Episodes

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly share a bit of their personal spiritual journeys. Church as a part of childhood for Sydney Sydney had a rough patch being a part of the youth group, but found a place in choir. Learning faith through songs Sustained through rough life experiences Church aren't perfect Kelly found a place to belong within the church after moving in high school Undergrad and masters in religious education Church is made up of peop...

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly take a look at what is unique about Millennials and their spirituality. Focus on personal journey Blend various traditions and faiths Online access to retreats and groups, apps Wholistic wellness and spirituality Look to the church as well as other places for answers Okay with not having solid answers Community is important Allowing for questioning Website: anincompleteguide.com Instagram: @anincompleteguide Yo...

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly discuss how images people hold of God change through personal experiences and their spiritual journey. Exploring images or attributes, ideas and understandings of God Sometimes we need to heal images of God that have been harmful How do we reflect the God we believe in? Limited language is all we have to describe God Doubting, questions, and growth No matter where you wander, God is there Website: anincompletegui...

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly begin a series on spirituality. This episode focuses on stages of faith development. How did I get here from there in my spirituality Foundations Ages 0 - 2, learning trust, this can impact our trust in God later Ages 3 - 6, our image of God comes from our parents, very concrete, how are responded to when we don't do what is expected or wanted, are we shamed or given grace Ages 7 - 12, justice and fairness, good ha...

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly discuss their personal experience and journey with mental health. Openness to talking about mental health Mental health and mental well-being Kelly's journey walking beside daughter struggling with depression Looking for a therapist that is a fit Not being a fixer, but a support Short term situational depression, long term depression Caring for self while care-giving Sydney's postpartum anxiety Medications Giv...

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly continue their interview with Ana Maldonado, LPC, discussing different types of therapy. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing , EMDR Especially for trauma and distressing situations Trauma is stored in your body, this approach is a bottom up versus the other therapies that start with the head...logic etc... Desensitizes the memory, bi-lateral stimulation Do not have to talk through the whole experience T...

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly interview Ana Maldonado, LPC, discussing different types of therapy. This is part one of two episodes on this topic. Every theory has strengths and weaknesses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy , CBT. The most researched type of therapy Behavior is shaped by your thoughts, often uses worksheets Works to install new ways of thinking and directing your thought patterns Can use CBT on a lot of different issues, addictions,...

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly begin our month-long focus of Mental Health. This episode examines sleep and mental health. We both love our sleep! Sleep cycle and importance of each stage 75% of depressed people show symptoms of insomnia Anxiety feeds insomnia Restoration during sleep Routine and sleep Light exposure and exercise Meditation and sleep Quieting the mind Website: anincompleteguide.com Instagram: @anincompleteguide YouTube: ...

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly explore how personal tastes may change along with our personal growth. The Let Them Theory, by Mel Robbins What influences our preferences and tastes Foundations that allow us to moving on What we are naturally drawn to Trying new things and being okay when they aren't a fit Listening to your inner-self Stagnation versus movement and growth Website: anincompleteguide.com Instagram: @anincompleteguide YouTube: @A...

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly discuss their experience of attending the opera Madam Butterfly. A little history of Opera Modern Opera What to expect Helpfulness of reading notes prior to attending Impressed by the diversity of the crowd Give it a try!!

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly play with the theme of tax season and have a conversation around things that can be taxing, things that are emotionally/physically/mentally stressful. How do we assess if something is taxing? Maintaining can be taxing Small things can add up How to cope or make things less taxing Gain perspective Self-care during these taxing times Where does our strength come from? In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Per...

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly explore our own take on the old adage "April Showers Bring May Flowers." Listen for the cat at the 14 minute mark! Origin of the adage What are our showers Double meaning of showers Small showers, not all are storms Major showers Showers that are mixed of hard things and blessings Bagheera (the cat) joins in Laying the ground work for personal growth and relying on it Website: anincompleteguide.com Instagram: @...

