Advertise on podcast: Grit 'n' Grace: The Podcast for Highly Sensitive Christian Women

How do you learn to trust your creative instincts when you’ve spent years second-guessing the way you’re wired? (After all, there’s no shortage of experts eager to tell you — or sell you — The One "Right" Way to be creative!) But as Highly Sensitive Persons, we notice details, connections, emotions, and possibilities that others may miss. As we learn to trust our perceptions, they can powerfully guide our creative work. Today, fiction author Laura Joy Lloyd joins me as guest co-host. Laura Joy shares how her sensitivity shapes the stories she reads, the characters she writes, and the unconventional writing process she created to honor her gifts, personality, and capacity. Together, we explore how to distinguish wise outside counsel from fear-based pressure, why the “right” creative process may look different for each of us, and what becomes possible when we stop fighting the way we’re wired. What if the creative process that fits you best begins with trusting who God created you to be as an HSP? Resources Mentioned Join Laura Joy's email list https://laurajoylloyd.com/subscribe-to-podcast/ Enjoy Laura Joy's books Interesting Enough https://laurajoylloyd.com/product/interesting-enough/ Far From Unremarkable https://laurajoylloyd.com/product/far-from-unremarkable/ Check out Laura Joy's website https://www.laurajoylloyd.com/ Take the “Am I a Highly Sensitive Person?” Self-Quiz https://CheriGregory.com/hspquiz/ Learn about Cheri's Write Beside You coaching services https://writebesideyou.com/ Chapters (00:00:00) - Grit and Grace: The Creative Process of Highly Sensitive Women(00:02:02) - Copyright 2010 by Amy Tan(00:03:14) - Grit and Grace(00:04:43) - As a Highly Sensitive Person,(00:07:26) - What Do Highly Sensitive People Look For In Stories?(00:13:46) - Writing Like a Proposer(00:16:35) - What Does It Feel Like to Write a Highly Sensitive Story?(00:19:03) - Writing and Popping: Plot and Pants(00:21:51) - How to Plan Your Life as a Writer(00:29:20) - How to Write a Million People's Dreams(00:29:58) - A Highly Sensitive Person's Guide to Writing

How can you manage your home without draining the limited capacity you have as an Highly Sensitive Person? In Part 2 of my conversation with Kathi Lipp, we discuss practical ways HSPs can reduce home-management overwhelm, including: making pre-decisions before guilt and emotion take over, choosing what to keep when possessions carry emotional weight, containing lists, notes, papers, and visible reminders, creating one reliable “source of truth,” and asking for calmer shared spaces without feeling controlling. We also explore what may really be happening when an HSP is labeled “controlling” for needing more calm at home—and how to communicate our sensory needs with clarity and compassion. This episode will help you approach home management with greater self-awareness, more realistic expectations, and less shame about what your uniquely-wired nervous system needs. Links to Resources Mentioned: Kathi Lipp's Clutter Free Academy Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/clutterfreeacademy Order Kathi's book Clutter Free: Quick and Easy Steps for Simplifying Your Space https://www.amazon.com/Clutter-Free-Quick-Steps-Simplifying/dp/0736959130/ Check out Kathi's Website: https://kathilipp.com/ https://kathilipp.com/ Take the “Am I a Highly Sensitive Person?” Self-Quiz https://CheriGregory.com/hspquiz/ Learn about the Sensitive & Strong Community Cafe https://sensitiveandstrongbook.com/sensitive-strong-community-cafe/ Chapters (00:00:00) - How to Manage Your Home (For Highly Sensitive People)(00:01:58) - With Kathy Lipp: Home Management and the Highly Sensitive Person(00:04:00) - How to Pre-Decide When to Clean or Vacuum(00:07:04) - PreDecisions for Your Dad and His(00:12:39) - Pre-Deciding(00:13:12) - What To Keep And Why?(00:18:31) - A Mother's Last Conversation With Her Daughter(00:19:05) - The Scandalous Way I Use My Planner(00:25:05) - Post-it Notes: An Organization Tool(00:27:04) - How to Talk About Clutter in the Home(00:32:33) - A Sense of Harmony in the Home(00:34:50) - Kathy Lips: The Clutter Free Academy(00:35:40) - The Highly Sensitive Christian Woman's Community Cafe

