The Resilience and Grit Podcast

19. Gratitude and Grit: Fuel for Hard Times

In this episode, I’m reflecting on something that has become absolutely essential in my own life: gratitude. I share three powerful reasons why gratitude matters so much to me: * Gratitude can help carry us through hard times * The best way to receive more of what we want in life is to become deeply grateful for what we already have * Gratitude has the power to interrupt negative thinking and rewire how we see the world This episode is for anyone who: * Feels emotionally drained or discouraged * Wants more peace and grounding * Is walking through a hard season * Finds themselves stuck in negative thinking * Needs a reminder that joy and gratitude can coexist with struggle One thing I know for sure: Gratitude doesn’t erase the hard things. But it absolutely changes how we walk through them. And here's the link to the Gratitude Journal [https://www.amazon.com/Gratitude-Journal-Catherine-Price/dp/081186720X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2VBLHUL82A3LZ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Q7GhLqWI9pE5a54_YJaXNHo3znIngwOaRAnjH50StJBMc1O11eu2AqYjb0PFh84Qhwj9Vc4frVj1djeKCh2QXOlKDZ-X5hRFaWPCdCPmI-rwBH53ntjrPRgH29_jN3kQjb1KlzwWhR14VOOPtI7cr5Tv_TLp1BAqrjvilUB0oA27natk7VhKq3ewYUQ19J13o4Z0Po5uLEx9gy05wZlU7f3_2ii8MmOtm0a5dHrJ4g4.jHvy8Fm5h7N-r61Ssc7rj0iiZVi9Wim2U2HVErK5B80&dib_tag=se&keywords=gratitude+a+journal+by+chronicle+books&qid=1779931962&s=books&sprefix=gratitude+a+journal+by+chronicle+books%2Cstripbooks%2C92&sr=1-1] I mentioned and love it (...I receive no benefit from promoting this, other than sharing things I love with my listeners). Onward and upward!

18. Courage, Grit and the Day I Became Spider Woman

In this episode of The Resilience and Grit Podcast, I share the story of attending a personal development seminar years ago with my friend Laura and several others… and the unforgettable day we tackled a high ropes adventure course. What started as a morning of exhaustion, shaky nerves quickly turned into one of the most memorable moments of my life. Faced with the decision between the smaller “Chicken Little” climb or a towering 30+ foot telephone pole and trapeze jump, I somehow found myself climbing higher and higher until I was standing at the very top of a giant telephone pole, balancing above the ground with my heart pounding. I felt like Spider Woman. Somewhere during that experience, something shifted in me. It was one of the first moments I realized I wanted more adventure, more courage, more aliveness and less of the things (like alcohol) that were draining my energy and spirit. This episode is about: • Courage before confidence • Doing hard things even when conditions are far from perfect • Why growth often begins with discomfort • The surprising clarity that can come from challenge • And how one terrifying leap helped shape the direction of my life Sometimes resilience begins the moment we decide to climb anyway. 🎙️💕

17. Hiking the Inca Trail in Peru: Mountains, Meaning and Machu Picchu

What started as a hiking adventure in Peru became something much deeper. In this episode (and that's Percy and Edson on today's podcast cover), I share the story of trekking the legendary Inca Trail to Machu Picchu--from acclimating to the altitude in Cusco, to climbing up, up, up to Dead Woman’s Pass at nearly 14,000 feet, to finally arriving at the breathtaking Sun Gate entrance overlooking Machu Picchu. Along the way, I reflect on: * The physical and emotional challenge of the trek * The beauty and brilliance of the Incan civilization * What resilience is really built from * Why hard adventures can change us from the inside out This episode is about more than hiking. It’s about mountains, meaning, growth, and the realization that sometimes we come home from an adventure not depleted, but deeply alive. If you love hiking, travel, culture, or stories of resilience and transformation, this episode is for you (and I'm linking Episode 1 below--my Kilimanjaro trek story. Oof!) Until next time… onward and upward. --Links for You!-- If you'd like to hear my Kilimanjaro story, here's Episode 1: The Summit I Didn't Reach - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1-the-summit-i-didnt-reach-lasting-lessons-from-kilimanjaro/id1868855299?i=1000745071237 Interested in doing the Inca Trail? Here's the trip link to the company I went with--fantastic! https://iantaylortrekking.com/inca-trail/classic-5-day-inca-trail-trek/

16. Pressing Through Being Stuck

Oof! This episode took me four hours to record. Not because it was long… but because I kept stopping. Starting. Stopping again. Distracting myself. Chicken soup. Gourmet marshmallows from a gift box my friend Amanda sent me. A walk for fresh air. And somewhere in all of that, I realized… This is resilience and grit. Not the polished moments. Not when everything flows. But showing up again and again when it’s not working. Stuck. Coming back after you’ve avoided. Choosing done over perfect. In this episode: * Why perfectionism keeps us stuck * What avoidance really looks like * How resilience happens in real time A question for you: Where are you stuck trying to get it just right? What would one imperfect step look like today? Oh, and that amazing gift box I mentioned from my friend Amanda? Here's the link to the company (again, no benefit coming back to me for sharing...I just love giving props to things I love): https://wildgirlgifts.com/

15. Decluttering Your Life: Where Grit Sparks Joy!

In today’s episode, I reflect on the power of decluttering and how it reaches far beyond simply organizing your home. Inspired by the work of Marie Kondo, I share how letting go of what no longer serves us can create clarity, strengthen resilience, and open space for more joy in our lives. This process is not always easy. Decluttering asks us to make decisions, to release attachments, and to be honest about what we are holding onto and why. But on the other side of that work is something powerful: a sense of lightness, clarity, and renewed energy. If you’ve been feeling stuck, overwhelmed or weighed down, this episode is for you. KEY TOPICS * The emotional and mental benefits of decluttering * The “spark joy” principle and how it guides decision-making * Personal transformation through letting go * Maintaining a clutter-free space for ongoing clarity TAKEAWAYS * Decluttering can significantly improve mental clarity and resilience * The “spark joy” principle provides a simple but powerful decision filter * Starting small makes the process manageable and sustainable * Maintaining your space helps sustain emotional and mental benefits over time A SIMPLE CHALLENGE FOR YOU Choose one small space today. A drawer, a shelf, or even your car. Ask yourself, “Does this add value to my life?” If not, consider letting it go. BOOK: The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo [https://www.amazon.com/Life-Changing-Magic-Tidying-Decluttering-Organizing/dp/1607747308/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.LkTjqe6JPBdz61pLDytUkEyHdoEq4r-_ne_R8MCRmChaRPL-MUqjGHA9PfTSvowC9mmSINmopADfQCvltvHwKOzwCi3Zw7qDwZoTUo2O-wVoPzSJcyOYfJoOqVToapmP8TvjtnLMLAYNatjF_BosQ9fRwaRcMUqzK4jjqumLZvndp6BN4XHgpgnXOn2-tV0NNL4g1A9xNQaJio90RuWw477qcVDjhXMTRG6PfNdCyL0.Rde0U5ywTT0pmUXTsOjjLFbGdhzE6quKk1Tn2KXE1-c&dib_tag=se&keywords=life+changing+magic+of+tidying+up&qid=1777496199&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sr=8-1] Here's all my episodes in one online space: https://resilience-and-grit.captivate.fm/ #KathleenDuBois #ResilienceAndGrit