One sentence can change the way you carry loss—and for our guest Laura Bratton, that sentence was, “I want to give you permission to grieve.”

In this deeply moving conversation, Laura—an author, speaker, and resilience coach—shares how she learned to move forward without denying the pain of what she had lost. After beginning to lose her sight at age nine and becoming completely blind by the end of high school, she faced depression, daily panic attacks, and the difficult work of rebuilding her identity and independence.

Laura reveals why she initially rejected gratitude and how one simple daily practice eventually transformed her mindset: writing down three things she was grateful for. This wasn’t about being thankful for the hardship. It was about recognizing the support, tools, relationships, and resources that helped her navigate it—including the guide dog that restored a powerful sense of freedom.

We also explore mindfulness as a practical tool for interrupting anxiety, learning to recognize that thoughts are not always facts, and responding to fear with greater awareness. Laura offers a refreshing definition of grit—not as pushing through pain or “getting over it,” but as combining self-compassion with the courage to take the next step.

If you are navigating grief, trauma, anxiety, disability, or an unexpected life transition, this episode offers an honest and hopeful approach to resilience. You’ll discover how gratitude, mindfulness, and self-compassion can help you carry what happened without allowing it to define what happens next.

Subscribe to the V.I.B.E. Living Podcast, share this episode with someone who needs encouragement, and leave a review telling us the insight you’re choosing to carry forward.

Bio

At the age of nine, Laura was diagnosed with an eye disease and faced the difficult reality that she would become blind. Over the next ten years she experienced the traumatic transition of adjusting to life without sight. Laura adjusted to her new normal and was able to move forward in life as she graduated from Arizona State University with a BA in psychology. She then was the first blind student to receive her Masters of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary. She is the author of the book, Harnessing Courage. Laura founded Ubi Global, which is an organization that provides speaking and coaching to empower all people to overcome challenges and obstacles with grit and gratitude.

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