Have you ever felt exhausted in a way that you just cannot explain? Like you are holding everything together on the outside but quietly falling apart on the inside? In this episode Marilyn gets real about the invisible weight so many of us carry every single day, the kind that does not show up on your face or in your words but is very real just the same.

Through honest personal reflection and relatable examples, Marilyn walks through what this invisible weight actually looks like, why we keep carrying it alone, and how to start giving yourself a little breathing room even when the weight does not go away completely. She also shares five simple coping tools you can reach for on the hard days, because sometimes you just need something practical to hold onto.

This is not an episode about having it all figured out. It is an episode for anyone who is tired of pretending they are okay when they are not. And it is a reminder that you do not have to keep carrying it alone.

In this episode:

• What the invisible weight actually feels like from the inside
• Two real life examples of how this shows up for different people
• Why we hide our struggles even when the weight is too heavy to carry alone
• How to use the bubble method when the weight feels overwhelming
• Five simple coping tools for hard days including journaling, meditation, breathing, the bubble method, and grounding

If you are struggling: You are not alone and you do not have to face this by yourself. If you are in crisis or feeling unsafe please reach out for help right away.

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 anytime, day or night. Free, confidential support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Connect with Marilyn: www.MarilynBarker.com

#PutItInABubble #MentalHealth #InvisibleStruggle #YouAreNotAlone #MentalWellness #CopingSkills #AnxietySupport #DepressionAwareness #PersonalGrowth #MindsetShift #SelfCare #LetItGo #GrowthMindset #EmotionalHealth #988

Have you ever had a gut feeling about something, ignored it, and then watched it play out exactly the way you feared? You are not alone. In this episode, Marilyn gets real about the gap between what we know and what we actually do, and why that gap does not make you broken or weak. It just makes you human.

Through personal stories and real-life examples, Marilyn walks through why we override our own instincts, what it costs us when we do, and how to start rebuilding trust with yourself one moment at a time. If you have ever beaten yourself up for not listening to what you already knew, this episode is for you.

This is Season 4 of Put It in a Bubble, and we are going deeper this season. Not just talking about mindset, but what it actually looks like to live it out every single day.

In this episode:

• Why knowing better does not always mean doing better
• The real reason our brain overrides our gut
• Personal stories that show how this shows up in everyday life
• How to use the bubble method in that critical moment of decision
• Why beating yourself up is not the answer, and what to do instead

Connect with Marilyn: www.MarilynBarker.com

Hashtags: #PutItInABubble #MentalHealth #TrustYourGut #MindsetShift #SelfAwareness #YouKnowBetter #MentalWellness #LetItGo #PersonalGrowth #PodcastCommunity #BlowItAway #MindOverMatter #SelfTrust #EmotionalHealth #GrowthMindset

As this season comes to a close, it’s time to pause, reflect, and reset.

In this special episode of Put It in a Bubble, we step away from the usual pace and create space to look back on what you’ve experienced—and gently release what you’ve been carrying.

Throughout this season, we’ve explored overwhelm, pressure, boundaries, mindset, rest, and letting go. And while each episode offered something different, they all lead to this moment.

A reset.

This episode guides you through a simple but powerful process of noticing what feels heavy, letting it go, and choosing what you want to carry forward.

Because you don’t need to have everything figured out to move forward.

You just need a moment of awareness… and the willingness to begin again.

• Reflecting on your growth throughout the season

• Recognizing what you’ve been carrying emotionally

• Letting go of pressure, expectations, and mental weight

• Creating space for clarity and calm

• Choosing what you want to carry forward

• Resetting without pressure or perfection

This episode includes a guided moment to:

• Pause and breathe

• Notice what feels heavy

• Visualize releasing it

• Create space for something new

This is your moment to slow down and reconnect with yourself.

• What has shifted for me during this season?

• What am I still carrying that feels heavy?

• What am I ready to release?

• What do I want to carry forward into what’s next?

You don’t have to carry everything.

You don’t have to have everything figured out.

You are allowed to pause… reset… and begin again.

If you’re ready to go deeper, the Put It in a Bubble book and workbook are available, and a guided course experience will be launching May 1st.

When life feels heavy, when your mind feels full, when you need a moment to reset…

Put it in a bubble. 🫧

Sometimes the weight we feel isn’t from what’s happening right now—it’s from everything we’ve been holding onto.

In this episode of Put It in a Bubble, we explore what it means to let go of what you carry—the expectations, pressure, past experiences, and thoughts that quietly build over time.

Holding onto everything can feel normal, but over time it becomes heavy. The truth is, just because you’ve been carrying something for a long time doesn’t mean you’re meant to carry it forever.

This episode gently walks you through recognizing what you’re holding, understanding why it’s hard to release, and learning how to let go without pressure or guilt.

Because letting go isn’t about forgetting—it’s about creating space for something lighter.

• The hidden weight of expectations, pressure, and past experiences

• Why holding everything in becomes exhausting over time

• The belief that we have to handle everything alone

• What letting go really means (and what it doesn’t mean)

• How releasing emotional weight creates space for growth

• Why letting go is a practice—not a one-time decision

• Pressure to be or do more

• Expectations about how life “should” look

• Past situations that still feel unresolved

• Negative thoughts or beliefs that aren’t even yours

Awareness is the first step to release.

• Pause and notice what feels heavy

• Ask yourself: “Do I need to carry this today?”

