Growing with Sol

Stories that Shape Us: What A Magical Girl Retires Teaches About Radical Self-Acceptance and Choosing Yourself

In this Stories That Shape Us episode, I'm breaking down A Magical Girl Retires by Park Seolyeon, a book about depression, hope, and stepping into your power when you least expect it. The unnamed protagonist is 29, depressed, drowning in debt. As a 35-year-old American with three degrees, hard relate. She's saved from attempting suicide by a clairvoyant magical girl and discovers she might be the one who saves the world. 🚨 Major spoiler alert for A Magical Girl Retires and trigger warning for attempted suicide. What this book teaches about hope and transformation: * By the mere act of trying, there is hope—persistence shows something worth living for * You dare to hope then boom disappointment—that quick switch to "yeah that makes sense" * From suicidal self-doubt to saving the world, then choosing yourself by retiring The story shows that for those of us struggling with depression and mental health challenges, we can't deny how much hope we still have. The mere fact that you keep moving forward shows there's still a kernel of self-love, love for your dog, friends, family, something beautiful enough to keep going. Even if it doesn't feel good. Subscribe. Share. Remember that finding hope in unexpected places and choosing yourself, even after achieving something amazing, is radical self-acceptance. Small steps, big healing. Keep growing! ✨ Join the conversation! What book unexpectedly taught you about hope? DM me on Instagram @YourCoachMari! 🎧 Related episode: Embracing the Dichotomy: How to Hold Space for All of Yourself [https://open.spotify.com/episode/45JzdEEHqsN25Am0RQVvhP?si=eb076705f87149c8] 💬 LET'S CONNECT: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/yourcoachmari/] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@yourcoachmari] | Growing with Sol Podcast [https://www.instagram.com/growingwithsolpod/] Buy Me a Cafecito [https://hustling-innovator-3453.kit.com/products/buy-me-a-cafecito] We might just have the same taste in books Check out my Book List [https://bookshop.org/shop/Marisol-Book-List] (Bookshop affiliate) 🌱 LET’S GROW TOGETHER: Schedule your discovery call [https://calendly.com/yourcoachmari/30-minute-discovery-call]

Embracing the Dichotomy: Holding Space for All of Yourself (Even the Parts That Don't Make Sense)

Do you ever struggle with loving yourself at the beginning of your healing journey when you're not a finished product? That constant feeling of not being good enough, not worthy, not deserving, even of things you've worked for. One day you feel confident like "Yeah, one step at a time, let's go." The next day you feel so low: "Is this even for me? Maybe I'm not meant to get better." The highs and lows of healing and transformation: * Happens at beginning stages when you want change but haven't gotten there yet * Affects your mood, mental space, and progress creating a vicious cycle * High achievers attach self-worth to achievement—slow progress triggers self-hatred I also talk about being a writer. It feels like a "was" even though it's an "is." I lost my creativity in a toxic relationship and it took years to heal it back. Now I get frustrated with myself for not writing "enough", even though I recognize my life is busier and I need more sleep now than I did before. Subscribe. Share. Remember that radical self-acceptance means you can have love for yourself now while you are at the beginning of your journey. Small steps, big healing. Keep growing! ✨ Join the conversation! How do you practice self-acceptance during transformation? DM me on Instagram @YourCoachMari [https://www.instagram.com/yourcoachmari/]! 💬 LET'S CONNECT: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/yourcoachmari/] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@yourcoachmari] | Growing with Sol Podcast [https://www.instagram.com/growingwithsolpod/] Buy Me a Cafecito [https://hustling-innovator-3453.kit.com/products/buy-me-a-cafecito] We might just have the same taste in books Check out my Book List [https://bookshop.org/shop/Marisol-Book-List] (Bookshop affiliate) 🌱 LET’S GROW TOGETHER: Schedule your discovery call [https://calendly.com/yourcoachmari/30-minute-discovery-call]

Soft Life vs. Hustle Culture: Who Actually Gets to Opt Out?

