

About Progress
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All the self-help extremes out there seem designed for perfect robots. But what if progress doesn’t require perfection? Welcome to your gentle self-development hub: About Progress, a podcast and community devoted to progress made practical. Join host and coach, Monica Packer, and her special guests to get the hug AND kick in the pants you need to do something and grow in ways that stick.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 27, 2018 • 34min
AP 093: How to Overcome Criticism || with Kylie Chenn of aCanela Expeditions
“It was when I chose to let those small pieces of criticism encompass my thoughts that I started to doubt what I was doing.” Whether you are a working professional, a stay-at-home parent, or a star athlete, we all deal with the self-doubt, especially when initiated by criticism. Kylie Chenn created a very successful company at a very young age; but she constantly dealt with--and continues to--people who pushed back on her and her ideas, or others who were impossible to please. Four years in to her business, Kyle has learned irreplaceable wisdom on how to not look to the external voices to measure your own worth. She shares what she did to overcome the nay-sayers, and how as her business continues to grow what she does to hold true to who she knows she truly is and the positive that is all around her. So if your special in-law or overwhelming boss is getting your goat today, listen to this episode to learn how to ensure your self worth can become so deeply grounded that you can bounce back from criticism and self doubt, and more fully own who you are and what you contribute to the world. Show NotesKylie's Instagram, aCanela Website, and InstagramVibrant Bite fitness and nutrition coaching (enter the code "PROGRESS10" to get $10 off your first month, making it only $10!) and your FREE WEEK hereMonica's Facebook and InstagramContact Monica for podcast consultingMonat Natural, Anti-Aging Hair Care: Contact Monica to learn more, OR research via her Monat Instagram and websiteRelated: Monica's views on Sponsorship and WHY she's partnering with MonatFabletics! Get 2 leggings for $24 when you become a VIP member (they're the besssssst!) (Affiliate link)Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link)More Podcasts from About ProgressSong Credit: "Sweet Promise" and "Warm Lights" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 20, 2018 • 49min
AP 092: Balancing Your Life with Social Media || with Brooke White
“At what point do we figure out the cost is too high, and are we willing to put it down?” It's one thing to know that our devices are getting in the way of our relationships, work, and creative outlets. But it's another to successfully do something about it. Brooke White knows the struggle well. As an independent musician (she got her big break on American Idol ten years ago) and business woman (Girls with Glasses!), social media is a big part of her creating a committed online community that supports her work.But even with all that on the line, earlier this year Brooke found herself in a predicament: what started as a way to personally connect with her loved ones and beloved fans, social media was now robbing her of the life right in front of her. So Brooke decided to do something about it, starting with a month-long fast that quickly changed everything.Brooke and I planned on a 30 minute discussion on what she learned from her fast and how she is now attempting to still have social media in her life, but not BE her life. But as we dug into it, we had to quickly own that this topic involves a very layered, complicated relationship that all of us can relate to. Beyond it just being about prioritizing time, balancing our lives with social media entails a much deeper work including evaluating our purpose, owning our insecurities, and refusing to settle for a life numbed-out. Because of this, we chose to separate our chat into two parts. Part One: Brooke shares her history of using social media as a way to share so purely her life with others, and how this pursuit so gradually took over her ability to be present with her real life. She talks about a few moments where she had to accept that she needed to change her focus, not just with her social media use but with her life as well. Show NotesBrooke's Instagram, website, and Girls with GlassesMonica's Past Episode on TechnologyKim Christenson's lovely post on her social media fast, her first interview with me, and her website, Last week's episode on Imperfect Parenting with Georgia Anderson"Get Over Yourself" TICKETS for Perfectionism Workshop with Monica on June 21st in UtahVibrant Bite fitness and nutrition coaching (enter the code "PROGRESS10" to get $10 off your first month, making it only $10!) and your FREE WEEK hereMonica's Facebook and InstagramContact Monica for coaching or podcast consultingMonat Natural, Anti-Aging Hair Care: Contact Monica to learn more, OR research via her Monat Instagram and websiteRelated: Monica's views on Sponsorship and WHY she's partnering with MonatFabletics! Get 2 leggings for $24 when you become a VIP member (they're the besssssst!) (Affiliate link)Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link)More Podcasts from About ProgressSong Credit: "Sweet Promise" and "Warm Lights" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 20, 2018 • 47min
