety; but he also has intimate knowledge with what it feels like to be on the other side of the stethoscope. He does his best to empower both his patients who struggle with mental illness, but also with his fellow physicians, who carry even greater stigmas as a result of them trying to live up to their "superman" role. Kyle and Becki both share how depression/anxiety can be so interwoven with guilt, shame, and perfectionism. Becki declares herself as a "non-perfectionist," so she lends a unique voice to this discussion for those like her, as loved ones who struggle to better support their partners in the trenches with mental illness. Becki especially highlights the importance of the supporter not getting sucked in so much that they can no longer care for themselves, in addition to their loved one. This wonderful couple talks about how they dealt with their bouts both separately (which was wise, at times), together, and how they are in turn helping others. Kyle shares some of the important science behind mental illness, the importance of coupling both medication and cognitive therapy, and how depression/anxiety can display itself physiologically, or emotionally with feelings of sadness, anxiousness, or even anger. Oh, and you'll want to hear what Becki and Kyle's biggest tip is for couples. Show Notes Kyle's website and Twitter account Kyle's article that he talked about Monica's Instagram, Facebook, and Contact page More on "Do Something" here and here (includes a short podcast episode that explains the series) More episodes from the podcast Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife's website if you're still considering her courses! (And her interview) Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Consider yourself a failure, and consider yourself in very good company [of people] who have done the same. But the difference between them and everyone else is that they learned from that failure and kept on going, one foot in front of the other." Matt calls himself a "regular guy," but I'm telling you he is anything but. What makes him this way for me is his resilience and his refusal to play victim to the long fight he has had with anxiety and depression, as well as the huge trials he and his family have faced. Matt talks about how for him anxiety started in high school and robbed him of important experiences and even friendships. For a long time, he feared that he would have to live life only minimally, just to get by. Six months after his depression and anxiety forced an early return from his LDS mission, Matt's father took his own life after suffering in silence with the same issues as Matt. This devastating time shifted Matt's mindset about how to deal with mental illness, namely by using the power of speaking up about what we are going through instead allowing stigmas to rule our lives. Matt eventually returned and completed his mission, and he used that experience as a touchstone that he could do more than live minimally, even with his "dragons" to slay. Now as a successful business and family man, Matt still finds ways to speak up and help others who are going through similar issues. He carries an incredible perspective about doing what is right for him and his family, and he's not afraid to direct his choices accordingly (including within his career). He speaks about how fear of failure drives so much of what we do and how to instead turn that to your benefit, how we can make our "dragons" our friends, how he has learned to be happy even when he is sad, what he did to better focus on his priorities of family over work, and much much more. I think everyone and their dog should listen to this interview. It's that good. Within the next few months, Matt is going to launching Steelyard Academy with two other men, focusing on teaching primarily men how to have a balanced life. I will let you know when they have that up and running--I'll be following along, too! Show Notes Get in touch with Matt: steelyardacademy @ gmail . com (make sure you remove the spaces) As soon as Matt's podcast is ready to go, you'll be the first to know! Monica's Instagram, Facebook, and Contact page More on "Do Something" here and here (includes a short podcast episode that explains the series) More episodes from the podcast Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife's website if you're still considering her courses! (And her interview) Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever wondered what it is really like to be a successful fashion blogger? Meet Sarah Tripp. Sarah, from Sassy Red Lipstick, does her job so well that she makes it look easy. But it absolutely isn't. Sarah has the right mix of dreaming big and working hard. Fashion is a huge form of her self-expression and has been a life-long passion. But another important passion for Sarah is her desire to help women learn how to love their bodies, just as they are. In this podcast, we go into what a typical day looks life for Sarah, how she remains true to herself while incorporating sponsorship, what it means to have authentic connections with her followers, how she dares to be honest about the hard parts of her industry, what her husband's love and influence has meant for her, how she battles the daily pressure to be perfect, and how she overcame her own dissatisfaction with her body and now embraces a celebratory self-acceptance that keeps her centered. Show Notes Sarah's