When clutter piles up in our homes, it’s not just “stuff” for many of us who are Highly Sensitive Persons. We can experience it as visual noise, decision fatigue, emotional stories, sensory input, and shame. So much shame. In this episode, my dear friend and co-author Kathi Lipp and I explore why everyday home management can feel uniquely overwhelming for HSPs … and how we can learn to respond with practical compassion instead of all-or-nothing thinking. You’ll learn why tidying up a space can help your nervous system exhale, why systems often collapse when life happens, and how to create a simple “stabilizing day” rather than trying to catch up on everything at once Kathi also shares three small re-entry steps for those moments when home feels overwhelming. This episode is a gentle invitation to stop asking, “Why can’t I keep up?” and start asking, “What might help my HSP nervous system take the next small step?” Links to Resources Mentioned: Kathi Lipp's Clutter Free Academy Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/clutterfreeacademy Order Kathi's book Clutter Free: Quick and Easy Steps for Simplifying Your Space https://www.amazon.com/Clutter-Free-Quick-Steps-Simplifying/dp/0736959130/ Check out Kathi's Website: https://kathilipp.com/ https://kathilipp.com/ Take the “Am I a Highly Sensitive Person?” Self-Quiz https://CheriGregory.com/hspquiz/ Learn about the Sensitive & Strong Community Cafe https://sensitiveandstrongbook.com/sensitive-strong-community-cafe/ Chapters (00:00:00) - When clutter piles up in our homes(00:01:17) - Grit and Grace: Highly Sensitive Christian Women(00:03:49) - What is HSP?(00:04:50) - The Special Challenges of Being a Highly Sensitive Person(00:09:25) - Why is clutter more detrimental to HSPs than to the rest(00:11:52) - What to Do When Things Fall Apart in the Household?(00:18:00) - Why Does a Clean House Feel So Peaceful? But(00:21:26) - Fooled by Nature: The Go-Go, Do-(00:23:46) - Kathy Lips: Clutter Free Academy(00:24:58) - Grit and Grace: The Sensitive and Strong Community

So many of us have spent years trying to fix our relationship with food by focusing on what we do — or don’t — eat. But what if being “fully nourished” has less to do with getting food exactly right, and more to do with learning what your whole self actually needs? In this conversation with guest co-host Brandice Lardner, we talk about nourishment that goes far beyond calories, macros, and meal plans. We explore what it means to care for all aspects of your Highly Sensitive self — body, mind, soul, and spirit — with grace … especially as an HSP who is easily depleted by pressure, shame, and repeated attempts to fix everything all at once. If you’re curious what it might look like to nourish the parts of yourself that food was never meant to care for, you’ll find this episode full of freedom and hope. Links Mentioned: Order Brandice's new book Fully Nourished: A Grace-Filled Approach to Ditch Diets and Find Peace with Food and Your Body https://amzn.to/3Z3q5SL You can get her free 7-lesson "Faith > Food" email course right here https://gracefilledplate.com/faith-food-email-course/ Check out Brandice's Website: Grace Filled Plate https://GraceFilledPlate.com Take the “Am I a Highly Sensitive Person?” Self-Quiz https://CheriGregory.com/hspquiz/ Learn about the Sensitive & Strong Community Cafe https://sensitiveandstrongbook.com/sensitive-strong-community-cafe/ Chapters (00:00:00) - Grit and Grace: How to Nourish Your Highly Sens(00:01:42) - Fully Nourished with Brandice Lardner(00:03:27) - Intermittent Fasting(00:07:39) - How to Manage Your Body as You Age(00:13:24) - How to Deal With Regret (For What We Didn't Know(00:19:42) - How to Start Again with Food and Body(00:26:53) - How to Be Fully(00:31:13) - Brandice Brandes Fully Nourished(00:33:11) - Grit and Grace: The Sensitive and Strong Christian Women Podcast