AP 091: Balancing Your Life with Social Media || with Brooke White
“You’re allowed to choose to love yourself. It’s not selfish, it’s not self-centered. It’s quite simple. If you’re ready, go ahead.” Part Two: Brooke talks about what her social media break taught her, including some heart-breaking lessons. She discusses the struggle she's encountered as she steps back into her online life while still trying to balance her greater priorities, and what has worked for her. Finally, she openly shares the difficult lessons she has learned the past few years about how accepting herself fully--faults and all--is the key to really, truly moving forward with a richer, happier life. Show NotesBrooke's Instagram, website, and Girls with GlassesMonica's Past Episode on TechnologyKim Christenson's lovely post on her social media fast, her first interview with me, and her website, Last week's episode on Imperfect Parenting with Georgia Anderson"Get Over Yourself" TICKETS for Perfectionism Workshop with Monica on June 21st in UtahVibrant Bite fitness and nutrition coaching (enter the code "PROGRESS10" to get $10 off your first month, making it only $10!) and your FREE WEEK hereMonica's Facebook and InstagramContact Monica for coaching or podcast consultingMonat Natural, Anti-Aging Hair Care: Contact Monica to learn more, OR research via her Monat Instagram and websiteRelated: Monica's views on Sponsorship and WHY she's partnering with MonatFabletics! Get 2 leggings for $24 when you become a VIP member (they're the besssssst!) (Affiliate link)Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link)More Podcasts from About ProgressSong Credit: "Sweet Promise" and "Warm Lights" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 13, 2018 • 50min
AP 090: Dealing with Your Imperfect Parenting || with Georgia Anderson of Know How Mom
"We don’t want or need to be perfect all the time. We need to be open to change and learning." If you're constantly berating yourself for falling short as a parent, I have fantastic news for you: You don't have to be a perfect parent to be a very good one. Parenting expert Georgia Anderson is on the show to share how research proves that a perfectionist parent is actually an ineffective--and unhappy--one. Instead, Georgia encourages this alternative: showing our kids that we aren't perfect, but that we will always work to repair our mistakes and keep trying. The way to do this? Georgia shares some phenomenal tips, including how showing yourself more compassion will transfer to your children, what to do when you see red, how we can use our bodies to change our emotions, and much more. Georgia was kind enough to share some big moments in her own life where she learned that perfectionism was holding her back as a parent, and how she squared her shoulders and moved forward during a traumatic change she and her family faced. Show NotesGeorgia's Website, Instagram, and Facebook + her new THINK-DO CHALLENGE"Get Over Yourself" TICKETS for Perfectionism Workshop with Monica on June 21st in UtahVibrant Bite fitness and nutrition coaching (enter the code "PROGRESS") and your FREE WEEK hereMonica's Facebook and InstagramContact Monica for coaching or podcast consultingMonat Natural, Anti-Aging Hair Care: Contact Monica to learn more, OR research via her Monat Instagram and websiteRelated: Monica's views on Sponsorship and WHY she's partnering with MonatFabletics! Get 2 leggings for $24 when you become a VIP member (they're the besssssst!) (Affiliate link)Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link)More Podcasts from About ProgressSong Credit: "Sweet Promise" and "Warm Lights" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 8, 2018 • 30min
AP 089: Do Something Highlight: Joanna of JoannaFitness