• Share what you’re feeling instead of holding it in

• Allow yourself to release things little by little

Letting go doesn’t have to be dramatic—it can be quiet and intentional.

• What am I carrying right now that feels heavy?

• Is this something I need to keep holding onto?

• What would it feel like to release even part of it?

• Where can I allow support instead of doing everything alone?

You don’t have to carry everything.

And you don’t have to carry it alone.

When the weight builds, when your thoughts feel full, when everything feels heavy…

Put it in a bubble. 🫧

In a world that constantly encourages us to do more, be more, and keep going, rest can start to feel like something we have to earn.

In this episode of Put It in a Bubble, we challenge that belief and explore a powerful shift: rest is not a reward-it’s a requirement.

When we tie rest to productivity, we create a cycle of pressure, exhaustion, and burnout. But when we begin to see rest as part of the process, everything changes.

You’ll learn why rest feels so uncomfortable for many people, how the “productivity trap” keeps us stuck, and how allowing yourself to pause can actually help you move forward more effectively.

If you’ve been feeling tired, overwhelmed, or like you can’t slow down, this episode is your reminder that rest is not something you have to earn-it’s something you need.

• Do I feel like I have to earn my rest?

• Where in my life am I pushing past exhaustion?

• What would it look like to allow myself to pause today?

• How would my life feel if I saw rest as part of progress?

Rest is not something you earn after you’ve done enough.

It’s something you need so you can continue.

When the pressure builds, when exhaustion sets in, when your mind won’t slow down…

Put it in a bubble. 🫧

The voice you hear most is your own and it has more influence over your life than you may realize.

In this episode of Put It in a Bubble, we explore the power of your inner voice and how the way you speak to yourself shapes your confidence, decisions, and growth.

Negative self-talk can keep you stuck in doubt, hesitation, and fear. But when you begin to shift your inner dialogue, even slightly you create space for confidence, resilience, and forward movement.

This episode breaks down the difference between negative and supportive self-talk, how your inner voice is formed, and simple ways to begin reshaping it in your everyday life.

Because the goal isn’t perfection—it’s learning how to speak to yourself in a way that helps you grow.

• How your inner voice shapes your daily experiences

• The difference between negative and supportive self-talk

• Why negative thoughts feel stronger and more automatic

• How small shifts in language can change your mindset

• The power of adding the word “yet”

• Using affirmations in simple, real-life ways

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In a world that celebrates big breakthroughs and major achievements, it’s easy to overlook the small steps that actually create meaningful progress.

In this episode of Put It in a Bubble, we explore the power of small wins and why incremental change is one of the most effective ways to build momentum in your life. When we learn to recognize small progress, motivation grows, confidence builds, and the path forward begins to feel possible again.

Small changes may not look impressive in the moment, but they accumulate over time and can transform the direction of your life.

You’ll learn why big changes often fail, how small actions reduce mental resistance, and how recognizing daily progress can help you build lasting habits.

If you’ve ever felt discouraged because progress feels slow, this episode will remind you that every step forward matters.

• Why people often overlook progress

• The power of incremental change

• Why small changes are easier for the brain to accept

• The science behind habit formation

• How small wins build momentum and motivation

• Simple ways to begin recognizing progress in your daily life

Small wins can be incredibly simple, such as:

• Drinking more water

• Writing down your goals

• Taking a short walk

• Organizing one small area of your workspace

• Turning off notifications to focus on your work

These small steps may seem minor in the moment, but over time they create powerful momentum.

• What small win did I experience today?

• Where in my life am I overlooking progress?

• What small step can I take today that moves me forward?

• How can I celebrate effort instead of waiting for perfect results?

Progress doesn’t always happen in big dramatic moments.

Most growth happens quietly through small actions repeated over time.

When the journey feels slow, remember that small wins are the building blocks of lasting change.

When life feels heavy, overwhelming, or uncertain…

Put it in a bubble. 🫧

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Life doesn’t always move in a straight line. Sometimes we start something with the best intentions—whether it’s a goal, a habit, or a personal commitment—and then life gets busy, overwhelming, or exhausting. Before we know it, we’ve fallen off track.

In this episode of Put It in a Bubble, we talk about something that almost everyone experiences but rarely talks about openly: how to begin again without shame.

Falling off track doesn’t erase your progress, and it doesn’t mean you failed. The real growth comes from learning how to return with compassion, flexibility, and a willingness to start small.

This episode explores why consistency isn’t always perfect, why shame keeps us stuck longer than necessary, and how gentle steps forward can rebuild momentum.

Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is simply decide to begin again.

• Why progress rarely happens in a perfectly straight line

• The hidden shame that prevents people from restarting

• Why falling off track is a normal part of growth

• How to return to your goals without overwhelming yourself

• The power of starting smaller than before

• Reconnecting with the reason something mattered to you in the first place

If you’ve stepped away from something that mattered to you, try this:

• Start smaller than you were before

• Focus only on the next step, not the entire journey

• Let go of the pressure to “catch up”

• Reconnect with your original reason for starting

Momentum returns through small actions, not perfect ones.

• Is there something I’ve been avoiding restarting?

• What small step could I take today to return to it?

• What pressure or expectations might I need to release?

• How can I approach this with more compassion toward myself?

You don’t have to fix yesterday.

You only have to begin again today.

Returning matters more than never stopping.

If this episode resonated with you, consider sharing it with someone who might need the reminder that starting again is always possible.

And remember… when life feels heavy, overwhelming, or stuck—

Put it in a bubble. 🫧