Episodes

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...

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly start the year with a series that sets our viewer with a mindset of personal success. This episode examines self-worth and self-love. Building a foundation We are first and foremost good, beloved, sacred beings We are not our mistakes I am enough...my authentic self Self-love recognizes all of me with compassion Website: anincompleteguide.com Instagram: @anincompleteguide YouTube: @AnIncompleteGuide Patreon: patre...

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly alternatives to New Year resolutions. History of New Year Resolutions Watch Night services Ending of one year and beginning of a new year a natural time to reflect 45% of the people make resolutions and 8% keep them Why are resolutions hard to keep? Resolutions are so big and can be overwhelming One and done or small increments versus huge goal, something manageable Find the "why" behind the goal Pain of not ch...

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly talk holiday movies. Also...a little advice on taking care when getting a cold, getting ahead of it! Holiday movies can actually be good for us...yes, studies reveal this Creates memories Cinema-therapy, its a thing Some of our favorite movies...claymation, classics, newer movies Movies if your not about Christmas movies Website: anincompleteguide.com Instagram: @anincompleteguide YouTube: @AnIncompleteGuide Patre...

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly about the spirituality of this time of year and the image and metaphor of light as a thread that connects us all. A time of hope and light during the season leading up to Christmas Finding light as we gather with others Attending a religious service when its not "your cup of tea" or different than what you prefer Looking inward and then broadening my view How have others offered us light...hope, comfort, laughter e...

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly discover that Sydney is much better at picking gifts than Kelly. Gifts for the competitor Gifts for the pet-lover Gifts for the homebody Gifts for the extravert Mini vacuum desk cleaner For Cooks and bakers For the forgetful people Spiritual gifts For travelers For the person who "doesn't want anything" Experiential gift Funny gifts Website: anincompleteguide.com Instagram: @anincompleteguide YouTube: @AnIn...

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly talk about finding satisfaction and reflecting on the "why" of our wants. Negative connotation associated with materialism Outward--acquiring the "right" things How long do the "new" things make you satisfied Always wanting...confusing wants and needs Realizing what we have is hard when we look outward to see what we don't have Looking outward to find an inner void Scarcity Brain True freedom comes from examinin...

In this episode of "An Incomplete Guide to Personal Growth" Sydney and Kelly have a light conversation around traditions, sharing some from friends and family. Sydney's cat Bagheera makes his debut What are traditions and what role do they serve Why are traditions important Allowing traditions to end and starting new ones Everything from cookies to underwear, from food to music A tradition from Finland Activities together instead of gifts Website: anincompleteguide.com Instagram: @aninco...

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...