Show NotesJoanna's Instagram and Website"Get Over Yourself" TICKETS for Perfectionism Workshop with Monica on June 21st in UtahVibrant Bite fitness and nutrition coaching (enter the code "PROGRESS") and your FREE WEEK hereMonica's Facebook and InstagramContact Monica for coaching or podcast consultingMonat Natural, Anti-Aging Hair Care: Contact Monica to learn more, OR research via her Monat Instagram and websiteRelated: Monica's views on Sponsorship and WHY she's partnering with MonatFabletics! Get 2 leggings for $24 when you become a VIP member (they're the besssssst!) (Affiliate link)Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link)More Podcasts from About ProgressSong Credit: "Sweet Promise" and "Tonight" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 6, 2018 • 42min
AP 088: How Practicing "Most of the Time" Makes You a Better, Happier Parent || with Sid Garza-Hillman
"Action of any kind--even if it's small--makes that big difference of showing you that you're not giving your power away and your life away." We live in a world of experts, ones that make you constantly feel guilty or frazzled. But Sid Garza-Hillman is here to hold your hand, make you laugh, and somehow inspire you to be better anyway, all with the premise that doing the right things most of the time (MOTT) is a really beautiful way to live. If you're an "all-or-nothing" person and find yourself most often on the "nothing" side of the equation, that way of viewing the world isn't working for you. It's time for a different way of managing the person you want to become. Sid teaches how to break intimidating goals and life-changes down into smaller, more manageable steps. And the even better part? How our follow-through needs not be 100% in order to still create truer, longer-lasting change. Self-care is showing yourself kindness, and Sid reveals that doing so as a parent will make you a far better influence for your children. The kids will take notice of your changes and walk the talk, just like mom and dad. Show NotesSid's Book, Website, Instagram and Facebook Most recent episode with Meg Fee "Get Over Yourself" TICKETS for Perfectionism Workshop with Monica on June 21st in UtahVibrant Bite fitness and nutrition coaching (enter the code "PROGRESS") and your FREE WEEK hereMonica's Facebook and InstagramContact Monica for coaching or podcast consultingMonat Natural, Anti-Aging Hair Care: Contact Monica to learn more, OR research via her Monat Instagram and websiteRelated: Monica's views on Sponsorship and WHY she's partnering with MonatFabletics! Get 2 leggings for $24 when you become a VIP member (they're the besssssst!) (Affiliate link)Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link)More Podcasts from About ProgressSong Credit: "Sweet Promise" and "Tonight" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 30, 2018 • 51min
AP 087: Discovering Meaning Amidst Sadness || with Meg Fee
"If I try to stamp [sadness] out, then I'm cutting myself off from happiness in many ways because it's part of the spectrum. The two things are not inseparable. You cannot have one without the other." I'm sure many of us can agree that our 20s were equal parts traumatizing and memorable. Meg Fee's writing has allowed thousands along the ride to her won experience of this transformative decade. Meg freely and beautifully shared her struggles to overcome deep sadness due to "Ned" (her Nasty Eating Disorder), amazing first dates, frustrating bad boyfriends, and terrible jobs, all with the backdrop of New York City. Listen to this episode to hear more about what Meg lost to and what she gained from sadness, how language and writing were always apart of her story, what she does to move forward without regret, and how life's many curves can take us to a place far more meaningful than we ever could have forged on our own. Meg teaches how we can better couple with the sadness that is often our lot in life and that by doing so, we create more room for happiness, too. Meg also shares some insight behind her new buzz-worthy memoir, Places I Stopped on the Way Home. It's a page-turner! Check the show notes below for more links, as well as how to stream the episode right here in your browser. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 23, 2018 • 1h 16min
AP 086: How Embracing "The Mess" Leads to More Creativity || with Cori Connors
“There are all sorts of ways for us to make a nice big mess and come out with something glorious in the end.” I knew Cori Connors growing up as the "Mom" of the neighborhood--the one always ready to laugh with instead of scold you, eager to cheer you on, and willing to sit with you when you're down. She is an angel to many, and she also has an angel voice backed by her record-selling songwriting abilities. Cori talks about how creativity cannot flourish while in the restraints of perfectionism; that in order to really get to the meat of who we are and the gifts we have, we need to get comfortable with being messy. Cori shares how we can better discover our talents and offer our own weirdness to the world with a bold confidence, one centered in love, curiosity, and imperfection. That's what Cori does, and she can tell you the truth--life is better messy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 21, 2018 • 50min