So many of us have tried to white-knuckle our way through one food plan after another. But what if health isn’t about eating perfectly—but rather about building habits that actually bear good fruit in our lives? In this episode, guest co-host Brandice Lardner and I unpack why “perfect eating plans” so often fail, especially for Highly Sensitive Christian women. Brandice introduces the idea of fruitful habits: flexible, grace-filled practices you can evaluate by their outcomes, not whether you followed every rigid rule. We explore how reflection (not rumination) helps you learn from your choices why giving yourself permission actually reduces food obsessions what it looks like to “marry wants with wisdom” without shame or fear If you’re longing for a calmer, more sustainable approach to food—one rooted in grace, discernment, and real-life rhythms—this conversation offers a hopeful way forward. Links mentioned: Episode #303: "Why It's Hard to Trust Your Body — Especially Around Food" https://cherigregory.com/episode303/ Order Brandice's new book Fully Nourished: A Grace-Filled Approach to Ditch Diets and Find Peace with Food and Your Body https://amzn.to/3Z3q5SL You can get her free 7-lesson "Faith > Food" email course right here https://gracefilledplate.com/faith-food-email-course/ Check out Brandice's Website: Grace Filled Plate https://GraceFilledPlate.com Take the “Am I a Highly Sensitive Person?” Self-Quiz https://CheriGregory.com/hspquiz/ Learn about the "Write Beside You" Unlimited Coaching Program and the "Clarity in Your Calling" Mastermind https://sensitiveandstrongbook.com/wby-unlimited-coaching-program/ https://sensitiveandstrongbook.com/clarity-in-your-calling-mastermind Chapters (00:00:00) - Grit and Grace: When Perfect Eating Plans Fail(00:01:19) - How to Trust Your Own Body(00:04:10) - Virtuous HABITS(00:09:02) - Introspection and Self-Compassion(00:15:33) - Why Is It So Hard to Overcome a Sugar Cravings?(00:22:18) - Living on a Diet with the Spirit(00:25:01) - Highly Sensitive Christian Women(00:27:38) - Marathon Author: The MDP Team

Have you found that diets promise you control, clarity, and confidence—but all-too-often they deliver the exact opposite? For many Highly Sensitive Christian women, diets come with hidden costs: disconnection from our bodies exhaustion from trying to “do it right” confusion about who we can actually trust.  In today’s episode, guest co-host Brandice Lardner and I have an honest, grace-filled conversation about how food became a primary coping tool for so many of us at such a young age, why dieting typically backfires, and what it looks like to pursue health without pressure, fear, or shame. If you’re ready to reframe your relationship with food through the lens of grace instead of rules, this conversation is a great place to start! Links Mentioned: Pre-Order Brandice's new book Fully Nourished: A Grace-Filled Approach to Ditch Diets and Find Peace with Food and Your Body https://www.amazon.com/Fully-Nourished-Grace-Filled-Approach-Ditch/dp/0800747038/ You can get her free 7-lesson "Faith > Food" email course right here https://gracefilledplate.com/faith-food-email-course/ Check out Brandice's Website: Grace Filled Plate https://GraceFilledPlate.com Take the “Am I a Highly Sensitive Person?” Self-Quiz https://CheriGregory.com/hspquiz/ Learn about the "Write Beside You" Unlimited Coaching Program and the "Clarity in Your Calling" Mastermind https://sensitiveandstrongbook.com/wby-unlimited-coaching-program/ https://sensitiveandstrongbook.com/clarity-in-your-calling-mastermind Chapters (00:00:00) - Fooled by Dieting: For Christian Women(00:01:02) - Grit and Grace: For Highly Sensitive Christian Women(00:04:10) - Fully nourished: A Story of Recovery from Eating Disorders(00:08:07) - What Makes Your Book Different From Dieting?(00:10:33) - Self-Trust and Control(00:15:27) - How to Cope Without Food(00:18:45) - On Emotion Monitoring(00:20:27) - How to Get Out of the Diet Rotation(00:26:47) - Fully Nourished(00:28:38) - Grit & Grace(00:29:44) - Writing Coach Sheri Gregory

