Episodes

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly have a conversation around grief and the holidays. Grief is a process Grief comes from any significant loss...loss of a loved one, a dream, a job, a marriage... Sensory reminders associated with the holidays Holding sorrow and joy Each person grieves differently Being with those who are grieving Ways to cope Give yourself space and care Do what feels best for you Community and church grief groups during this t...

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly interview Ana Maldonado, LPC Associate about boundaries, family, and stress during the holidays. Family issues heightened during holidays and expectations Family structure and systems that can highlight issues Enmeshed families Disengaged families Rituals and change If you want healing for your family, you begin by healing yourself...looking inward Boundaries defined Examples of setting and maintaining boundarie...

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly begin a series on self care and the holidays. Self Care...taking an active role in one's own health and welfare 38% say depression and stress amps up during holidays Reality versus images we may want of the time with family Knowing your boundaries and what you want Family is Family..Kacey Musgraves Look for common threads in conversations Take time for yourself...reading, walking, a cup of tea Where am I this ye...

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly conclude this month of October with quotes and thoughts that have provided inspiration, encouragement, or laughs. "We have an appetite for well expressed words" Maya Angelou...as we learn we can then do better Joan Chittister...gifts of struggle Thich Nhat Hanh quotes Barbara Brown Taylor...you have choices and can impact someone's day A little fun...its never just a game when you are winning...George Carlin Psal...

In this episode of An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth, Sydney and Kelly interview Julie Afsahi and Jessica Cross, authors of the book Seasons of Sound, a resource for sound practitioners as well as anyone interested in sound healing and how sounds affect the body. Both Julie and Jessica are leaders and trainers in yoga and sound healing in Austin, Texas area. Creating safe spaces for all people, idea of everything is to destress, unwind A relaxing environment, bring this element to book an...

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly continue the theme of Seasons focusing on changes and growth in careers. Spring time...learning and planting seeds in your career Summer...begin of prime time of career, performer Fall...Finding your meaning in your career, mentoring Winter...Experienced and wisdom to share Shifting work model Networking when you are ready for change What you want from your work Self reflection Work-life balance Website: aninc...

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly continue the theme of Seasons while exploring the seasons of friendships. Friendships for a reason Friendships for a season Seasonal friendships may be short or long We gain from each friendship gifts we take with us Even the friendships that we not healthy, we learn from Rebuilding friendships Friendships for a lifetime Website: anincompleteguide.com Instagram: @anincompleteguide YouTube: @AnIncompleteGuide Pat...

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly begin a month-long series on Seasons. This episode's focus is Seasons of Life. Seasons of Life poem Life giving storms in Spring The Fall of saying goodbye...life giving goodbyes Winter...the inner quiet...feels dormant, but growth is happening Spring...newness and nurturing Summer...playful, relaxing of schedule, longer days Transition of seasons Website: anincompleteguide.com Instagram: @anincompleteguide YouT...

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly conclude the month discussing how we can listen to our inner voice. Inner voice...my deep down "knowing" Competing voices within us...inner child, critical parent, supportive parent, society, religion, and more "Celebrate Yourself" by Dorothy Briggs Examples of listening and not listening to our inner voice Waiting and getting to know your own inner-voice Practices...journaling, quiet, holding space, walking, list...

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly interview a family member, Paul Arrendell. This interview continues our series on Crucial Conversations. Crucial conversations is a process Making a conversation safe Learning the other persons story and context Don't use attacking language "This is how it occurred for me" helps make it safe Then..."How has it occurred for you?" Ask permission to have the conversation...is this a good time to talk about... Again...

In this episode of An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth, Sydney and Kelly talk interview Jennifer Kennedy who is a certified trainer for Crucial Conversations. Though training in the workplace, this also pertains to personal life conversations as well. Crucial conversations in the work place What is a crucial conversation? Preparing for a crucial conversation What is your intention, what do you want, its not about winning Come from a place of curiousity Set your intention If it is cruci...

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly begin a series on communicating with our family, friends, and coworkers. Hurtful speech Artful communication Making assumptions about others before we really have a conversation Categorizing people Stepping back, before texting or responding What and who do I want to spend my energy on Where do I choose to direct my energy When we no longer read facial cues and body language due to online meetings Benefits of t...

