Welcome to the Blooming Mindset, a weekly dose of clarity, mindset, and practical wisdom to help you stay consistent, think more deeply, and build a life aligned with your identity and purpose. I'm Ruth Rieckehoff, and I'm so glad you're here. Please share this newsletter with a friend!
Beloved Architect of Identity,
I’ve got a little confession to make...
My most famous dish, the one people begged me to bring to potlucks?
Started with a box.
Yep. A boxed Jambalaya rice mix from the grocery store.
It came with the rice and seasonings all in one. All I had to do was add protein, a few fresh veggies, tweak the flavor, and voilà: magic.
At first, I only made it because my husband loved Jambalaya, and I didn’t have two hours and a gallon of sweat to make it from scratch on a Tuesday night.
But it turned out really good.
So good, in fact, that I kept making it. I started switching up the sausage, adding more peppers, playing with the spice. The base stayed the same, but I made it mine.
Then one day, for a big potluck, my husband suggested I bring the rice dish.
I hesitated.
I mean… could I really show up with something that started from a box?
But I did it anyway. And it was an instant hit.
People went back for seconds. Then thirds. And then came the questions: “This is amazing! What’s the recipe?”
And I’d say something vague like…
“Oh, it’s just rice with sausage and spices. Super easy!”
But I never told the whole truth.
I never said it started from a boxed mix.
Why?
Because some part of me believed the lie we’ve all been told:
“If it’s not 100% from scratch, it doesn’t count.”
“Real creativity means starting with nothing.”
“Using effort-saving methods means you’re not really talented.”
So I kept quiet.
I stayed stuck in this weird shame spiral, like my rice dish was somehow fake.
But looking back now?
That box was a framework. A launchpad. A time-saver.
It wasn’t the end product. It was the beginning.
And that’s the mindset shift that changed everything for me.
You don’t need to start from scratch to be legit.
You don’t need to invent the spice blend to make something beautiful.
You just need to start. Use what’s available. Add your own twist.
Make it yours.
Because truthfully?
That box didn’t feed people. I did.
It wasn’t the base that made it special.
It was how I brought it to life.
And that same idea applies to your content. Your work. Your business. Your art.
Templates, frameworks, blueprints, they’re not crutches.
They’re creative tools. They save time, spark ideas, and free up your energy to do what really matters.
So if you’ve been waiting to “build from scratch” before you start creating...
Let me ask you:
Why make it more complicated than it needs to be?
Start from the box.
Make it your own.
Serve it with pride.
Because what matters most is the result, and the people you're here to serve.
You’ve got this.
And I’m always cheering for you.
Until next week! Keep blooming!
Ruth
Reflect
- Where in your life are you avoiding helpful tools or frameworks out of fear of being seen as “less original”?
- What would become possible if you let go of the shame around starting with a template?
Reframe
Old Belief:
If I don’t start from scratch, I’m not a real creator.
New Belief:
If I adapt what exists and create something useful, I am a real creator, resourceful, thoughtful, and generous.
Actionable Transformation
- Start with a template: Pick one area, content creation, writing, design, cooking, and find a high-quality template or framework. Use it unapologetically.
- Add your flavor: Just like I added spices and peppers, tweak the tool to suit your voice, audience, or style. Make it work for you.
- Teach from it: Instead of hiding your process, share it. You’ll build more trust and help others skip the painful parts you once struggled through.
Products & Resources
Trust Yourself Again: A self-guided journey to rebuild self-trust from the inside out, so you can stop second-guessing and start showing up with quiet confidence.
Rooted Planning Kit: A simple, soulful system to map your month with intention without the overwhelm. Designed to ground your goals in what actually matters.
Bounce Back Blueprint (Free): Feel like you've fallen off track? This powerful reset guide helps you regroup with compassion and get back into aligned momentum your way.
From Reactive to Rooted (Free): Tired of putting out fires? This mindset and action guide helps you shift from scattered to strategic, so your days flow from clarity, not chaos.
P.S. This is one of the key shifts I teach inside my Rooted Flow System: how to use smart frameworks (like the Eisenhower Matrix) to reduce overwhelm, simplify your day, and stay in flow without burnout. If you’re tired of trying to “build everything from scratch,” this might be the breath of fresh air you’ve been craving.
Wanna take a peek? [Check it out here for free]
P.S.S. If this story resonates with you, keep in mind that I help creators with simple systems that allow them to get things done. We do depth, clarity, and results. Join the conversation: Follow me on X.