blog and Instagram Sarah's mentioned posts: Honor Your Curves, The In-Betweeners, Exposing Blogger Politics, and her whole tab on Body Positivity Monica's Instagram, Facebook, and Contact page More on "Do Something" here and here (includes a short podcast episode that explains the series) More episodes from the podcast Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife's website if you're still considering her courses! (And her interview) Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“The more you spend time with people and are able to communicate with them what you are feeling . . . the more logic and reason come back into your life.” Meet your new best friend, Anne Cropper. Anne is one of those people who takes you in, makes you laugh, makes you cry, and can give you some good fashion, food, and house tips on the side. She is a resounding writer and Instagrammer whose main goal is connection. Anne learned the power of connection as she faced a difficult adjustment to motherhood followed by the stresses of raising five very different children, as well as her struggles with both antepartum and postpartum depression. She learned that letting people in is essential in overpowering the shame that fuels mental illness. By being open, Anne seeks to help other women know that they are not alone in their struggles, even if it's the struggle of taking your kids to McDonald's for the second time that week. Anne also shares how she is the "Jane of all trades, master of none," how she views social media, why it's important to post both the bad and the beautiful, how she and her husband have had rounds of role reversals while their family business takes off, and what she has learned to let go of. PSST: You do not want to miss out on the special deal Anne is offering our readers on their compression tights and recovery braces. (See notes below!) Show Notes Anne's blog and Instagram Her family's company, Bio Skin (USE PROGRESS20 FOR 20% OFF!) Monica's Instagram, Facebook, and Contact page More on "Do Something" here and here (includes a short podcast episode that explains the series) More episodes from the podcast, including the one I mentioned with Lisa Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife's website if you're still considering her courses! (And her interview) Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"I love to be enjoying any situation that I'm in. Obviously that's not always easy . . . but I think if you're having fun in what you're doing, it's way better than being miserable." Kaycee Sogard is so refreshing. Yes, she's a beloved blogger and Instagrammer; but in SO many ways, Kaycee breaks the mold. For one, she is frank, silly, and genuine. For another, she is very grounded in what matters most to her, and she holds strong to her own priorities and refuses to give in to the pressures of keeping up with the Instagram Joneses. Kaycee's ability to rise above came in large part to her lifelong passion with softball. Not only did sports instill an incredible amount of work ethic and other valuable life skills, but Kaycee faced some difficult choices early on in her collegiate career where she was surrounded by incredible pressure. Her decision to push back and do what was right for her enabled her to grow more fully into who she wanted to become, and also centered her when she could have easily succumbed to a lot of disappointment. In this podcast, Kaycee talks about all of that, plus her purposes behind her blog and Instagram, her experiences with anxiety, how she's faced postpartum depression, how she's both "OCD" and "super laid back," her next exciting project, and her hilarious response on what goal-making looks like for her and what she's terrified of. Show Notes: Kaycee's blog, Instagram, and Facebook Monica's Instagram, Facebook, and Contact page More on "Do Something" here and here (includes a short podcast episode that explains the series) More episodes from the podcast, including Heather Fujikawa's interview Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife's special deal on her courses is still going on! (And her interview) Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Don't waste time feeling inadequate . . . " Katharine and I have been friends for 18 years. (Side note: Whoa. What scares me most about that fact is that we were 12 years old when we first chatted in band class. I swear I was just 12!) After high school, Katharine left our small town of Farmington, UT and headed to the east coast to study music, theology, and art history. She attended a small private liberal arts college in Boston followed by Yale Divinity School. Yes, that Yale. Obviously, Katharine is a real smarty. But even she dealt with "imposter syndrome" in these high stress, achievement-oriented environments. For one, Katharine was not tailored for ivy league schools since birth like so many of her colleagues. Also, on top of struggling like she didn't measure up to both her external and internal standards, Katharine faced huge obstacles within her family, including a major spinal cord injury of her only sibling. Despite that, Katharine chose to shift her perspective on these really difficult times, and instead embraced them as something that would make her more resilient BECAUSE of what she was facing. Katharine found her own way! Now, she is in a career that melds all her interests together in a beautiful whole, one