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 used to treat the end-of-year shutdown like a sacred window of possibility.
Two full weeks. Wide open days. Long stretches of quiet where I could finally, finally, catch up on my business.
In my mind, it was going to be magical.
Coffee. Comfy clothes. Deep work.
A clean house. A long beach walk (or three). Maybe even a bookstore afternoon because…why not?
I had it all planned out.
And then, life laughed.
My husband, who never gets long breaks, somehow managed to get almost the same days off. A Christmas miracle for him, and a plot twist for me.
Suddenly, my dreamy work retreat? Gone.
Because he wasn’t going to sit there watching me update offers while he twiddled his thumbs. We started planning a trip outside the city. Day outings. Time together.
And honestly? This wasn’t the first time my “perfect time to work on the business” fantasy collapsed.
Ever notice how that happens?
You map out a golden week, and then the universe taps you on the shoulder like, “Cute. Try again.”
People love to say:
“Just wait for the right season. You need uninterrupted time.”
So I tried that, waited… planned… hoped…
And nothing changed.
Meanwhile, the guilt grew louder.
The frustration grew sharper.
And the dream? Still sitting there, untouched.
At some point, I had to ask myself:
Why am I expecting perfect conditions when my life has never worked that way?
And little by little, I have realized the following:
The perfect time isn’t coming.
But progress? Progress is always available.
Tiny pockets. Half hours. Non-negotiables.
Slow and steady, like water shaping stone.
And you know what? It’s working.
My offers are evolving. My systems are taking shape. I’m actually proud of what I’ve built this month, without disappearing for six months or going monk mode.
So here’s the real lesson:
Consistency isn’t about ideal seasons.
It’s about learning to move with the season you’re in.
And if you’re showing up in small ways today?
You’re already building something big.
I’m cheering for you, always.
Ruth 🌸
Reflect
- Where am I waiting for the perfect time instead of using the time I actually have?
- What small, doable action could I complete today that would move my business forward, even just 1%?
Reframe
Old belief: “I need a long stretch of uninterrupted time to make real progress.”
New belief: “I can create progress in imperfect moments, consistently, quietly, and sustainably.”
Old belief: “If life interrupts my plans, I’m falling behind.”
New belief: “Life will interrupt my plans, and I can keep moving anyway, at a pace that respects my reality.”
Actionable Transformation
- Shrink the window, not the goal.
If you can’t do three hours, do twenty minutes. Momentum grows in small pockets.
- Create two lists: non-negotiables and slow burns.
Non-negotiables keep your business alive. Slow burns move it forward. Touch both weekly.
- Stop waiting for “ideal conditions.”
They rarely come. Build systems that work in your real life, not your imaginary one.
News
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The best part? It’s 100% free from December 15-18.
👉 Join the waitlist for The Holiday Abundance Bundle.
P.S. If you’re waiting for the perfect moment, consider this your sign, progress begins the moment you use what you already have
If you want more of these bite-sized lessons and mindset shifts, I share daily over on X. Come hang out with me there → Follow me on X.
