About Progress

“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