that is "Katharine" instead of what her external pressures told her she "should" be doing. Oh, and you won't want to miss what Katharine shares about how perfectionism for her is interwoven with her people-pleasing nature, as well her antidote to combat it. (I love what she said SO, SO much about that! You classic "underachievers" or "procrastinators" will especially benefit.) Show Notes Katharine's Instagram Photographer for Katharine's photo: Jess Smolinski, Yale University Art Gallery Monica's Instagram, Facebook, and Contact page More on "Do Something" here and here (includes a short podcast episode that explains the series) More episodes from the podcast Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“I don’t think that we should be stagnant and not ever want to change ourselves. It doesn’t have to do with not loving ourselves, it has to do with just wanting to be better.” Amber Brueseke's arms speak for themselves, but just a quick glance of her Instagram page--Biceps After Babies--will tell you that this woman knows what she's talking about. Amber is all about goals and helping others achieve theirs. But that doesn't mean that she shies away from failure. In fact, Amber recognizes failure as essential to really learning what life has to offer. Listen in to hear how Amber got into fitness and what inspired her fitness account, what she hopes people gain from following her, her views on goal-making, how she can be passionate without being obsessive, and what big lessons she gleaned after a near-drowning of one of her children. If you like the show, please subscribe!! Show Notes: Amber's Instagram Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife's interview and COURSES Monica's Instagram, Facebook, and Contact page More on "Do Something" here and here (includes a short podcast episode that explains the series) More episodes from the podcast Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many of you will know today's guest--Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife--as "the Mormon sex therapist." Yes, she is indeed an incredible therapist who deals primarily with relational and sexual issues. But, as Jennifer says, her therapy focuses mostly on "just being human, and the challenges related to being human." Turns out, one of the largest developmental hurdles her clients often face is perfectionism. Jennifer unveils what is really going on behind perfectionism, how it's an immature behavior common to the human condition, beginning with a lack of development. She talks about the flawed thinking behind perfectionism, what perfectionists are seeking, as well as the damaging effects of perfectionism on people's lives and their relationships. Many listeners will be shocked to see a lot of what Jennifer talks about in themselves, including those who would label themselves as "underachievers." But there is hope! Jennifer also shares what someone can do to combat this flawed thinking and behavior in their own life, and how they can develop a better capacity to refine who they are with integrity and grow more fully into the person they'd like to become. More on Jennifer: Jennifer Finlayson-Fife grew up in Burlington, Vermont as one of eight children. She studied Psychology and Women's Studies at Brigham Young University, and went on to receive her Masters and PhD in Counseling Psychology from Boston College. She has a private practice in Chicago, IL where she works primarily with LDS couples on relational and sexual issues. She is a frequent guest on LDS-themed podcasts, and has written articles for LDS-themed magazines and blogs on the subjects of sexuality and modesty as well as mental health and faith. She is married to John Finlayson-Fife and has three wonderful children. Show Notes Jennifer's website, Facebook, and COURSES Monica's Instagram, Facebook, and more podcast episodes CONTACT MONICA More on "Do Something" here and here (includes a podcast episode that explains this series) IRONMAN podcast episode, referenced in the show Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"I believe we really are a global family . . . We all matter." Jamie is an adventurer. You might already know this if you follow her adventures via her Instagram, blog, and her segment on Studio 5, a popular Utah talk show. But Jamie is also a collector of friendships. She values people. She seeks connection with others wherever she lives, wherever she travels. And it really shows! In this podcast, Jamie shares about her love of travel, how her family's foundation is centered on getting out of the house and interacting with others, and how making friends with refugees has influenced her life. Jame also talks about what it was like to put her broadcasting career on hold to raise her four children, and what it has been like to get back in the field. Finally, you'll hear what Jamie does to stay balanced and organized--and I think you'll love her atypical answer! Show Notes: Show Notes: Jamie's blog, Instagram, and family blog Monica's contact page, Instagram, and Facebook More Information on "Do Something" Other Podcast episodes you can listen to Song credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Katie Cheesman loves old people and clouds. That's at least how she introduces herself! (Don't you love her already?) Katie is also a mother, nurse, photographer and videographer. She paired her talents and interests together into the perfect