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly share how their spirituality has helped them with their ups and downs. Spirituality isn't all fluff and feel good...it takes work and practice Spirituality and religion are not the same Defining religion Defining spirituality Being open to new opportunities and the unfolding of life Kelly shares on of her mystical spiritual experiences Practices for letting go...opening up, cracking a window to let the breeze in ...

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly talk about letting go of control and just what we can control. Born to choose...choices and thoughts that we do have control are necessary It is a biological need Pausing and assess What are my choices External or internal control of our lives Can't control the thoughts that pop up in our head, but can control what we do with them Choices lead to some form of control Resources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/a...

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly explore what makes personal growth hard. Conscious effort to make a change Honest with yourself and butting up against the "not so pretty" part of us It is like building muscle strength...there is pain It is embracing the whole of us, it isn't about perfection The process of growth takes time Other people may not like our personal growth Care for yourself We get to participate in new beginnings Resources: https...

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly discuss when things go sideways and our plans are disrupted. Kelly seems to have trouble remembering the questions Sydney asks today. The polaroid picture...take a new one Moments of "never imagined this..." Growing from unwanted or unexpected changes Take time to gather yourself and sit with your emotions Grief is a part of change Support systems Life unfolding How do we talk about a situation? Labels... Resou...

In this episode of An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth, Sydney and Kelly talk with Cassie Dell about her list 30 before 30. Thirty wide ranging things that Cassie set out to do before turning 30. Cassie loves to travel and wants to live life fully. After Cassie's 29th birthday she chose 30 thing to work toward She didn't want to lose herself Honed in on things on her bucket list to prioritize Prioritizing self helps to her to become a better mom, wife, friend, co-worker List includes thi...

In this episode of An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth, Sydney and Kelly talk about some of their favorite TV Shows. Are they TV shows or streaming shows now? What are the benefits of watching TV shows? What are the downsides of watching TV shows? (Cat interruption, phone dropping) Family viewing Difference of watching on small screen (phone and laptops) versus larger screen TV Kelly's list Sydney's list Website: anincompleteguide.com Instagram: @anincompleteguide YouTube: @AnIncompl...

In this episode of An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth, Sydney and Kelly give concrete examples practices to help in difficult moments. These are practices that can be done anywhere, anytime and can help ground you. May you be happy, may you be peaceful, may you live with ease. Kelly did this while on the elliptical machine this week. Square breath: Breathe in to the count of 4, pause for the count of four, exhale to the count of four, pause for four and repeat. You can expand this to 6 or ...

In this episode of An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth Sydney and Kelly discuss their experience with a Sound Bath. Also known as Sound Meditation Immersed in sound vibration and frequencies that are healing Stress release Lower blood pressure Tibetan singing bowls, crystal bowls, gongs, rain sticks, string instrument Live versus recorded sound meditation Vibration and clearing in the body Great way to be introduced to meditation Resources: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/sound-ba...

In this episode of An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth, Sydney and Kelly discuss volunteering in the community, its benefits and how to find a place that is a fit for you. Benefits...physical/mental health Sense of purpose New relationships Reduces stress, helps with depression Finding the right fit Volunteer match websites for cities and non-profits Types of organizations: Master Naturalists, Libraries, Family Shelters, Community arts groups, Animal shelters and rescues org., conserva...

In this episode of An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth, Sydney and Kelly talk about some of their favorite books from various genres. Benefits of reading Escapism Ability to empathize can increase Self Growth Books People Focused Books Historical Fiction Fun/Mystery Spirituality Miscellaneous Novels Website: anincompleteguide.com Instagram: @anincompleteguide YouTube: @AnIncompleteGuide Patreon: patreon.com/AnIncompleteGuidetoPersonalGrowth Shout out to Lauren, Jake, Kyle, and Nicol...

In this episode of An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth Sydney and Kelly talk with Julie Carpenter on the topic feeling and believing that you are enough. Feeling it is what we do that makes us enough rather than who are are When do we notice the feelings of being inadequate Danger of comparing ourselves to others Resources: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/lifting-the-veil-trauma/202103/when-we-dont-feel-good-enough https://www.minimalismmadesimple.com/home/you-are-enough/ https://...

In this episode of An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth, Sydney and Kelly get real about social situations...some people make it look easy. The unknown of events What stops us from or makes us hesitate to accept invitations There are health benefits Preparing, gaining confidence Conversation starters Body language Everyone has a story...ask and listen Sample questions Resources: https://questionsabouteverything.com/topics-to-talk-about/ https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/relations/how-...