Grit, Gratitude & Going Blind: Laura Bratton on Navigating Loss, Grief and Resilience

[Note: Apologies for the few moments of echo](Ai assist:) As a teenager, Laura Bratton was diagnosed with a rare, still-unnamed eye disease that left her completely blind. What followed was intense grief, depression, panic attacks, and the terrifying question: “How do I keep going?”In this raw and uplifting conversation Laura shares how she refused to let blindness define or defeat her. She reveals the turning points that rebuilt her life:  - Permission to grieve for a lifetime while still moving forward  - The unexpected power of family, friends, and community who treated her exactly the same  - Discovering mindfulness and learning to observe (not fuse with) painful thoughts  - Cultivating genuine gratitude—not for blindness itself, but for the tools that helped her navigate it  - Redefining “grit” as acknowledging emotions and choosing courage anyway0:00 Introduction & Welcome – Meet Laura Bratton0:12 Who Is Laura? Speaker, Coach, Author on Grit & Gratitude0:55 Laura's Story: Becoming Totally Blind as a Teenager1:49 The Undiagnosed Rare Eye Disease – Initial Reactions2:18 From Denial → Intense Grief, Depression & Panic Attacks4:02 The Lifelong Grieving Process – Permission to Grieve Forever5:20 Grieving & Moving Forward Can Coexist7:31 Support Systems: Actions Over Words (Parents, Brother, Community)9:53 Healthy Interdependence vs. Independence in Grief11:22 Common Misconceptions & Funny Reactions to Blindness12:36 Discovering Mindfulness – Resistance to Transformation14:18 Game-Changer: Observing Thoughts Without Becoming Them15:52 Body Scan, Tension Release & Listening to the Body19:00 Breath Awareness – Diaphragmatic Breathing for Anxiety20:19 Integrating Mindfulness into Daily Life (Slow Reminders)21:09 Eyes Closed vs. Open in Meditation – Inner vs. Outer World24:19 Daily Gratitude Practice – Starting Small & Stubbornly26:03 Cultivating Gratitude Mindset (Not Gratitude for the Pain)27:52 Reframing: Grateful for Resources to Navigate Difficulty29:24 Authenticity in Affirmations – Aspiration Over Delusion31:23 Defining Grit: Courage to Feel & Keep Going Anyway33:54 Acknowledging Pain Without Judgment – Self-Compassion Practice36:57 Extending Compassion to Others After Giving It to Yourself39:13 We're Not Alone – Universal Human Emotions Connect Us41:15 Peaks & Valleys of Life – Nothing Lasts Forever42:10 Where to Find Laura: Website, Book & Speaking43:03 Book Spotlight: Harnessing Courage – Story + Tools for Adversity44:56 Final Message: You Are Enough – Harnessing Courage Every DayAuthor of Harnessing Courage and a sought-after speaker and coach, Laura now teaches organizations and individuals how to face massive change with grit and gratitude. Her message is universal: no matter what life takes from you, you are still enough—and you can keep going.A deeply human episode about loss, resilience, mindfulness, and the courage to feel it all.LauraBratton.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-bratton-speakingWant to be a guest on Inner Skilled? Send Josh Dippold a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/innerskilled Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.