AP 085: Transforming Your Life through Reconnection || with Debbie Mayes of the Mayes Team
"Those things I’m thinking or feeling are there to guide me, and I can trust what is going on inside of me and it will lead me to good.” Two years ago, Debbie Mayes and her family moved from a 5,000 sq foot home to a 200 sq foot remodeled bus and it changed everything. Here's the thing: it's not about the bus. It's about RECONNECTION. You see, the problem the Mayes family had was that they weren't as connected as a couple, as a family, or individually as well with their own emotions. Debbie and her husband, Gabriel, dove deep to repair what was broken for their household, and for them it meant allowing their emotions to act as beacons for self-healing and spending real quality time together as a family. So after listening to this interview, maybe you'll be interested in pairing your life down to the basics like the Mayes family did. Or perhaps you'll figure out how to better own the inner voices within you. Either way, Debbie and her team just want you to know that what's on the other side of this work is a much happier life. Show NotesThe Mayes Team website, Instagram, and Facebook Bethel Podcast that Debbie referencedLast Week's Episode on COMPARISONVibrant Bite fitness and nutrition coaching (enter the code "PROGRESS") and your FREE WEEK hereThe Mama Ladder's High Five Grant, and FREE E-book for About Progress ListenersMonica's Facebook and InstagramContact Monica for coaching or podcast consultingMonat Natural, Anti-Aging Hair Care: Contact Monica to learn more, OR research via her Monat Instagram and websiteRelated: Monica's views on Sponsorship and WHY she's partnering with MonatFabletics! Get 2 leggings for $24 when you become a VIP member (they're the besssssst!) (Affiliate link)Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link)More Podcasts from About ProgressSong Credit: "Sweet Promise" and "Tonight" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 9, 2018 • 43min
AP 084: Getting Past the Comparison Trap
Do you know that using social media directly correlates with higher rates of depression and anxiety? I believe the root of why this is the case is COMPARISON. After all, comparison truly is the thief of joy. I hate imagining how many times in my life (both on social media and in real life) I've been too caught up in seeing what I lack in comparison to others, only to miss the incredible blessings right in front of me. I'm sure the number is countless. I know that comparison is the root of my history of eating disorders, depression, anxiety, shame, worry, etc. Related to that are my flaws: I can be a people pleaser, I want people to like me, and I often look to others to reflect back my worth. BUT, I also believe that discovering this tendency in myself to compare has been a huge blessing. It's something I can actually work on and move past towards a richer, fuller life. Overcoming the comparison trap is a lesson I've had to learn over and over again, because it's sneaky and masks itself as other things (examples: stress, anxiety, apathy, sadness, etc.). Today's podcast episode is all about comparison. I talk about how it crept up on me the past few months and directly influenced my confidence and my productivity, and how I almost quit everything podcast-related because of it. I also share what the comparison trap can look like for all of us, including how easy it is to get caught in it through social media, and teach WHAT we can do to shift our mindset away from comparison towards self-assurance.If you like this episode, please SHARE it, subscribe, and leave a review!Show NotesLast Week's Episode on FEARThe Mama Ladder's website, Instagram, Facebook, High Five Grant, and FREE E-book for About Progress ListenersWorth Of Souls Project--where you can get the album, find out more about it and the project, and explore resources. PLEASE SHARE IT! (+ About Progress episode with three of the artists behind it.)Monica's Facebook and InstagramContact Monica for coaching or podcast consultingMonat Natural, Anti-Aging Hair Care: Contact Monica to learn more, OR research via her Monat Instagram and websiteRelated: Monica's views on Sponsorship and WHY she's partnering with MonatFabletics! Get 2 leggings for $24 when you become a VIP member (they're the besssssst!) (Affiliate link)Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link)More Podcasts from About ProgressSong Credit: "Sweet Promise" and "Tonight" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


