It's a pet peeve of mine when people say they "don't have regrets." While I understand what they mean by that, I think it's too dismissive of the lessons we learn from a life fully lived. In fact, I can name several regrets I have, without hesitation. From the way I handled friends and extracurriculars in and after high school, to my own missteps as an emotionally dysregulated young mother, plus a few more examples, you'll see that I am far from perfect.

When regret leads to resentment and shame, it can be more harmful than helpful. What's helpful is learning lessons from our past mistakes, what's harmful is dwelling on our imperfections and making them mean something untrue about our identity. In this episode I walk through some of my regrets using my four step method designed to help you do the same on your own. My hope is that this helps you disentangle your identity from your mistakes, and allows you to move forward in your growth.

Use code PROGRESS for 20% off a 90-day supply of Just Thrive Probiotic and Just Calm at https://justthrivehealth.com/discount/PROGRESS

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Is there something that has made you think other people can do that, but not me? This is part of a monthly series to convince you otherwise. These episodes feature real women who are answering the question “How do you…?” about their various passions and pursuits.

Tina Anderson is a multi-faceted woman who pivoted from a law career to start her own business. She shares her story of feeling inspired to pursue her "life's work" and trying to figure out exactly what that could be for her and her husband. They are passionate about health, specifically research-backed gut health, with a goal for total body wellness. You'll hear Tina's passion in our conversation, as she is well versed in the science behind her company's products, but also her excitement for everyone to find their life's work.

Use code PROGRESS for 20% off a 90-day supply of Just Thrive Probiotic and Just Calm at https://justthrivehealth.com/discount/PROGRESS

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In 2020 I put something on my Do Something List that I almost talked myself out of: have fun with fashion. I ended up loving the results so much that I've kept a version of it every year since. This year I came up with "explore my personal style." And while I haven't necessarily turned into a style expert, or even fashion blogger, I have enjoyed the way that exploring my personal style has helped me insert more of ME into my daily life.

To be clear, your personal style should be a complete reflection of you, and should serve you in the season you are in. It does not need to be about fitting in, or reflect only the most popular trends. In today's episode I'm sharing my conversation with Jenny Eversole of Style Space about why your personal style does matter and 5 steps to rediscovering it. Plus, you'll hear about my own experience with their Stylist, Whitney Herrod Khader, and what I surprisingly learned from going through my closet with an expert.

Sponsors:

iHerb. - get 22% off your first order when you use code PROGRESS at iHerb.com

Protect you family with Fabric by Gerber Life. Apply today in just 10 minutes at meetfabric.com/PROGRESS

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Recently I've felt really unproductive, which is not how I am used to feeling. To be really honest, adding a fifth child to our family, a newborn after five years since my last, has been a big transition. I forgot about how much my day-to-day life would change with this tiny baby to care for, and while I love him and would not trade it for anything, I have to admit that it has been hard.

After sharing a little bit of an update when I was one month postpartum, I received a really insightful Instagram comment, "being present is being productive." That simple phrase changed everything for me. I learned how to lean in to these changes, accept my limits and capacity, and know what really matters at the end of the day. In this episode I have a few other tips that will also help you in your season of change, to help you shift from what you think is productive, to what really matters most.

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It is so easy to get caught up in the busyness of our day-to-day lives, whether it's a productive kind of busy, or not. But, what if there was a way to continue being productive, without the overwhelming feeling of being so busy? Tanya Dalton of inkWELL Press is a productivity expert who is all about boosting your productivity in ways that are lasting (and DOABLE!). 

In this episode you'll learn about priorities, where to start when you feel overwhelmed, the benefits of a brain dump, how to take breaks when you need them, and how to make intentional choices with your time. If your to-do list is getting in the way of you living a real life, if it's draining you instead of fulfilling you, then it's time to do something different. Try the simple swap that Tanya explains in this episode and take back control of your time in a way that works for you, not against you.

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I had the honor of interviewing Emily three years ago where we discussed personal growth, traveling the world as a family of five, and getting out of our comfort zones. Two weeks after that conversation in 2019 she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She then graciously came back to record a second part to the interview, and in this tribute episode you will hear both parts. Emily recently passed away, and I hope she can inspire us all one more time with her message of "live by faith, not fear."

• Full Show Notes

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Unfortunately, perfectly curated Pinterest boards don't always translate to perfectly organized homes. And while you can appreciate the beauty of a rainbow bookshelf, or a pantry full of labeled clear jars, those things may not actually serve you. And if in this pursuit of picture-perfect organization you've labeled yourself a bad housekeeper, or too lazy, you likely feel so off track that you don't even know where to begin again.

Professional organizer and author Tracy McCubbin has spent thousands of hours helping her clients and now she is sharing the most insightful things she has learned along the way. And while she does have practical tips, including five questions to ask yourself about your organization right now, she also addresses the emotional component of clutter. Tune in to this episode to learn how to declutter by starting small, and in ways that are meaningful to you and your space. 

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This monthly series features an episode sharing my recent highs and lows, how my habits are going, a Do Something List update, plus what I'm loving lately and my commitments for the upcoming month. I hope this glimpse into my life, my family, my work, and my own self development encourages you in your own journey.

Around here the goal is never perfection, just to keep trying, even if in very simple ways. I think you'll see that with all of the big changes going on for me, taking the smallest of steps has helped to keep me afloat and feeling like myself. As always, I encourage you to get messy, too!

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Several years ago I developed a full-blown bad habit with online shopping. I can say that now because I can see how besides the obvious financial consequences, it made me feel ashamed, it wasted time, and it contradicted my personal value of frugality. And I share this personal experience because I want you to know that whatever your "bad habit" is, you are not alone.

Many of us were taught that sheer grit and self-determination can help us overcome these bad habits, but I disagree. When we know better we can do better, and what I want you to know after this episode is WHY you have these bad habits, so that you can work on them in a different, and more effective, way.

This episode is brought to you by Fabric by Gerber Life, apply today in just 10 minutes at meetfabric.com/progress

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Sometimes when I have something really daunting on my to-do list I find myself caught in the cycle of self-sabotage. If you've ever felt that way you know it's full of blame and shame, and doesn't usually help us accomplish what we need to. Heather is a former social worker, mother, podcaster and coach here to teach us what this behavior is, why it's normal, and what to do about it.

In those moments where you want to put off the hard things, you have to realize that what you're really putting off is you. When we create unreachable standards, when we put on the armor of perfectionism, we start to obsess over things that don't align with who we really are. Instead, we have to get used to the messiness of growth, because it means that things are actually moving and changing around us in ways that are more important than having a false sense of control. When you listen to this conversation you'll see how self-sabotage can actually be your friend, instead of something you fight.'

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