You want the soft life. You're tired of hustling. I texted my friend this morning: "Girl, I wish I had one job that paid for everything." But who actually gets to have a soft life? And is it even possible for most of us right now? What we're unpacking about soft life vs hustle culture: * Trad wife isn't soft life, it's unpaid labor unless you're wealthy enough to hire help for everything * Who gets to opt out, successful influencers can slow down, but most of us are working multiple jobs just to make ends meet * Economic reality check, gas prices, living expenses increasing, gig work most accessible, we're hustling just to afford life Influencers are finally being honest that there's no such thing as work-life balance. Sometimes work demands everything, sometimes life does. You can't have a perfect 50/50 pie chart. And for most of us right now? Not having a soft life is just a fact of life. But that doesn't mean you can't work toward it, financial baseline, knowing your security number, recalibrating how you hustle. Subscribe. Share. Remember that hustling to make ends meet isn't something to be ashamed of. Small steps, big healing. Keep growing! ✨ Join the conversation! Are you in your hustling era or have you found your soft life? DM me on Instagram @YourCoachMari [https://www.instagram.com/yourcoachmari/]! 💬 LET'S CONNECT: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/yourcoachmari/] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@yourcoachmari] | Growing with Sol Podcast [https://www.instagram.com/growingwithsolpod/] Buy Me a Cafecito [https://hustling-innovator-3453.kit.com/products/buy-me-a-cafecito] We might just have the same taste in books Check out my Book List [https://bookshop.org/shop/Marisol-Book-List] (Bookshop affiliate) 🌱 LET’S GROW TOGETHER: Schedule your discovery call [https://calendly.com/yourcoachmari/30-minute-discovery-call]

Single, Centered, and Whole: Decentering Men in 2026

Life becomes a waiting game. Waiting for texts, commitment, apologies, explanations. Always from someone who isn't really interested in getting back to you. So what does decentering men actually mean, and how do you do it without giving up on wanting love? What decentering men really is: * Men stop being the reference point for what you do, look like, where you go, what you tolerate, and prioritize * Not outsourcing your worth to male attention or treating relationships as your main source of life success * Not shrinking yourself to keep someone else comfortable I also talk about why this feels louder now. Emotional burnout from being the project manager of connection. Information everywhere, we're comparing notes in real time and can't be gaslit as easily. Economic reality where relationships add stress instead of support. And what you actually reclaim: time, money, body autonomy, ambition, deeper friendships, and peace. Single isn't a consolation prize, it's your home base. Subscribe. Share. Remember that you're not behind for being single, not incomplete, and not waiting for life to start. Small steps, big healing. Keep growing! ✨ Join the conversation! What are you reclaiming by decentering men? DM me on Instagram @YourCoachMari [https://www.instagram.com/yourcoachmari/]! 💬 LET'S CONNECT: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/yourcoachmari/] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@yourcoachmari] | Growing with Sol Podcast [https://www.instagram.com/growingwithsolpod/] Buy Me a Cafecito [https://hustling-innovator-3453.kit.com/products/buy-me-a-cafecito] We might just have the same taste in books Check out my Book List [https://bookshop.org/shop/Marisol-Book-List] (Bookshop affiliate) 🌱 LET’S GROW TOGETHER: Schedule your discovery call [https://calendly.com/yourcoachmari/30-minute-discovery-call]

Hot Girl Walks & Wellness Trends: Is Your Wellness Practice Empowering or Just Expensive?

Hot girl walks. Pilates. Korean skincare. Wellness trends are everywhere, and they all promise empowerment. But when does a helpful practice stop being about your wellbeing and start being about someone else's bottom line? What we're unpacking about the wellness industrial complex: * When aesthetic and gear become more important than the actual practice * Paywalling basic things like hydration and movement as luxury * Turning missed days into failure when systemic barriers are the real problem I also talk about how wellness trends targeting women are tied to beauty standards. Post-COVID brought thinness back as health. "Good outfit or is she just thin?" Rest is something you earn, not something healthy. Moral virtue gets attached to how "well" you perform wellness. Subscribe. Share. Remember that wellness is a relationship with yourself, not with your gear. Small steps, big healing. Keep growing! ✨ Join the conversation! What wellness trend have you questioned lately? DM me on Instagram @YourCoachMari [https://www.instagram.com/yourcoachmari/]! 💬 LET'S CONNECT: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/yourcoachmari/] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@yourcoachmari] | Growing with Sol Podcast [https://www.instagram.com/growingwithsolpod/] Buy Me a Cafecito [https://hustling-innovator-3453.kit.com/products/buy-me-a-cafecito] We might just have the same taste in books Check out my Book List [https://bookshop.org/shop/Marisol-Book-List] (Bookshop affiliate) 🌱 LET’S GROW TOGETHER: Schedule your discovery call [https://calendly.com/yourcoachmari/30-minute-discovery-call]