It is the first day of SPRING!!!  But maybe you feel like you're still stuck in a different season?!  I do.  I am in a slow season.  A season where I've had to step back and reevaluate my priorities and make sure I'm setting myself up for success in order to be ready for the next season ahead.  

Join me on today's episode as I talk through how I'm leaning into this slow season and try to understand what it's trying to teach me.  

For more ways to bloom in between episodes, follow along at @bloomwithbridget on instagram or head on over to www.bloomwithbridget.com to keep growing with me.

*NEW!!! Sign up for weekly growth texts from Bloom at 833-761-1714.

Be sure to leave a review about this podcast or share it with someone who you think would love it!

To explore the Bloom Box, you can find both boxes by checking out the Bloom Box on the website.

Do you ever ask for something and miss the opportunity it's wrapped in?  I do.  When I ask for better relationships, more patience with my kids, a deeper faith, I often miss the potential ways to build that.  I want immediacy.  I don't want to wait for it, I want it now, because there are too many other things I need to be doing right?! 

If we want to grow, if we want to more - we have to put in the work.  We have to stop seeing our challenges as obstacles and see them as opportunities to grow.  

There is no magic wand.  The distance between where we are now and where we want to go is called effort.  So if you're asking for a change, for more, stop waiting for it to magically happen and look for those opportunities to grow.  

For more ways to bloom in between episodes, follow along at @bloomwithbridget on instagram or head on over to www.bloomwithbridget.com to keep growing with me.

*NEW!!! Sign up for weekly growth texts from Bloom at 833-761-1714.

Be sure to leave a review about this podcast or share it with someone who you think would love it!

To explore the Bloom Box, you can find both boxes by checking out the Bloom Box on the website.

Join me this week as I chat with Krista Clark.  Krista is a wife, mom, certified nutritionist, fitness instructor and spray tan artist.  With all the things she manages, being in control is often necessary.  Lately, she’s finding ways to let go and allow her life to play out with open hands and no blueprint.  In doing so, she's making time for herself and those she loves while building a community of people around her who support her.  

Tune into this week's episode where she shares how this practice is shaping her life in a brand new way.

Check out the tools she shares in this episode, to help her set the tone for her day that can be found here:

Project YOU, by Redbird Press
The Bloom Deck, by Jessica Boarman

Follow Krista's journey on these platforms:
KC Radiant Health on Instagram
Kpclark30 on Instagram
Krista Clark on Facebook

For more ways to bloom in between episodes, follow along at @bloomwithbridget on instagram or head on over to www.bloomwithbridget.com to keep growing with me.

*NEW!!! Sign up for weekly growth texts from Bloom at 833-761-1714.

Be sure to leave a review about this podcast or share it with someone who you think would love it!

To explore the Bloom Box, you can find both boxes by checking out the Bloom Box on the website.

A line from the Declaration of Independence says that as American's we are all given access to..."Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness."

The pursuit of happiness is a trap.  It's something we've all been told  and will spend our lives chasing.  The pursuit of it becomes unattainable, elusive, far fetched.  It becomes something of the future that robs us of enjoying happiness right here in the now.  

Join me this week as I share a recap of my top takeaways from the book, The Gap And The Gain, by Ben Hardy and Dan Sullivan.  I'll cover the difference between a gap mindset and a gain mindset as outlined in their book.  

If it's not already on your TBR list, it will be after you listen! 

For more ways to bloom in between episodes, follow along at @bloomwithbridget on instagram or head on over to www.bloomwithbridget.com to keep growing with me.

*NEW!!! Sign up for weekly growth texts from Bloom at 833-761-1714.

Be sure to leave a review about this podcast or share it with someone who you think would love it!

To explore the Bloom Box, you can find both boxes by checking out the Bloom Box on the website.

"Old flowers bring new seeds."  This was Haley Kelly's response to her healing journey.  For someone who had dealt with tremendous loss and pain, Haley shares with me how she chose to find peace and purpose in her pain.  It wasn't always pretty.  It wasn't always easy.  But it was always worth it. 

Haley is a woman on a mission to spread the love of Jesus and she believes that when God calls you to something - He's is going to see you through it.  You can't but help to hear Haley's peace through her words as you listen to her story. 

Haley is also an author of a four-week devotional journal, Finding the Normal in the Abnormal and leader of the annual Bruised Warrior Women's retreat in Bowling Green, KY. She's following that fire inside of her and challenges you to do the same. 

To hear more of Haley's story, follow along on Instagram at Haley Kelly.

For more ways to bloom in between episodes, follow along at @bloomwithbridget on instagram or head on over to www.bloomwithbridget.com to keep growing with me.

*NEW!!! Sign up for weekly growth texts from Bloom at 833-761-1714.

Be sure to leave a review about this podcast or share it with someone who you think would love it!

To explore the Bloom Box, you can find both boxes by checking out the Bloom Box on the website.

We’ve all had those moments when we see something go from a vision to reality.  It’s pretty incredible isn’t it? 

What was once utilized as a switchboard center for Southern Bell phone company back in the early 20's, then nearly condemned is now a thriving event venue and space for people to come together in union on Union Street in Madisonville, KY.   This week's guest Gloria's Chilcut has taken her vision for U Creative Space and imagined a place where YOU can come to spark your own creativity. 

Join me as I sit down with my one of my dearest friends as she shares how she brought her idea to life to create a space that she had the vision to share where people could come together in union.

To keep up with Gloria and U Creative Space, check out:
ucreativespace.com
U Creative Space on Instagram

For more ways to bloom in between episodes, follow along at @bloomwithbridget on instagram or head on over to www.bloomwithbridget.com to keep growing with me.

*NEW!!! Sign up for weekly growth texts from Bloom at 833-761-1714.

Be sure to leave a review about this podcast or share it with someone who you think would love it!

To explore the Bloom Box, you can find both boxes by checking out the Bloom Box on the website.

So I recently did a glam photo session which was way out of my comfort zone.  I'm a stand in the back type of girl when it comes to pictures so to be front and center was not my jam. Until I met Melanie. 

Melanie Hodskins started a photography business 10 years and has traditionally stuck to maternity and newborn photos, but she decided to stretch herself outside of her comfort zone and try something different without using props to make women feel beautiful in their own skin.

Most often as women, we don't feel comfortable without a baby on our hip, a purse on our shoulder, or our phones in our hand...we cling to things that help cover us up. Who are we detached from all of these things?  Without all of these props?  But we deserve to see our beauty and document those moments of life and all it's in betweens.   Get ready to push play on this episode to feel inspired and beautiful!

To check out Melanie's work or to book your next session, visit:
 
melaniehodskinsphotography.com
melaniehodskins on Instagram
melaniehodskinsphoto on Facebook 

For more ways to bloom in between episodes, follow along at @bloomwithbridget on instagram or head on over to www.bloomwithbridget.com to keep growing with me.

*NEW!!! Sign up for weekly growth texts from Bloom at 833-761-1714.

Be sure to leave a review about this podcast or share it with someone who you think would love it!

To explore the Bloom Box, you can find both boxes by checking out the Bloom Box on the website.

In today's episode, I interview Caroline Clark who shares her word of the year and the depth behind it.  When she shared her word with me, I was taken aback and curious as to why she chose this word, because let's be honest - it's DEEP!!!

She chose discomfort.

Discomfort.  (n). slight pain. mental or physical uneasiness. 

Discomfort isn't typically a word that most would seek out to have as a constant reminder about the type of person you want to show up as throughout the year.  But Caroline did.

So often, we seek comfort.  We seek easy.  We don't want to put in the work to see the results.  We're afraid to face the unbearable.  Join us as she talks through how she plans to use discomfort to propel her growth and being okay with being uncomfortable. 

If you connected with this conversation, send it to someone else who needs to hear it or reach out to Caroline on social and tell her thank you.  

I appreciate you being here!
Bridget

For more ways to bloom in between episodes, follow along at @bloomwithbridget on instagram or head on over to www.bloomwithbridget.com to keep growing with me.

*NEW!!! Sign up for weekly growth texts from Bloom at 833-761-1714.

Be sure to leave a review about this podcast or share it with someone who you think would love it!

To explore the Bloom Box, you can find both boxes by checking out the Bloom Box on the website.

It's a new year and that means it's time for a new word of the year!!!  This has become one of my favorite exercises because it has shaped me in so many ways over the past few years. If you're not familiar with it, I get it - it can seem a little woo woo.  But I'm here to tell you, it's powerful.  And if you're open to it - it can really transform your year and quite possibly your life!

The first time I chose a word of the year in 2021, my word was BLOOM and you all know how that turned out!  It became a part of my life in so many ways.  It molded and shaped me and continues to do so even today.  I mean, this very podcast and the Bloom Box are all thanks to that one tiny little word!

Last year, my word was DELIGHT.  And delight I did.  But I don't think I would have been able to enjoy and fully soak up all delight had to offer had I not experienced bloom.  My words that I have chosen have set the tone.  They've been the foundation for the following year and have prepared me for the next season.  Had I not experienced them in the order in which I did, I don't think it would have been as meaningful.  And I feel the same about my word for this year. 

My word of the year for 2023 is SHINE!  I want to shine so that others can see the light of Christ in me.  It's not for my personal attention, it's to point to Him.  I believe that I have been given this gift, this platform this voice to do something good.  So here I am.  You might need to pull out some sunglasses, it's about to get bright in here!!

I'm giving you a throwback song that will be my anthem this year as I stay rooted in my word, Shine, by Collective Soul There's a verse in the song that says, teach me how to speak, teach me how to share.  That's what Bloom is about.  That is why I'm here.  To teach and share.  Through this podcast and through the Bloom Box, I want to build something bigger than myself.  I want to plant seeds that will someday water a garden so beautiful with wildflowers galore! 

And I'm so grateful you're here on this journey with me. 

If you're unsure where to start, a good resource to guide you through the word of the year process is, One Word That Will Change Your Life.

If you're interested in snagging a word of the year bracelet, here a few gals that can hook you up!

Jackie Blue Handmade
Hampton & Co. Designs

Happy New Year my friends! 

XO, 
Bridget

For more ways to bloom in between episodes, follow along at @bloomwithbridget on instagram or head on over to www.bloomwithbridget.com to keep growing with me.

*NEW!!! Sign up for weekly growth texts from Bloom at 833-761-1714.

Be sure to leave a review about this podcast or share it with someone who you think would love it!

To explore the Bloom Box, you can find both boxes by checking out the Bloom Box on the website.

When you're looking at the end of 2023, what does your life look like?  As you get ready to set your goals and intentions for the upcoming year, I want you to set some different goals.  Instead of thinking about what you want to accomplish, I want you to think about who you want to become.  

Don't rush through your dreams as a checklist.  As you're working toward building yourself, let your dreams be the bricks that build the person you want to become.  

As you're building out this next year, ask yourself these questions and reflect: 

• Where did you see growth and where did you not?  What surprises happened along the way?
• What did you accomplish?  Give gratitude for all that you've been able to do and where you are in the growth process.  
• What lights you up? What do you gravitate towards?  If time, money or access to resources was unlimited and nothing could hold you back- what would your life look like?
• Are your goals for you?  Or, are you making them mirror someone else's? Your goals and dreams won't look like anyone else's.  What do YOU want?
• Who's surrounding you?  Think about the people in your life.  Are those individuals conducive or counter to your growth? Are they building you up or are they holding you back?  Those people beside us and the environment that you are a part of impact who you become or who you don't become.  In addition to whose beside you, who is in front of you?  Who can be a mentor to you that can help guide you in the direction that you're going? 
• Think about your time.  Your growth is going to cost you.  You have to be disciplined if you want to make progress.  Your time has to be intentional, it can't be wasted if you want to build.  

2023 is going to be a great year.  I feel it for you.  Now, let's get started! 

XO, 
Bridget

For more ways to bloom in between episodes, follow along at @bloomwithbridget on instagram or head on over to www.bloomwithbridget.com to keep growing with me.

*NEW!!! Sign up for weekly growth texts from Bloom at 833-761-1714.

Be sure to leave a review about this podcast or share it with someone who you think would love it!

To explore the Bloom Box, you can find both boxes by checking out the Bloom Box on the website.