creation, The Listening Ear Project, where she shares her WONDERFUL interviews with the elderly, whom she calls her "closest friends." The Listening Ear Project is full of interviewees you touch and inspire you--most definitely--but also people who make you laugh and teach you to better appreciate the fun in life. In this podcast, I speak with Katie about what led her to start this project, how as a nurse she learned the power of listening to help heal her patients, and why being friends with the elderly and sharing their stories is her passion. We also speak about how hard it can be to establish an audience on social media that is centered around appreciating old people, but why Katie thinks all the time, energy, and money she invests in this project is well worth it and has truly changed her life. Katie is lovely, funny, and open. She is equal parts creative and driven, and Katie also often deals with the negative effects of being too hard on herself. She shares how she tries to combat that pressure to be perfect. Katie will inspire you to take a moment to listen to others, and recognize the special need to better see and appreciate the elderly people in your life. If you liked this episode, please subscribe and leave a review! Show Notes The Listening Ear Project website and Instagram Katie's Instagram and Blog Monica's Instagram, Facebook, and contact page Past podcast episodes mentioned: Meg Miles; Aubrey Greenan Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"The thing that hurt me the most . . . was all the time I had wasted preoccupied with food, and not being present." Eating disorders are really tricky to talk about. Not only are they shame-driven and shrouded in secrecy, but the depth and significance of an eating disorder's roots is difficult to convey in a way that people truly understand what a lasting effect it has on a person's life. Danielle Hansen does the impossible, though. In today's podcast, Danielle bravely untangles some of what fed her need to obsessively control her eating, exercise, and body, and how perfectionism and its related need to worry about other people's opinions of her fueled her disease. Danielle tried to work on her recovery while simultaneously battling infertility, but it wasn't until the birth of her firstborn and hitting her lowest low that Danielle felt determined to take back her life. She says, "I just remember being so mad, because I had this beautiful baby, I was in heaven; and the ugliest thing--my eating disorder--was tainting that for me." Now three years into facing her struggles with disordered eating and infertility head-on, Danielle speaks on what made the difference in her recovery, how she has grown, and what life can be like on the other side. Show Notes: Danielle's blog and Instagram My "Do Something" podcast episode More information on "Do Something" My Instagram and Facebook--contact me and share what you are up to while listening, or what your "Do Something" is and how it is going! Did you like this podcast? SUBSCRIBE and listen to more podcasts here. Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

9 months ago, I tried to start a movement. Annnnnnnd, it failed. I'm not giving up on it yet! In today's mini-episode, I share more behind why I started this series entitled, "Do Something," how it relates to pushing against our fears, my plan to revive it, and how you can participate. You can share your "Do Something" with me by emailing me here, or tagging me on social media with #aboutprogresspodcast. I want to highlight YOU and the big and small ways you are challenging yourself. So please let me know about them! More podcasts. My blog. Me on Instagram. Me on Facebook. Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I'd be hard-pressed to find any one else who is more knowledgeable on all things self-improvement and human development related. Lisa has a wealth of knowledge on these topics in great part because of her lifelong insatiable drive to learn and improve herself; but it also arose from the huge struggles she faced after the birth of her first son. Lisa found herself immediately facing extreme postpartum anxiety; anxiety fueled by perfectionism Lisa didn't fully realize was in control; anxiety so intense that she couldn't sleep or eat, take care of herself or, most devastatingly, take care of her baby. Lisa describes the low points of being the opposite of her usual self, how she made recovery her top priority, and the growth she has built the past five years as she has run towards her fears instead of away from them. Lisa is in a much better place now, is still passionate about self-improvement, but also has great wisdom in how to do so without being obsessive and imbalanced. There are so many jewels in this interview, including Lisa's tips on how to set goals and manage them in a way that they are achievable in our day-to-day lives. **** Please see the blog www.aboutprogress.com for more, including past podcast episodes in addition to Monica's (our host) own journey as a recovering perfectionist. You can also follow Monica at her handle @aboutprogress. Music cred: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May I be straight with you? Aubrey Greenan is a female unicorn. She is gorgeous, obviously; she is mega talented as a professionally trained opera singer (and I'd add so many more talents to that list); she is incredibly bright, knowledgeable, and