Episode 2

When You Outgrow People

Have you ever noticed that a relationship that used to feel easy and natural now feels heavy and draining? Not because anything went wrong. Not because anyone did anything hurtful. Just because somewhere along the way you changed and the relationship did not change with you.

In this episode Marilyn talks honestly about one of the most human and least discussed experiences we go through. Outgrowing people we love. She walks us through the guilt and grief that come with it, what our options actually are when we find ourselves here, and how to navigate it all with honesty and compassion for everyone involved.

This episode is not about cutting people off or deciding someone is not good enough. It is about giving ourselves permission to keep growing even when it is complicated. And about finding the courage to be honest about where we are.

In this episode:

  • Why outgrowing someone is not a betrayal and what it actually is
  • The guilt and grief that come with outgrowing a relationship and why both deserve to be acknowledged
  • A real look at what this feels like in a longtime friendship when one person grows and the other stays the same
  • What happens when growth disrupts a long established family dynamic
  • Four honest options for what to do when we realize we have outgrown someone
  • How to use the bubble method for the guilt and grief of letting a relationship shift
  • Six practical ways to navigate outgrowing someone with grace and compassion

This week's takeaway:

We cannot grow and stay the same at the same time. The most loving thing we can do for ourselves and for the people we are outgrowing is to be honest about where we are. Outgrowing someone is not a betrayal. It is a sign that we are becoming. And becoming is always worth honoring.

Connect with Marilyn:

www.MarilynBarker.com

Hashtags:

#PutItInABubble #MentalHealth #WhenYouOutgrowPeople #PersonalGrowth #LetItGo #MindsetShift #MentalWellness #Relationships #GrowthMindset #OutgrowingRelationships #BecomingYourself #SelfDiscovery #EmotionalHealth #YouDeserveMore #BlowItAway

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Put it in a bubble
Life, Mindset & Everything In Between

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About your host

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Marilyn Barker

Marilyn Barker is an author, speaker, business consultant, motivational coach, and the creator of Put It in a Bubble™. Through her books, podcast, workshops, and coaching, she helps people create space, shift their perspective, process difficult moments, and take intentional steps forward.
Put It in a Bubble™ is built around a simple idea: you do not have to carry everything at once. Marilyn encourages listeners to pause, decide what deserves their energy, take action where needed, and release what they no longer need to hold onto.
Her approach is practical, encouraging, and grounded in real life. The goal is not to ignore hard things or force positivity, but to handle challenges with more awareness, stronger self-talk, greater resilience, and a clearer sense of what comes next.
Marilyn is the founder of Barker Business Services LLC, which serves as the umbrella for her consulting, speaking, educational resources, books, and the Put It in a Bubble™ brand.

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