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What if resilience isn’t just about getting through hard times, but actively participating in our own healing? In this episode, I share an unexpected, recent conversation with the orthopedic doctor who treated my broken wrist last year after a hiking accident. His advice during my recovery was simple: do the work and envision yourself as healed. Those words apply to so much more than a broken bone. Whatever difficult chapter we’re navigating, hope gives us a vision for what’s possible, but we still have to take the next step, do the work, and keep showing up. And remember: slow progress is still progress. _______________________________ Episode 4 where I tell the story of my hiking accident and breaking my right wrist in multiple places: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/4-the-art-of-navigating-hard-things/id1868855299?i=1000748342045 _______________________________ Kathleen DuBois https://resilience-and-grit.captivate.fm/

“What you cannot confront, you can never conquer.” That bit of wisdom from my neighbor Greg’s front-porch whiteboard stopped me in my tracks. Because resilience and grit aren’t about avoiding the hard stuff, they’re about having the courage to face it. In this episode, I talk about why honest, clear communication is essential when navigating life’s challenges. No beating around the bush. No hiding. No going radio silent. We can be loving and direct at the same time. Sometimes the path forward begins with simply facing it, naming it, talking about it--and taking the next right step. Kathleen DuBois - https://resilience-and-grit.captivate.fm/

How much beauty are we missing simply because we aren't looking for it? In this episode, I share a simple thought from my friend Greg that stopped me in my tracks: “The amount of beautiful things in your life depends on your ability to notice them.” Life isn't always easy or perfect. But even in difficult seasons, there are beautiful little moments all around us. My challenge this week? Notice. Look for the good. Look for the beautiful. Because the more we look for it, the more we begin to see it. Kathleen DuBois - https://resilience-and-grit.captivate.fm/

In today's episode, I share one of the hardest chapters of my life: going from financial abundance to flat broke and deep in debt, and then the hard journey I took to rebuild myself. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes. I share the mistakes I made, the fear and shame I carried, the tough choices that helped me turn things around, and the steps that ultimately led me to becoming completely debt free on September 10, 2019. Seven years later, I have something I once could barely imagine: financial peace. If you’re struggling with money, debt, or simply trying to recover from a difficult season, I hope my story reminds you that you can indeed change your trajectory, even when things seem impossible. You can rebuild. And you can come back stronger. Books and authors that helped change my financial life: The Richest Man in Babylon - George S. Clason The Energy of Money - Maria Nemeth Think and Grow Rich - Napoleon Hill The Total Money Makeover - Dave Ramsey I mentioned that my financial advisor extraordinaire (Cassandra McNulty) is with a wonderful company called Creative Planning https://creativeplanning.com/ Kathleen DuBois - https://resilience-and-grit.captivate.fm/

The people we surround ourself with matters! In this episode, I reflect on how ordinary time spent with positive, uplifting people can leave us feeling lighter, stronger and more hopeful. And I share personal development expert Jim Rohn’s famous idea that we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with, and why I’m becoming more intentional about who gets my time and influence. And then I turn the question around: Am I the kind of person who leaves others stronger than I found them? Who’s in your five and who are you in theirs? Kathleen DuBois - https://resilience-and-grit.captivate.fm/

In today's episode, I share what learning to play golf is teaching me about being a beginner, embracing discomfort, and letting other people see me while I’m still learning. I’m discovering that getting better can sometimes feel like getting worse and that there’s something incredibly rewarding about earning improvement through practice, frustration, perseverance and simply showing up again. My biggest takeaway? We are never too old or too accomplished to be beginners. I want to keep learning, stretching and trying things that make me a little uncomfortable. Because sometimes the things that challenge and humble us are the very things that remind us just how alive we are. Onward and upward, Kathleen J. DuBois #KathleenDuBois #ResilienceAndGrit

Two simple ideas completely changed the way I think about the impact we have on others. In this episode, I explore the difference between battery people and vacuum people and the timeless wisdom to be a lighthouse, not a tugboat. You'll discover how your attitude, words, and presence can either drain those around you—or leave them stronger, more hopeful, and ready to face life's challenges. Episode DedicationThis episode is dedicated to my incredible golf coach, Bob. Thank you for reminding me that great coaches don't just improve our performance, they build our confidence, recharge our spirits, and help us rediscover the joy in the game. #KathleenDuBois #ResilienceAndGrit

Adversity is something we all have in common. In this episode, I share why I believe resilience isn't built when life is easy. It's forged in the moments when we choose grace over reaction, courage over fear, and faith over despair. Together, we'll explore how adversity can become one of our greatest teachers and how, with time, even our deepest pain can be transformed into purpose. If you're walking through a difficult season, I hope this episode reminds you that you're stronger than you think, you're not alone, and that grace is always a choice. We've got this!