eloquent; and, the best part, Aubrey is one of the most sincerely kind and level-headed people I've ever known. In the podcast today, Aubrey and I speak about her path to attending one of the most prestigious vocal programs in the country, her struggles with health and anxiety that humbled her, and how acknowledging her limits and what mattered most to her better empowered her to choose a path that looked very different from the one she easily could have pursued. In short, this woman chose family over fame. I know Aubrey's interview will empower you to take stock of your own needs, your deepest goals in life, and to better place your heart in the work that matters most to you, instead of what the world tell you to. See other podcasts and more on my website, www.aboutprogress.com, or my Instagram. Song credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you haven't heard of Meg from MOMSTRONG, then let me introduce you to this rare jewel of a human being. Meg is blessed with an abundance of gifts, from her knowledge of health, exercise, and nutrition (she is a pediatric nurse and a certified trainer, after all!), to her amazing food recipes, mom tips, and even her photography and interior design savvy. But Meg is unusual in that she works incredibly hard at all of these, and does so in an effort to light the lives of those around her, particularly women. She isn't in it for the glory; she is in it to spread the love. I was first drawn to Meg's Instagram account and then her blog. She was the first "fitness" social media guru who actually made me feel inspired AND good about myself at the same time. That is no easy feat! Her workouts, food recommendations, and more are all geared to help women become stronger and healthier, sure; but even better, she wants each woman to accept herself for who she is, to remain balanced, and to not give in to society's dictates on what a well-rounded, healthy woman looks like. As Meg says, "healthy looks different for everyone." Meg shares about some times in her life where she struggled greatly with the weaknesses of her perfectionism. During these times, she compared herself too much and too often to the girls around her and struggled with her self-confidence. Despite looking like she was on the top of her game from the outside, Meg felt everything but that on the inside. For a good while, Meg tried to stuff down the talents she possessed out of fear of not measuring up as well due to her experiences of getting made fun of by her peers for being good at something. But as a young adult, she learned to shed those voices and strove to accept herself, work on her gifts, and then share them with the world in hopes to help other women discover and share their own talents as well. Meg also talks about how her work as a pediatric nurse has also inspired her balance-minded focus. Finally, Meg speaks more about what inspired her interview series, The MOMSTRONG Project and what she has learned from the remarkable women she has interviewed. Truly, this woman has a heart of gold and I can't wait for you to hear more! Please see my blog for more about Meg and our show notes! Song credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Courtney Rich is so wise. Sure, she is also a major success as a media consultant, blogger, cake queen, entrepreneur, and a mother, too! But I think on top of alllll the gifts that Courtney has to offer the world, her wisdom is the best. What's extra inspiring about Courtney is that she is willing to share the lessons she has hard-earned with others. Courtney is wonderfully open about her struggles as an adult with battling depression and anxiety. People who don't personally know Courtney might be surprised with the struggles she talks about in this episode, as she is so warm and happy. But this go-getter is constantly staying optimistic, productive, and focused as a learned method to deal with the deep sadness that she has to routinely face. What can you take from this interview? You can learn from Courtney's passionate spirit. She pursues things--not without fear--but with a full heart. She is a go-getter to the core, despite having so many reasons not to be. You can be encouraged. Courtney is a champion of others. She learned to compare herself to no one but Courtney, and because of that she doesn't compete with others' successes, but instead cheers them on. You can be strengthened. Through her years of battling depression and anxiety, Courtney says she can look back and now tell herself, "You are stronger than you thought you were." Courtney's inner strength is driven by a healthy dose of self-acceptance, as she embraces these hard parts of her life and does what is within her power to prevent her bouts of depression and anxiety, but also better face them when they do arise. You can borrow Courtney's tools she uses to battle these demons, some of which include plenty of daily routines, list-making, self-care, and pursuing passions that give her purpose and fulfillment. Oh, and learning how to say "no." And most importantly, the underlying motivation of her life to live in a way that inspires her own children to live happy, meaningful lives. Finally, you can borrow the mantra Courtney left us with, "I am capable." Please see www.aboutprogress.com for more! Song credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let me tell you something about Jaimee: she is a total rockstar. A few