Meet Marie Thouvenot

We recently connected with Marie Thouvenot and have shared our conversation below.

Marie, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.

First, I want to point out that confidence and self-esteem, while often used interchangeably, are actually quite different. Simply put, confidence is about believing in your ability to do something, while self-esteem is about your sense of worth as a person.

Growing up, I was a shy kid who avoided drawing attention to myself. I had to actively work on building both my confidence and self-esteem. My self-esteem began to grow when I learned (with the help of professionals) to let go of worrying about what others thought of me. It’s also about surrounding yourself with caring people, practicing self-care, and being mindful of how you talk to yourself.

Confidence, on the other hand, is something you build by taking small, brave steps. One of the biggest misconceptions is that you have to feel confident before you can do something. The truth is: confidence comes after you take action. When you face something that scares you, even in a small way, and realize you were able to do it, that’s when confidence begins to grow.

For me, this is an ongoing process. I’ve learned that it’s perfectly okay to take action even when you don’t feel confident about it. Growth doesn’t require perfection. It just requires that first step, no matter how small.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

Hi, I’m Marie! I’m a health and life coach as well as a hypnosis practitioner. My passion is helping people feel better and take meaningful action toward their goals by addressing the unconscious blocks that might be holding them back. Whether it’s through hypnosis or coaching, I work with the most powerful driver of our thoughts, emotions and behaviors: the unconscious mind.

I offer individual virtual sessions from the comfort of your home. What excites me most about this work is its transformative power. The process is so soothing and light. It’s full of metaphors, stories, and deep relaxation. But it creates real, lasting changes in how people feel and live their lives.

What I love most is that these shifts happen in a short amount of time. The goal isn’t to spend endless hours working on yourself; it’s to free yourself so you can truly live your life.

Recently, I’ve expanded my offerings to include group hypnosis sessions and MP3s on specific themes, making this work even more accessible for busy people. It’s incredible how much can change when we gently and effectively tap into the unconscious mind and release what’s been holding us back.

I’m so grateful to do work that helps people reconnect with themselves, their strengths, and their goals. It’s amazing to witness those moments when people feel lighter, more focused, and more at peace with themselves.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, I’d say three qualities or skills have been the most impactful in my journey: adaptability, curiosity, and self-awareness.

Adaptability is one of my strongest strengths, and I credit much of it to my travels and living abroad. Experiencing different cultures opens your mind to new ways of thinking and doing things. It challenges you to rethink your own habits and beliefs, which is invaluable in both life and work. For anyone wanting to develop adaptability, I’d recommend taking chances, whether that’s through travel, trying something new, or simply being open to change. Flexibility is a skill you build by embracing the unknown.

Another key trait is curiosity. I love learning new things. It keeps my mind sharp and constantly expands my perspective. Curiosity doesn’t have to be formal. It can be as simple as asking more questions, signing up for a class that excites you, or even engaging in conversations with friends, neighbors, or strangers. Staying curious about life makes everything richer.

Lastly, I’ve learned to listen to myself and my body. This wasn’t an easy skill to master, but it’s been life changing. Learning to sit with an emotion, observe it, and notice what’s happening in your body — where you feel it and how it shifts — teaches you so much about yourself. Over time, this practice helps you connect with your inner voice and discern what feels right or wrong for you. My advice? Start small. Practice sitting with your emotions without judgment. It’s uncomfortable at first, but it’s one of the most valuable skills you can develop.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

When I feel overwhelmed, it’s usually because I’m dealing with conflicting priorities and can’t decide what to tackle first. Everything feels urgent and important, and before I know it, I’m either stressing myself out by trying to rush through everything or procrastinating and doing nothing at all, which only makes the overwhelm worse.

When this happens, the first thing I do is pause and check in with myself. I take a moment to feel the overwhelm in my body. For me, it usually shows up as a tightness in my chest. I take some deep breaths to help release that tension.

Next, I grab a pen and paper and write down everything that’s swirling around in my head. Getting it out of my head and onto paper is a game changer. It helps me see things more clearly. Once I have my list, I go through it and ask myself: What can I cross out? What can I postpone? What can I delegate? That helps me narrow it down to what truly needs my attention.

Then, I prioritize the remaining tasks and create a simple action plan. I also look for ways to batch similar tasks or break larger projects into smaller, more manageable steps. This makes the workload feel less intimidating and helps me make progress. You only need to do the next best step; however small it might be.

I’ve also learned that taking care of myself regularly is essential. When I neglect self-care, I notice that I don’t handle unexpected challenges as well, and my ability to stay calm and focused decreases. Keeping up with things like rest, good nutrition, and time to recharge is what allows me to face overwhelm with more clarity and resilience.

If I had one piece of advice, it’s this: Don’t let overwhelm live in your head. Write it down, break it into smaller steps, and see where you can simplify or combine tasks. And don’t underestimate the power of pausing to breathe and reassess. Taking that time to step back can make a huge difference in how you move forward.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

DC Photograph
Delphine Francois Photography

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Resilience
Where do you get your resilience from?

Resilience is often the x-factor that differentiates between mild and wild success. The stories of

Productivity
Beating Burnout

Often the key to having massive impact is the ability to keep going when others

Leadership Development
Finding Your Why

Not knowing why you are going wherever it is that you are going sounds silly,