January can feel like everyone else hit the “GO” button while I'm still standing in my living room wondering if a bomb went off over the holidays. If you’re still putting decorations away, finding glitter in places glitter shouldn't be, and feeling like you’re already behind on a year you just started, I want to invite you to take a breath — you’re not doing anything wrong. Today I want to talk about the gift of a gentle start—especially for Highly Sensitive People. No rushing into the new year.  No reinventing yourself with "New Year, New You!" No pressure to hit the ground running. (In fact, you don't need to hit anything... ) I want to invite us to take a calmer, kinder approach to the new year. Links: Learn about The Sensitive & Strong Community Cafe https://sensitiveandstrongbook.com/sensitive-strong-community-cafe/ Take the “Am I a Highly Sensitive Person?” Self-Quiz https://cherigregory.com/hspquiz/ Chapters (00:00:00) - A Quiet Start to the New Year(00:00:58) - Grit and Grace(00:01:43) - February 1st Is No Longer A New Year's Day(00:04:25) - A Less Punishing New Year for Highly Sensitive People(00:10:10) - The Siren Song of New Planner:

Some adventures do more than stretch us — they transform us. And today, Pam Watts is back in the guest co-host seat to share with us what God revealed during and after the experience she was still preparing for the last time we talked. What began as doing something fun for something good became something sacred — reshaping her understanding of excellence, identity, rest, and God’s power at work through human weakness. In our conversation, we explore: A different definition of excellence The gift of doing hard things in community How offering our “widow’s mite” opens the door to experiencing God’s might If you’re in a season of saying your own faith-based YOUR — or in the reflective time that comes after—this conversation is rich with clarity, insight, and wisdom. Links & Resources mentioned: Check out Pam's website: Faith-First Family Activity Coaching https://pamwatts.com/ Take the "Am I a Highly Sensitive Person?" Self-Quiz https://CheriGregory.com/hspquiz/ Learn about the "Write Beside You" Unlimited Coaching Program and “Clarity with Your Calling” Mastermind with Cheri https://sensitiveandstrongbook.com/wby-unlimited-coaching-program/ http://sensitiveandstrongbook.com/clarity-in-your-calling-mastermind Chapters (00:00:00) - Grit and Grace(00:01:04) - Grit and Grace: When Life Feels Too Comfortable(00:03:49) - The Cast of 'Hamilton'(00:05:48) - HSPs at the Halloween Parade(00:06:48) - Adam Levine on His Performance(00:08:50) - Pamela's All That Was Enough(00:12:08) - The Wig Incident(00:15:38) - How to Read Your Relationships(00:16:11) - The Community That Helped Me Perform(00:21:27) - The One-Step Less Alone(00:23:46) - Pamela on Rest and Recovery(00:30:02) - The Dance of No Expectation(00:33:05) - Give Your Widow's Might