years ago, Jaimee was an amateur athlete who caught the running bug first, and then the triathlon bug. After completing a sprint triathlon, she set a goal to participate in the IRONMAN World Championships, held in Kona, Hawaii. Only the most elect of athletes are accepted: they have to win first place in their age group of another full IRONMAN competition. (Oh, and that entails a 2.4 mile swim, 100 mile bike ride, and a 26.2 mile run.) Jaimee decided this was something she could achieve in four years. She did it in two. This involved a tremendous amount of grit, sacrifice, dedication, and . . . self-doubt. When you decide to not only become an IRONMAN, but to win one, you also decide to make small goals to reach for every single day, in every swim, run, and bike ride. And the thing I love the most about Jaimee? She says that the majority of the time, she didn't reach her target goals. But she didn't let that stop her. She surrounded herself with people who believed in her, and didn't listen to the ones who tried to tell her otherwise. Jaimee says she is not a perfectionist, which is something that most definitely separates her from her fellow Ironman competitors. In fact, she says her flexibility and the positive view she keeps of herself made up the very key to her success. If she had only been satisfied with perfection, then she would have quit a thousand times. Instead, Jaimee let her vision of herself achieving her goal drive her past those days where every workout didn't pan out as planned. Each step mattered to her, and each step--and misstep--drove her to that envisioned success as she crossed the finish line at the IRONMAN World Championships. To see pictures and a video of Jaimee crossing the Kona finish line, please see www.aboutprogress.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kim Christenson is one of the most talented women I know: she is a passionate writer, journalist, novelist, "namer," actress, voice-over artist, yoga instructor, social media queen, and mother to three young children. She radiates such light and positivity! Kim carefully uses her time spent on the internet to build up others and encourage them to be brave, evident in her incredible interviews of women who are shooting for the stars in her Dream Big Series. We talk about Kim's growing up years as one of many children in a blended family, and how she learned from a young age the great importance in finding passions to reach for that help you feel of value. Kim is a dreamer and she seems to fearlessly go after one thing to the next; but it might surprise you some of the hard lessons she had to learn, including her regret over letting perfectionism and the trap of comparison stagnate her pursuits. Kim also speaks about some failures she has faced, as well as some tough choices she had to make about when to let go of one dream in order to make room for another. From her, we learn that there is wisdom in evaluating what you are capable of doing, but then daring to say no to many things so you can more fully say yes to the pursuits that are of the greatest value in your life. Finally, Kim shares what it looks like to dream big, and it involves taking one little step at a time. (This is for all you paralyzed dreamers out there!) You can find Kim at her wonderful, real, I'm-with-you blog, Talk Wordy to Me, and her Instagram account of the same name, here. Song credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I know I could not ask for a better person to be my first guest of my podcast. If you know Heather Fujikawa, then you love, love, love her. Pure and simple. Everything Heather touches is made golden! Alongside her twin sister, Heidi, Heather is a successful entrepreneur, writer, and interior designer. With her built-in-business-partner, Heather created an incredible jewelry business (True Birds), published a beautiful children's book (Fairy Birds), and is now officially delving into her interior design business and online shop. Heather is always working on something, including herself! Right now, she is also working on adding twin brothers for her toddler son. Heather is loving, genuine, joyful, and encouraging. She is a champion for all those around her. Behind this cheery disposition though, was a purposeful decision Heather made to choose happiness amidst the many health struggles she faced the past ten years, including thyroid cancer and six years of infertility. These burden-filled years taught her to make balance and self-care a high priority every day, amidst all of her incredible passion-fueled projects. Related, Heather and her sister also made the tough decision to step back from their opportunity-rich fashion accessory business in order to pursue their greater desire to write children's books. Heather intently prioritizes what is most important to her for each day, does the best she can for those areas, and lets the rest of it go. We have so much to learn from her! Additional Show Notes: See blog for links to Heather's book Heather's website (and be sure to check out her shop) Song credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode our host,Monica Packer, introduces herself and tells some background of her story as a recovering perfectionist, turned apathetic dreamer, and now a balanced achiever. Monica also speaks to her hopes behind starting this podcast. Music cred: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices