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Who Am I Now?

If you've been wondering who you are after the kids leave home, your career changes, or life simply doesn't look the way it used to, this conversation is for you. Today we're talking about why so many women feel lost in midlife and how this season might actually be an invitation to create a life that fits the woman you are today.

In this episode, I share why it's completely normal to question your identity during times of transition, why I don't believe you've lost yourself, and a few simple ways to begin reconnecting with the woman you've always been beneath all the responsibilities you've carried for everyone else.

If this conversation resonates with you, I'd love to invite you to become a paid subscriber and join me for my exclusive six-part audio coaching series, Create the Life You Love.

In this private series, we'll dive even deeper into topics like:

• Why you feel stuck and how to move forward

• Stop Waiting for Permission

• Quiet the Voice That Holds You Back

• Rediscover Who You Are

• Build the Life You Actually Want

• Your Next Chapter Starts Today

Each episode is designed to help you build confidence, change the way you think about yourself, and take practical steps toward creating a life you truly love.

Become a paid subscriber here:https://juliemarvel.substack.com/foundingmember

Thank you for listening. If this episode encouraged you, I'd love for you to share it with a friend who may need to hear it today.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit juliemarvel.substack.com/subscribe

Have you ever noticed that two people can go through similar challenges and come away with completely different perspectives?

In this episode, Julie explores why that happens and how becoming mentally strong begins with the thoughts we practice every day. Drawing from her own journey and what she's been learning about the Reticular Activating System (RAS), she explains how our brains filter the world through the beliefs we hold about ourselves—and why changing those beliefs can change our future.

If you've ever caught yourself thinking, "It's too late for me," "I'm not confident," or "Nothing ever works out," this episode will help you recognize those patterns and replace them with thoughts that support the life you want to create.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why negative thinking becomes a habit without us even realizing it.

• How the Reticular Activating System (RAS) influences what you notice and believe.

• The connection between your thoughts, your identity, and your actions.

• Why mentally strong women don't eliminate negative thoughts—they learn how to challenge them.

• A simple exercise to help you interrupt destructive thinking and begin building a healthier mindset.

This Week's Challenge

Pay attention to three negative thoughts that come up throughout your day.

Write each one down and ask yourself:

"Is this actually true, or is it a story I've been telling myself?"

Then replace it with a thought that is both truthful and empowering.

Small shifts in your thinking create lasting changes in the person you're becoming.

If this episode encouraged you, I'd love to hear from you. Join the conversation on Substack and share one thought you're choosing to replace this week. We become mentally stronger together, one decision and one thought at a time.

https://substack.com/@juliemarvel

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit juliemarvel.substack.com/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit juliemarvel.substack.com/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit juliemarvel.substack.com/subscribe

Have you ever found yourself questioning every decision you make? After a major life transition, it’s easy to lose confidence in your own instincts. Whether you’ve experienced divorce, grief, an empty nest, retirement, or simply feel like you’ve lost your direction, rebuilding trust in yourself is one of the most important steps toward creating a meaningful next chapter.

In this episode, I share why so many women stop trusting themselves and how to begin finding that inner confidence again. We talk about quieting the outside noise, letting go of the need for constant advice and approval, and learning to hear your own wisdom. Trust isn’t built by making perfect decisions. It’s built one small choice at a time as you prove to yourself that you can handle whatever comes next.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why life transitions often cause us to question ourselves• How outside opinions can drown out your own inner voice• The importance of slowing down, journaling, and creating quiet space• Why keeping promises to yourself builds lasting confidence• Simple ways to begin trusting yourself again, one decision at a time

If this episode encouraged you, I’d love for you to subscribe to The Julie Marvel Podcast and leave a review. You can also join me on Substack, where I share weekly articles, conversations, and a growing community of women supporting one another through life’s transitions.

Follow me on Substack:

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit juliemarvel.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to Day 1 of my series, From Lonely to Leadership.

In this first episode, I’m taking you back to one of the hardest seasons of my life. After my divorce, I found myself feeling incredibly alone. I had spent years building a life around my family, and suddenly I was asking the same questions so many women ask during life’s biggest transitions: Who am I now? Where do I belong? And how do I start over?

I had no idea that one small decision would eventually change the course of my life.

This is the beginning of the story behind how a lonely woman looking for connection eventually built a community that brought thousands of women together, and the lessons I learned along the way.

If you’ve ever felt lonely, disconnected, or wondered if it’s too late to begin again, I hope this series reminds you that your next chapter may be closer than you think.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit juliemarvel.substack.com/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit juliemarvel.substack.com/subscribe

Thank you for joining me for today’s episode of the Julie Marvel Podcast.

If something in this conversation encouraged you, I would be so grateful if you would subscribe to the podcast and leave a review. Every review helps more women discover these conversations and reminds them that they don’t have to navigate life’s transitions alone.

If you’re ready to take the next step in your own journey, I’ve created a free webinar and workbook bundle to help you gain clarity, rediscover what’s possible, and begin creating your next chapter with confidence.

You can register using the link in the show notes.

Remember...

You are not starting over.

You are stepping into everything your life has prepared you for.

I’d love to connect with you.

Website:

https://www.stepintogracemedia.com

Free Webinar + Workbook:https://www.stepintogracemedia.com/offers/EVivNHqy/checkout

Join The Grace Community:https://www.stepintogracemedia.com/sales-page

Follow along for more inspiration, encouragement, and conversations designed to help you create a life you truly love.

Until next time,

Julie Marvel

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit juliemarvel.substack.com/subscribe

Why Vulnerability Creates Connection

Episode Description

Have you ever sat in a room full of people and felt entirely alone?

In this episode of The Julie Marvel Podcast, we are diving into the hidden "secret sauce" of building deeply meaningful adult friendships: vulnerability. As women, we are so beautifully practiced at holding everything together, acting as the caretakers, the organizers, and the pillars of strength for everyone else. But sometimes, that polished exterior accidentally becomes a wall that keeps out the very connections we are craving.

Join Julie as she pulls back the curtain on why connection rarely begins with perfection, how one honest moment can transform a room full of strangers, and how to gently let your guard down so your people can finally find you.

Key Takeaways From This Episode

The Perfection Paradox: People don’t actually connect with our polished successes; they connect with our shared humanity.

The Power of Going First: Everyone in the room is usually hoping for a real connection while carefully protecting themselves from being seen. Real intimacy begins when someone chooses to be honest first.

Healthy Vulnerability vs. Over-sharing: True vulnerability isn't about exposing your deepest secrets to strangers. It’s simply having the courage to say, "You know what? This season has been a little hard."

Breaking Down the Walls: How our greatest strengths—being hyper-capable and dependable—can inadvertently isolate us during major midlife transitions like divorce, relocation, or an empty nest.

Connect & Take Your Next Step

🌟 Join Us This Wednesday: Your Next Chapter Live

You do not have to navigate life's big transitions or figure out your next chapter all by yourself. This Wednesday, we are gathering on Zoom for a live, face-to-face conversation with an incredible group of women who are navigating reinvention right alongside you. There is absolutely no pressure and no performance—just a warm, safe space to connect with women who truly get it. 👉 Click Here to Save Your Spot for Your Next Chapter Live

📱 Stay Connected

Subscribe: Don't miss a single day of this journey! Hit the subscribe button right here on Substack to get every episode delivered straight to your inbox.

Share the Love: If this message resonated with you, please share it with a friend who might need a reminder that she isn't alone today.

Join the Conversation: Leave a comment below and share your thoughts—where in your life are you practicing a little more honesty this week?

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit juliemarvel.substack.com/subscribe