When someone we love is grieving, most of us fear saying the wrong thing. So we stay quiet, hoping our silence is better than a misstep. But for the bereaved, silence can feel like abandonment. In this episode, guest co-host, Cheri Fletcher and I discuss why connection matters so much more than perfect words. You'll hear how simple acts like prayers, texts, and thoughtful questions can bring lasting comfort. And you'll discover the power of initiating conversation with empathy and intentionality. Links Referenced: Grit 'n' Grace Episode #279: Surviving the Holidays — Help for When Your Heart Feels Heavy with Cheri Fletcher https://cherigregory.com/episode279/ Order Cheri Fletcher's "Beyond 'I Don't Know What to Say' Grief Communication Cards" https://cherifletcher.com/product/grief-cards/ Sign-Up for Cheri Fletcher's "Comfort in the Silence — A 5-Day Reflection on Walking With Grief" https://cherifletcher.com/joincheri/ Learn more about The Write Beside You Unlimited Coaching Program https://sensitiveandstrongbook.com/wby-unlimited-coaching-program/ Chapters (00:00:00) - Why Connection Matters When Someone's Grieving(00:00:41) - Grit and Grace(00:01:48) - Grit and Grace: Sheri Fletcher(00:03:56) - How Far Back Can You Look in Your Life?(00:06:16) - The SILENCE of Grief(00:10:36) - Grief 2: Harder than Year 1(00:16:55) - How to Comfort a Grieving Mother's Soul(00:19:51) - I Don't Know What to Say(00:24:08) - Annie's Cards(00:26:48) - The Unboxing of A Book(00:27:52) - Grieving Mothers' Question Cards(00:32:14) - Celebrating Comfort in the Silence(00:34:19) - Sherry Gregory on Grit & Grace

Have you ever found yourself thinking, "If I'd known how to honor my sensitivity sooner, maybe life wouldn't have felt like such a fight to survive"? If so, you're not alone. And today's episode explores what it looks like—in real life—to thrive as a Highly Sensitive Person. My guest co-host is best-selling author Dr. Judith Orloff, and we're talking about her new children's book, The Highly Sensitive Rabbit. It's a sweet story that helps HSP kids (and tender-hearted grown-ups!) build everyday tools for boundary-setting, emotional balance, and self-trust. We discuss how to turn "crybaby" moments into connection, how to reframe empathy as courage, and how to nurture that inner child who still needs to be seen and soothed. This conversation offers fresh insight and gentle practices to help every sensitive soul—young or grown—thrive with confidence and self-compassion. Links mentioned: Dr. Judith Orloff's Website https://DrJudithOrloff.com Take the "Am I a Highly Sensitive Person?" Self-Quiz https://CheriGregory.com/hspquiz/ Learn more about the Sensitive & Strong Community Cafe https://sensitiveandstrongbook.com/gng-cafe/

Do you ever wonder if you're a true Highly Sensitive Person because you love meaningful adventures or crave experiences that make you feel alive? It turns out that many HSPs are also High Sensation Seekers, which often feels like you're living with one foot on the gas and one foot on the brake. But this isn't about chasing adrenaline; it's about seeking depth, richness, and significance. In today's conversation, my guest co-host Pam Watts and I dive into what it means to say a faith-based "yes" to opportunities that feel bigger than us. Pam pulls back the curtain on her current adventure — preparing to dance on stage for a cause she deeply values — and shares the very real tensions of excitement, discomfort, and determination. This episode will encourage you to look for your own faith-based "yes"es — whatever size they may be, and wherever they may take you. Links & Resources mentioned: "Vote" for Pam in Dancing with the Waco Stars https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dancing-with-waco-stars-voting-2025-tickets-1548506768429 Check out Pam's website: Faith-First Family Activity Coaching https://pamwatts.com/ Take the "Am I a Highly Sensitive Person?" Self-Quiz https://CheriGregory.com/hspquiz/ Learn about the "Write Beside You" Unlimited Coaching Program with Cheri https://sensitiveandstrongbook.com/wby-unlimited-coaching-program/

Do you ever wonder if your help actually matters? You show up, you do what you can, and later your Inner Critic whispers, You didn't make any real difference. But what if you don't have to be the expert, the fixer, or the hero who "saves the day"? In today's conversation, my guest co-host Marisa Terrell and I discuss why your presence, rather than your performance, is often the greatest gift you can give. You'll hear how ordinary presence can calm chaos, restore hope, and reflect God's heart. Consider this episode your permission slip to stop second-guessing and start trusting the quiet power of simply showing up. Links mentioned: Take the "Am I a Highly Sensitive Person?" Self-Quiz https://CheriGregory.com/hspquiz/ "Write Beside You" Coaching with Cheri https://writebesideyou.com/writing-coach/ "Write Beside You" Unlimited Coaching Program with Cheri https://sensitiveandstrongbook.com/wby-unlimited-coaching-program/

