Put it in a bubble

Marilyn Barker

Put it in a Bubble is more than a podcast, it’s a reminder that you don’t have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. Each week, host Marilyn Barker shares stories, practical tools, and mindful strategies to help you release stress, reset your mind, and create space for what truly matters. Life today is noisy and overwhelming. Between work deadlines, family responsibilities, and the endless scroll of news and social media, it can feel impossible to find Focus. That’s where the “bubble” comes in: a simple but powerful practice of gathering up negativity, worry, or fear, and letting it drift away. Every episode offers encouragement, relatable insights, and easy-to-use techniques you can apply in everyday moments, whether it’s calming anxiety before bed, finding balance after a tough day, or learning to say no to what drains your energy. If you’re ready to let go of stress, discover practical ways to find calm, and embrace a more intentional life, this podcast is for you. Together, we’ll build a community that chooses calm and focus over chaos, one bubble at a time.

  1. APR 29

    The Bubble Reset

    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. In This Episode We Talk About• 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 A Gentle ResetThis 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. Reflection Questions• 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? Final ThoughtYou 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. 🫧

    10 min
  2. APR 22

    Letting Go of What You Carry

    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. In This Episode We Talk About• 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 What You Might Be Carrying• 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. Gentle Ways to Begin Letting Go• 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. Reflection Questions• 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? Final ThoughtYou 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. 🫧

    16 min
  3. MAR 18

    The Power of Small Wins

    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. In This Episode We Talk About• 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 Examples of Small WinsSmall 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. Reflection Questions• 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? Final ThoughtProgress 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. 🫧 small wins mindset incremental change how to build habits personal growth motivation building momentum in life small changes big results mindset podcast self improvement tips habit formation put it in a bubble podcast

    13 min
  4. MAR 11

    Returning When You Fall Off Track

    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. In This Episode We Talk About• 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 Gentle Steps to Get Back on TrackIf 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. Reflection Questions• 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? Final ThoughtYou 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. 🫧

    11 min

About

Put it in a Bubble is more than a podcast, it’s a reminder that you don’t have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. Each week, host Marilyn Barker shares stories, practical tools, and mindful strategies to help you release stress, reset your mind, and create space for what truly matters. Life today is noisy and overwhelming. Between work deadlines, family responsibilities, and the endless scroll of news and social media, it can feel impossible to find Focus. That’s where the “bubble” comes in: a simple but powerful practice of gathering up negativity, worry, or fear, and letting it drift away. Every episode offers encouragement, relatable insights, and easy-to-use techniques you can apply in everyday moments, whether it’s calming anxiety before bed, finding balance after a tough day, or learning to say no to what drains your energy. If you’re ready to let go of stress, discover practical ways to find calm, and embrace a more intentional life, this podcast is for you. Together, we’ll build a community that chooses calm and focus over chaos, one bubble at a time.