We start the year—or a new chapter of life or a new project—with a vision. We know what we want to create, who we want to become, and what we want to move toward next. And then…we stop there.

In this episode, we talk about why having a vision isn’t enough—and the single factor that determines whether your idea actually becomes real: belief. Not surface-level optimism, but sustained belief that you can do this, even when doubt, old patterns, and blind spots show up.

There is always a new way to think about how to do something. And often, we can’t see where we’re stuck in our own thinking—especially when we don’t yet have an example of the person we’re becoming. This is one of the biggest places I see people stall, particularly women leaders who are looking for models of strength rooted in feminine energy rather than burnout or hustle.

In this episode, we explore how to move forward even when you can’t find “someone exactly like you” who has already done what you want to do.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why belief—not vision—is the real differentiator between ideas that stay ideas and ideas that become real
• How staying stuck often comes from unseen thought patterns, not lack of effort or talent
• Why waiting for the perfect mentor can keep you frozen
• Three powerful ways to find mentorship when no single example exists

The Three Ways to Find Your Mentors

1. Put yourself in rooms with women who bring out your best.
   Surround yourself with people who keep your energy high, your vision alive, and your momentum moving forward.
2. Build a mosaic of mentors.
   Find multiple women who are doing different parts of what you want to do—leading, creating, parenting, speaking, building, living. Let their examples expand what feels possible.
3. Be your own example.
   The world doesn’t need a carbon copy of someone else. It needs you. The way you lead, create, love, and contribute is the mentorship someone else is looking for.

You don’t have to wait for permission. You don’t have to wait for proof. You get to become the person you’ve been searching for.

And if you want support doing that—working with your thought patterns, maintaining momentum, and taking aligned next actions—we’ve got you.

Come join us in the Bloom Room or the Moxie Mastermind.
We gotchuuuuu. 💛

How to connect with Marie:

• On the Web | The Local Bloom
• Instagram: @the.bloom.coach
• All Things Marie on LinkTree

JOIN THE BLOOM ROOM!
We'll take all these ideas and apply them to our lives. Follow me on Instagram at @the.bloom.coach to learn more and snag a spot in my group coaching program!

Every year, I used to get an email that stopped me in my tracks. It would land in my inbox, and I’d feel this immediate sense of clarity and groundedness. The email came from the CEO of the company I worked for at the time—a brilliant, mission-driven leader whose work focused on transforming education by building changemakers, not bubble-fillers. I respected him deeply, and when he shared best practices, I paid attention.

That email contained five simple reflection questions to ask at the end of the year and the beginning of the next. I answered them every year. And when I eventually left that role, I kept the practice.

Now, I record an episode like this every year to remind you to pause and reflect. And if you’re listening to this at any other time of year, here’s your permission slip: the year is a construct. Reflection works anytime. The more often you do it, the more powerful it becomes.

Research consistently shows that intentional reflection increases learning, clarity, emotional regulation, and follow-through. When we pause to look back, we extract wisdom from experience instead of rushing past it—and that wisdom is one of the greatest accelerators for turning ideas into real things.

Last year, I shared a set of reflection questions focused on what gave you positive and negative feelings and how you wanted to shift your priorities. This year, I went deeper with my students—and the results were profound.

Reflection Questions for This Year

• What are you proudest of?
• When did you feel most alive?
• What did you learn?
• Where were you deeply true to yourself?
• Where—and how—did you abandon yourself?
• How do you want to prioritize differently moving forward?
• How do you want to grow?
  What do you most want to celebrate from 2025?

I recommend saving your reflections each year. Over time, they become a powerful record of your evolution—what mattered, what shifted, and how you grew into yourself.

I’ll end this episode with a final practice that is the MOST powerful I’ve found to launch you on the path you most want to walk for the year ahead.

If you want support bringing your ideas to life, join us in the Bloom Room or the Moxie Mastermind. 2026 is the year of your moxie. Let’s go.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Glen Tripp — CEO, changemaker, and longtime advocate for reflective leadership practices

How to connect with Marie:

• On the Web | The Local Bloom
• Instagram: @the.bloom.coach
• All Things Marie on LinkTree

JOIN THE BLOOM ROOM!
We'll take all these ideas and apply them to our lives. Follow me on Instagram at @the.bloom.coach to learn more and snag a spot in my group coaching program!

Most of us are much more practiced at pointing out what’s not working than naming what is. And even when we do give positive feedback, we often keep it vague:
“You did great.”
“That was awesome.”
“Nice job.”

In this episode, we explore why specific positive feedback is one of the most powerful tools we have—for leadership, parenting, relationships, teamwork, and personal growth—and why it’s so often underused.

I break down how generic praise feels good in the moment but doesn’t actually help people grow, while specific feedback builds confidence, clarity, and trust. It teaches people what to keep doing, not just what to avoid.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why the brain needs specificity to learn and repeat behaviors
• The difference between empty praise and meaningful, growth-producing feedback
• How specific positive feedback builds psychological safety and motivation
• Why this skill is essential for leaders, partners, parents, and collaborators
• 10 Simple prompts to help you look for and give feedback that actually lands and sticks
• Real-life applications in parenting, partnership, and team culture

We also talk about how specific positive feedback helps counter self-doubt—both in ourselves and others. When people know exactly what they did well and why it mattered, they don’t have to guess. That clarity creates momentum.

And here’s the quiet power of this practice: when you learn to give specific positive feedback outwardly, you also start doing it internally. You become better at recognizing your own progress, effort, and growth—rather than only tracking what still needs fixing.

Whether it’s a colleague, a partner, a child—or yourself—this small shift can radically improve connection, confidence, and results.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Look How Far You’ve Come: EP
• Leadership and communication tools from The Bloom Room

How to connect with Marie:

• On the Web | The Local Bloom
• Instagram: @the.bloom.coach
• All Things Marie on LinkTree

JOIN THE BLOOM ROOM!
We'll take all these ideas and apply them to our lives. Follow me on Instagram at @the.bloom.coach to learn more and snag a spot in my group coaching program!