Do you sometimes say "no" to hope … without even realizing it? Many of us protect ourselves from yet another disappointment by distancing ourselves from the very experiences God is inviting us into. In today's heartfelt conversation, guest co-host Danielle Grosse and I explore why biblical hope is never a demand to "cheer up" or "try harder," but always a gentle, persistent invitation to receive good things — at a pace that feels safe. You'll learn to notice God's quiet nudges, release unrealistic expectations, and rest in the hope that meets you right where you are, right now. Links Mentioned: Episode #293: Come Out of Hiding — Your Invitation to Step Into Healing https://cherigregory.com/episode293 Episode #294: Healing at a Gentle Pace — Why We Need Gentle Words & Ample Time https://cherigregory.com/episode294/ Episode #295: NOT a Bait and Switch—What Biblical Hope Looks Like in Real Life https://cherigregory.com/episode295/ Danielle's book The Boy, the Boxer, and the Yellow Rose: Because You're Not Lost. You're Healing.https://www.amazon.com/Boy-Boxer-Yellow-Rose-Healing/dp/1964251532/ Take the "Am I a Highly Sensitive Person?" Self-Quiz https://cherigregory.com/hspquiz/ Learn more about the Sensitive & Strong Community Cafe https://sensitiveandstrongbook.com/sensitive-strong-community-cafe/

Do you sometimes feel like hope is nothing more than a setup for heartbreak? If you're a Highly Sensitive Person, you've probably spent your life preparing for worst-case scenarios and bracing for impact — especially when it feels like life keeps pulling the rug right out from under you. In this episode, Danielle Grosse returns as my guest co-host as we explore how true hope meets us gently in the tension between fear and faith. You'll learn how to recognize false hope, notice God's presence in small but meaningful ways, and discover why biblical hope never rushes you, never shames you, and never disappoints you. Links Mentioned: Episode #294: Healing at a Gentle Pace — Why We Need Gentle Words & Ample Time https://cherigregory.com/episode294/ Episode #293: Come Out of Hiding — Your Invitation to Step Into Healing https://cherigregory.com/episode293 Danielle's book The Boy, the Boxer, and the Yellow Rose: Because You're Not Lost. You're Healing.https://www.amazon.com/Boy-Boxer-Yellow-Rose-Healing/dp/1964251532/ Take the "Am I a Highly Sensitive Person?" Self-Quiz https://CheriGregory.com/hspquiz/ Learn more about the Sensitive & Strong Community Cafe https://sensitiveandstrongbook.com/sensitive-strong-community-cafe/

In a world obsessed with "quick fixes," Highly Sensitive Persons can feel perpetually stuck — as if growing slowly means something's gone terribly wrong. But deep healing does NOT happen by force or formula. So in this episode, we offer you a gentler invitation: to drop the timeline to honor the pace of your body and heart, and to trust that so-called "delayed" healing is still holy ground. Through Danielle Grosse's tender story of recovering while writing, we explore how gentle truths and soul-safe collaboration can help HSPs mend. Not by "powering through" but by finding refuge in the One who heals our deepest hurts. Links Mentioned: Episode #293: Come Out of Hiding — Your Invitation to Step Into Healing https://cherigregory.com/episode293 Danielle's book The Boy, the Boxer, and the Yellow Rose: Because You're Not Lost. You're Healing.https://www.amazon.com/Boy-Boxer-Yellow-Rose-Healing/dp/1964251532/ Take the "Am I a Highly Sensitive Person?" Self-Quiz https://CheriGregory.com/hspquiz/ Learn more about the "Clarity in Your Calling" Mastermind https://sensitiveandstrongbook.com/clarity-in-your-calling-mastermind/