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,
One of the most painful failures of my life had nothing to do with competence. It was a failure of expression.
When I was in college, I joined the engineering honor society.
Over time, I became a volunteer. Then, part of the leadership team. We ran community events, leadership programs, and career initiatives.
I cared deeply about the work.
One day, the chapter president asked me to run for president. He said I had the vision, the relationships, and the direction.
I believed him.
But there was one problem. I had to present my ideas and propositions in a general assembly. I had never spoken publicly in a large auditorium before. And I had no idea how to communicate vision.
I worked for weeks on that speech. Slides. Structure. Potential projects. I poured everything into it.
The presentation day came.
My computer cable burned while setting up. The auditorium was packed. No one paid attention. People were mostly there for free lunch.
I rushed through it. Cut it short. Felt the disconnect immediately.
A friend later asked, “What was that?”
I didn’t win. It was heartbreaking.
Because my intention was real. My vision was real. My effort was real.
But something didn’t land.
Years later, I finally understood why.
You can care deeply.
You can have value.
You can even be clear.
And still fail to connect.
Because clarity isn’t the same as resonance.
That experience mirrors what many creators do today.
You start with real knowledge, a real desire to help. But you are unsure how to express it. Then, the path is pretty much the same: you copy templates, follow hacks, and chase volume.
Your message becomes correct. But empty.
People understand your words. They just don’t feel them.
And when engagement drops, the instinct is simple:
Post more. Do more. Give more. But posting more rarely fixes misalignment.
What helps? Pause and audit your message:
- Is this rooted in lived experience or borrowed language?
- Does it reflect my values or just trends?
- What emotion does my message carry?
- Do I feel grounded when I publish?
Resonance happens when something true meets someone ready.
Your audience does not need more generic content.
They need content that feels human.
Until next time, keep blooming,
Ruth
Reflect
- Where in my content am I prioritizing being clear instead of being felt?
- What part of my story or experience am I holding back that could deepen the connection?
Reframe
Old belief: More content creates more connection.
New belief: Better alignment creates connection.
Old belief: Messaging is information delivery.
New belief: Messaging is emotional transmission.
In Other News
If your content feels clear but not felt, this is for you. The Resonant Gap Audit helps you see the space between what you mean and what actually lands, so your message connects at a deeper level. You can download it for free here.
The third episode of my podcast is live! This week, I am discussing the 7 Signs Your Messaging Isn’t Connecting. If you’re a coach, course creator, writer, or solopreneur who wants your content to feel aligned, authentic, and impactful, this episode will help you bridge the gap between what you say and what lands.
P.S. Clear content is nice. Resonant content gets remembered.
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