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly have a bit of fun with April Fool's before diving into our more serious topic of how we fool ourselves. Signs of self-deception Cycle of fooling ourselves Fooling ourselves about the present reality, banking on the future Pushing things off or blaming others "Really, I'm fine" Making excuses Self Awareness...knowing the games we play with ourselves Starting now, where we are Self-deception, another way to not b...

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly interview Adam Dorsay, the author of "Super Psyched: Unleash the Power of the 4 Types of Connection." Psyched...doesn't mean happy all the time, it about being connected to our psyche Being "alive" while we are living Being thoughtful about how you allocate your time Connection---what brings us alive, your life-force Conforming rather than connecting to themselves Connecting to self, to others, to the world around...

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly play with the phrase don't miss the boat. What happens when you think you have your ducks in a row? They scatter Just do one thing...once Its not about making a long term commitment Long term planning as a way of not starting Self-sabotage In a kayak going with what comes, not a super yacht that seems in control You don't have to make a project out of everything Do one small thing What do I want to do today, lis...

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly explore the difference between pain and suffering, as well as ways to relieve suffering and not adding to it. Defining suffering Difference between pain and suffering Types of suffering Joy, happiness and suffering We all experience suffering Creating or enhancing our own suffering Holding suffering and joy Impermanence Tools for when we are suffering Embracing the suffering Website: anincompleteguide.com Ins...

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly talk about the "fruits of the spirit" as they pertain to personal growth and suffering. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control Who are the fruits of the spirit for Tending to your inner self and nurturing yourself Awareness of areas of growth Some may come more naturally than others All faiths have things similar to this which are to be fostered Ways to nurture the f...

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly explore the connection of body and spirituality. Differing views of body and spirit Most religions talk about the body, diet, importance of movement or fitness, cleansing regarding the body What is spirituality Body limitations and spirituality Spiritual beings in a sacred body Taking care of body...sacrifice or gift? Spirituality assisting illness and bodily limitations Website: anincompleteguide.com Instagram:...

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly discuss the effect emotions can have on the body. Body Mapping Emotions...where you feel emotions in your body Parts of the body are activated by emotions while parts can also be deactivated by emotions Body-Brain connection Awareness of tension in your body Energy in the body Spirituality, emotions, and body Neuroplasticity of the brain Emotions do not have to control you Tools: body scan meditation, emotion j...

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly explore the traits of a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP). This is not the same as Sensitive Processing Disorder, which is a diagnosis. This topic has to do with sensitivities to light, touch, taste, sound, smells, etc... Dr. Elaine Aron...book and website Sensitivities vary from person to person Characteristics that accompany HSP Empathetic Spirituality and the HSP Trauma in childhood and HSP Boundaries Good to be ...

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly reflect on their experience in a rage room at Unchartered Adventures in San Antonio. Rage rooms began around 2008 Can be a great release, it took a bit to get comfortable with the smashing and breaking of bottles, plates, etc... Anger is a signal, there is something is wrong, something else is behind anger Anger is healthy and leads to positive action can result from anger Misplaced anger gives anger a bad rap Web...

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly wrap up January with a look at optimism. This is our one year anniversary! How to keep a hopeful, optimistic outlook What is optimism? Creating a mindset for optimism Health benefits Faith or spirituality and optimism Optimism and reality, not unrealistic Look at nature and restoration Hope from a distance Optimism and the Dallas cowboys...is it possible What is your symbol for optimism or hope? Trust and opt...

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly discuss motivation and tools that help keep us motivated. Extrinsic and Intrinsic motivation Process of motivation Importance of both internal and external motivation What stifles motivation ADHD and motivation...Kelly can't use this as an excuse Costs and benefits Memory, recall, and motivation Tips for motivation Website: anincompleteguide.com Instagram: @anincompleteguide YouTube: @AnIncompleteGuide Patreon:...

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly discuss the freedom that comes from self-forgiveness and how it is tied to forgiving others, Kelly interrupts Sydneys clever segue. Forgiveness is a process Forgiveness does not mean reconciliaton How do we teach or talk about forgiveness Moving on too fast Steps in the process The process cycles and we return again and again Changing or turning around I rely on God, Higher Power, etc..., my own will power is no...