What if healing isn’t about becoming someone new… but remembering the parts of yourself you lost along the way?

In this heartfelt and deeply human episode of Becoming is Messy, Meghann sits down with Kim Lengling—author, podcast host of Let Fear Bounce, veteran advocate, and creative spirit whose perspective on life is equal parts grounded, playful, and wise.

Together, they explore what it means to move through grief, trauma, fear, and disconnection while slowly finding your way back to joy, awe, peace, and authenticity.

Kim shares stories from her journey through military trauma, emotional heaviness, faith, healing, and rediscovering the beauty in the little things—from music and nature to handwritten notes, dogs, shadows, and meaningful phrases that help anchor us back to ourselves.

In this conversation, they discuss:

· The emotional “gray” so many people are carrying right now

· Learning to notice the signs when you’re losing yourself

· Friendship, faith, and the people who help hold us up

· Why boundaries are essential for protecting your peace

· Letting fear “bounce” instead of absorbing negativity

· The healing power of nature, music, awe, and small rituals

· How authenticity can make life feel lighter again

· Why you don’t have to make sense to everyone else to be fully yourself

This episode is warm, honest, funny, thoughtful, and filled with gentle reminders that even in difficult seasons, there are still small moments of beauty waiting to bring us back to life.

Links & Resources

Join the messy conversation on Substack: www.theunperfectlife.substack.com

Follow Meghann for more real, raw, and messy wisdom: @MeghannDawson

Explore coaching, workshops & more: www.theunperfectlife.com

Connect with Kim Lengling: https://www.kimlenglingauthor.com/

Loved this episode? Hit follow, leave a review, and share it with a fellow Messy who needs to hear it!

#BecomingIsMessy #LetYourInnerVoiceLead #ImperfectLEVELUP #LetFearBounce #AuthenticLiving #HealingJourney #ProtectYourPeace #MindsetShift #MessyMiddle #PersonalTransformation #InnerPeace #UnscriptedGrowth

Get full access to The Unperfect Life at theunperfectlife.substack.com/subscribe