In this deeply moving episode of Grief to Growth, Brian Smith is joined by writer and seeker Alexis Lee, author of Pain Is a Portal to Beauty, for a courageous conversation about grief, trauma, and radical self-healing.

Alexis shares the moment that changed her life — hearing a voice while walking in the woods that told her her life would have been a tragedy if it ended that day. That message became the beginning of a profound journey into grief she had buried since childhood, including the loss of her mother and generational trauma carried in the body.

Together, Brian and Alexis explore what happens when we stop running from pain and instead listen to it.

This episode isn’t about fixing yourself.
It’s about remembering who you are beneath the pain.

🌱 In This Episode, You’ll Explore:

Why avoiding pain may be keeping you stuck
How grief can live in the body for decades
What “parts work” and Internal Family Systems teach us about self-compassion
The role of psychedelic-assisted healing (MDMA, psilocybin, ayahuasca) in trauma recovery
How pain can become a portal to beauty, authenticity, and love
Why healing doesn’t require having a plan — only honesty

📖 About Today’s Guest

Alexis Lee is a writer, seeker, and advocate for radical self-healing. Her book, Pain Is a Portal to Beauty, explores grief, trauma, spirituality, and the courage it takes to turn toward what hurts.

🌐 Learn more about Alexis and her work:
👉 https://alexislee.com

📘 Pain Is a Portal to Beauty is available wherever books are sold.

🤍 Continue the Conversation

And if you’re wondering where you are in your own grief journey, you’re invited to take the Grief Check-In — a gentle, judgment-free way to understand how grief may be showing up for you right now.

👉 https://grief2growth.com/check-in

Visit the Grief 2 Growth store for FREE items as well as other tools to help you along your journey:

Guided Meditations
My book GEMS of Healing (signed copy)
My Oracle deck to help you connect with your loved ones
Mini-courses
Mini-guides

Check it out at https://grief2growth.com/store

Grief doesn’t follow stages, timelines, or rules.
If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I doing this right?”—you’re not alone.

That’s why I created the Grief Check-In.
It’s not a test. There are no right or wrong answers.

In just a few minutes, you’ll gain clarity, reassurance, and language for what you’re experiencing.

👉 Visit grief2growth.com/checkin

This deck is a labor of love. It's a 44 card oracle deck that's about connecting you to your loved one in spirit. The deck comes with a companion digital guide that gives you an affirmation, a reflection, and an activity for the day.

Check it out at https://stan.store/grief2growth/p/oracle-deck

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🧑🏿‍🤝‍🧑🏻 Join Facebook Group- Get Support and Education
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Thanks so much for your support

What if the pain you’ve been avoiding is actually pointing you toward healing? with Alexis Leigh | EP 472