Agile Self-Development

When we think about the next chapter of our career, most of us jump straight to answers.

What should I do next?
 What role makes sense?
 What would I even change?

But that’s not actually where to start.

In product, we don’t begin with solutions.
 We start with discovery.

In this episode, I walk through what it looks like to apply that same thinking to your own life and career—starting with assumptions, not answers.

Because the goal isn’t to figure everything out overnight.

It’s to get a little more honest about what you think you want… and test whether it’s actually true.

Visit us at http://www.agileselfdevelopment.com!

For most of our careers, we’re taught how to climb the ladder.

Work hard. Learn more. Get promoted. Take the next opportunity.

But what happens after you’ve been climbing for twenty or thirty years?

In this relaunch episode of Agile Self-Development, Helene Amster Kopel introduces a new direction for the podcast and a concept she calls the second chapter of work and life.

Many professionals spend the first decades of their careers building experience, expertise, and credibility. But eventually the questions start to change.

What kind of work do we want to do next?
 What pace of life feels sustainable?
 And what does “enough” really look like?

This episode introduces the idea that the next phase of our careers doesn’t have to mean starting over. Instead, it can be about experimenting, learning, and intentionally designing what comes next.

If you’ve spent years building a career and are starting to rethink what the next chapter might look like, this conversation is for you.

Visit us at http://www.agileselfdevelopment.com!

In this heart-centered episode of The Agile Self-Development Podcast, Helene returns a raja yoga class after a long time away — and is unexpectedly reintroduced to the powerful principle of ahimsa: the practice of non-harming. What begins as a quiet moment in a Raja yoga class becomes a soul-deep reflection on how we treat ourselves. This episode invites you to explore how subtle self-harm shows up in your life — and offers a set of grounding practices to reconnect with your wholeness through gentleness, awareness, and compassion.

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🔑 Key Takeaways:

•Ahimsa means “non-harming” — and applies to how we treat ourselves as much as others.

•Micro-harms like self-criticism, guilt-driven choices, and ignoring our needs wear us down over time.

•Self-development is not about pushing harder, but about returning to yourself with love.

•Alignment with ahimsa begins with daily, intentional, compassionate practices.

Visit us at http://www.agileselfdevelopment.com!

Artificial intelligence is showing up everywhere—from work emails to vacation planning—but did you know it can also support your personal growth?

In this episode of Agile Self-Development, Helene explains how tools like ChatGPT can become your brainstorming buddy, personal coach, and idea generator—all without needing to be a “techy.” You’ll learn what prompt engineering really means (spoiler: it’s just asking better questions), how to craft prompts that get you the results you want, and simple ways to bring AI into your daily self-development practice.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How AI tools like ChatGPT can support your growth journey
• What “prompt engineering” means in everyday language
• A simple 3-step formula for writing better prompts
• Real-life examples you can try right away
• Ready-to-use sample prompts for journaling, habit-building, stress management, and more

This starter kit gives you ready-to-use prompts you can copy, paste, and customize when using AI tools like ChatGPT. These prompts were created by ChatGPT, as a matter of fact! They're designed to support journaling, habit-building, stress management, and mindset shifts in your personal growth journey. 

Journaling Prompts 
• Give me five journaling prompts to help me reflect on my strengths at work. 
• Suggest journaling prompts to uncover limiting beliefs holding me back. 
• Provide five prompts to help me celebrate small daily wins. 

Habit-Building Prompts 
• Help me create a 30-day plan to drink more water and build a consistent habit. 
• Give me simple strategies to stay consistent with exercising, even if I only have 20 minutes a day. 
• Suggest ways to track and reward myself for sticking to a new habit. 

Stress Management Prompts 
• Give me three short, practical techniques I can use daily to manage stress as a working parent. 
• Suggest five quick relaxation exercises I can do during a work break. 
• Help me create a 10-minute evening routine to unwind before bed. 

Mindset & Positivity Prompts 
• Give me three positive reframes I can use when I feel like I’ve failed at something.
• Suggest simple affirmations I can practice daily for more confidence. 
• Provide strategies for shifting from negative to positive thinking when I’m overwhelmed. 


Tip: For the best results, add your own context when using these prompts. For example, mention your schedule, personal challenges, or goals so the AI can tailor its response to your unique situation. 

Visit us at http://www.agileselfdevelopment.com!

It’s been awhile but I’m back with a new episode to share how to use an agile approach to break out of your funk. 

Visit us at http://www.agileselfdevelopment.com!

Visit us at http://www.agileselfdevelopment.com!

Listen in for the benefits of mental health days and how to plan to make the best of them!

Visit us at http://www.agileselfdevelopment.com!

Visit us at http://www.agileselfdevelopment.com!

Mental Fortitude is described as mental and emotional strength in facing difficulty, adversity, danger, or temptation courageously. My guest on this episode is David Theriot, an ultrarunner and coach who understands that mental fortitude is pivotal to his success, very much akin to life's many other challenges.

David Theriot is an ultrarunner and coach who started running later in life after ACL reconstruction surgery.  He's run 45 ultramarathons, 16 of them of 100 miles or more.  He finds great joy in helping others come to the realization that they can do hard things.  He's coached runners from all over the world to finish their first or furthest Ultramarathon.  He also hosts the Run the Riot Podcast where he interviews runners from all over the world accomplishing amazing feats.

Lear more about David and how to work with him at http://info.runtheriot.run.

Visit us at http://www.agileselfdevelopment.com!

In today's episode, we delve into the fascinating topic of self-awareness and its importance in our lives. Self-awareness is the ability to introspect and understand one's thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. We'll discuss why self-awareness matters, how to cultivate it, and the benefits it can bring to our personal and professional lives.

Visit http://www.agileselfdevelopment.com and click "Free Guide" in the top menu to start creating your own personal vision statement.

Visit us at http://www.agileselfdevelopment.com!