What if one of the biggest factors shaping your future isn't your circumstances, but the conversations happening inside your own mind. In this episode, I'm sharing one of the most powerful lessons from a recent conference in Las Vegas, where our keynote speaker, Cam Awesome, challenged all of us to become the hero of our own story. I also share: Why our self-talk matters more than we thinkHow our thoughts become beliefs and our beliefs drive our actionsWhy changing our inner story can strengthen our resilience Resources Mentioned: Becoming Awesome by Cam F. Awesome https://www.camawesome.com/book Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill https://www.thinkandgrowrich.com/

A couple of weeks ago, I learned a new word that immediately stopped me in my tracks: Lifequake, a term coined by Dr. Bruce Feiler to describe a season that shakes the very foundation of our lives. I instantly knew what mine was. In 2002, within just four and a half months, I lost both of my parents while trying to build a new business. I thought I had lost my anchors. Looking back twenty-four years later, I realize that while my Lifequake took so much from me, it also revealed something that had been there all along: a resilient faith, an enduring hope, and a God who never left my side. This isn't a story about everything I lost. It's a story about what I slowly rebuilt, like a Phoenix rising from the ashes. If you've ever experienced a hard season that changed the course of your life, my hope is that this episode reminds you that even in the deepest grief and challenges, purpose can emerge, healing is possible, and you are never walking through your Lifequake alone. NOTE: Here's the book I mentioned by Dr. Bruce Feiler https://www.brucefeiler.com/books-articles/life-is-in-the-transitions/

Caregiving for a loved one is one of the most loving, and most difficult, roles many of us will ever experience. I know this personally from when my six siblings and I cared for our sick mother for six years until she went off to heaven. Whether you're caring for an aging parent, supporting a spouse or grandchildren, or walking alongside someone you love through illness, caregiving asks more of us than we ever imagined. In this episode, I'm joined by my friend Paula Harris, a TEDx speaker, author, financial planner, widow advocate, and someone who is currently living the reality of caring for aging parents. In this episode, you'll discover: • The emotional realities of caring for aging parents. • Practical ways to care for your own heart. • The surprising ways faith can sustain you during difficult seasons. • Simple, meaningful ways to support someone who is caregiving. Whether you're a caregiver today, expect to become one someday, or simply want to better support someone who is, I think you'll find wisdom, hope, and encouragement in Paula's story. Resources and links mentioned in this episode: Paula's TEDx Talk (this is a must watch): https://whcornerstone.com/tedx-greenhouseroad-low-tech-love-handwritten-note Paula's Wisdom Wednesday: https://www.youtube.com/@paulaharris1 Here's a great book I mentioned, The Four Agreements: https://www.miguelruiz.com/the-four-agreements/

In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of an extraordinary week I spent at MEA Retreat Center outside of Santa Fe, studying with Arthur Brooks and his team around the ideas in his newest book, The Meaning of Your Life. All 14 of us class members showed up as strangers, bonded like super glue and departed as deeply connected souls. While the week was filled with powerful lessons about purpose, identity, love, and meaning, one idea completely changed the way I think about relationships. It's called Vault Three. Most of us spend our lives in Vault One--safe, surface conversations--or Vault Two, where we share our stories but still keep part of ourselves protected. But Vault Three is different. It's where we let down our guard. It's where we stop performing. During the week, I also experienced one of the most meaningful moments of my life: writing and reading my own personal manifesto aloud. It isn't a résumé of accomplishments, it is a declaration of the person I want to become. I left Santa Fe convinced that resilience isn't just about enduring hard things. It's about having the courage to be seen. In this episode, you'll discover: • Why success and meaning are not the same thing • The three Vaults of communication—and why most of us rarely reach Vault 3 • Why your identity must become bigger than your career or accomplishments • The surprising power of writing your own personal manifesto If this episode resonates with you, I'd love for you to share it with someone who longs for deeper conversations and more authentic connection. ___________________________________________________ Here are some resource links: 1) MEA Retreat Center (I highly recommend) - https://www.meawisdom.com/ 2) "The Meaning of your Life" book: https://www.arthurbrooks.com/books 3) Some prompts to help you write your own Manifesto (a declaration of your intentions for your life): I believe that... I will no longer... I am committed to... My life matters because... I declare that...

In this episode of The Resilience and Grit Podcast, I share the simple practice that has helped guide my life with greater clarity and intention: choosing one word for the year. My word for 2026? Flourish. You'll hear reflections on what it means to stop merely surviving and instead grow emotionally, spiritually, relationally and professionally. Drawing inspiration from Harvard professor Arthur Brooks and a powerful Marianne Williamson quote about not “playing small,” I also encourage listeners to choose their own guiding word for the rest of the year. Growth doesn’t require perfection, sometimes we simply need direction. Here's the quote by Marianne Williamson: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

In this heartfelt episode of The Resilience and Grit Podcast, I welcome fellow podcaster and my niece, Bernadette Pohl, to share her deeply personal story about motherhood, miscarriage, suffering, resilience and faith. This episode unfolds a little differently than many of my others. Bernadette courageously and thoughtfully shares her journey in her own words--and what a powerful story it is. She speaks openly about pregnancy loss, difficult pregnancies, severe food allergies affecting her children, exhaustion, and the emotional toll of navigating challenge after challenge while still trying to remain hopeful. In this episode, Bernadette reflects on: • The grief and loneliness that can accompany pregnancy loss • How suffering changes us, strengthens us and forms our character • The role of faith, prayer and community support during difficult seasons • Finding gratitude and meaning even amid hardship This episode is for anyone carrying invisible burdens, hidden grief, walking through uncertainty, or needing a reminder that they are not alone in the hard things. Resilience is not about avoiding suffering. It is about learning how to walk through it with courage, grace and hope. Here's the link to the Moving Mountains Podcast that Bernadette and her two friends host: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/moving-mountains-podcast/id1661002470 Books Mentioned: The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter He Leadeth Me by Walter Ciszek

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 timesThe best way to receive more of what we want in life is to become deeply grateful for what we already haveGratitude has the power to interrupt negative thinking and rewire how we see the world This episode is for anyone who: Feels emotionally drained or discouragedWants more peace and groundingIs walking through a hard seasonFinds themselves stuck in negative thinkingNeeds 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 I mentioned and love it (...I receive no benefit from promoting this, other than sharing things I love with my listeners). Onward and upward!