lisagrace2

From Running to Receiving: Learning You’re Never Alone

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 21:38:27 GMT

At a time where I often found myself running from my emotions, taking a step back to reflect was a transformative practice. My recent journey to Italy reminded me of the importance of facing my sometimes sneaky feelings to find access to healing old patterns of behavior that never served me.

June was a month of significant anniversaries for me, including my 45th birthday, my 1 year divorce anniversary, and what would have been my 27th wedding anniversary. I chose to celebrate myself and I decided to extend my trip to Italy from a couple of weeks to an entire month with a one way ticket and no plan. This decision served as a demarcation line in my life; it was a commitment to discover what I loved, much like the Julia Roberts character in Run Away Bride. I wanted to discover “what kind of eggs I liked” without anyone else’s influence. Having been engaged at 17 years old and married the day after I turned 18, I never had time to develop parts of myself that are very important to develop. There is more to this pattern that had me married so young, and that is a story for a later episode.

As I prepared for her solo adventure post-sailing, I decided I wanted the challenge of not knowing where I would stay each night. Instead of opting for a single Airbnb as a homebase, I felt drawn to experience Italy in a more dynamic way by moving around nearly every day. This spontaneity created a process that allowed me to embrace the unknown without fear while learning to listen to myself and deeply hear and trust myself.

What I began to develop was a deep level of self trust that I didn’t know existed. I thought I was learning what foods I liked and how I liked to travel. And those things were also true. However, the deeper lesson I learned was that when I could trust myself so deeply, I could be more open than ever before to trust God as well.

Here’s what happens. We can only know the level of trust that we experience with ourselves, it’s what we are familiar with. And when I deepened my personal level of knowledge and self trust, I had access to a new level of trust in God.

As I was developing this new trust skill there were still patterns at play that I needed to recognize and clear out of my life. One particular pattern was the feelings of isolation and the belief that I had to achieve everything on my own. My journey from being married at 18, then a fairly young mother of three, and a wife of 26 years left me shocked when I chose to navigate life alone choosing divorce at 45 years old…and it was not easy. I missed my kids at home, I missed having companionship, and I had never experienced life on my own.

When I was home alone I often felt trapped by my circumstances and an overwhelming feeling of loneliness, which I had never experienced before. So I would hop on a plane and travel for work or to visit friends and that created a sense of freedom and I felt empowered. But I was running from feeling. From the grief of an ended marriage, the quietness of an empty nest, and an uncertain future that had me wondering what was left for me.

Get Up: Finding Your Voice After Years of Silence

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 21:11:53 GMT

There’s a moment in every healing journey where the truth finally clicks.
Where the pattern you’ve carried for years—maybe even decades—finally reveals itself.
Where you see, with absolute clarity, why you do what you do.

That moment happened for my client, Mari, in our very first session of The GRACE Process™ , during the phase called Get Up . This is where awareness begins. This is where you stop pretending everything is fine. This is where you admit: I’m done living this way.

And for Mari, what she realized was this: Changing a lifelong pattern is a lot harder than she thought. Not because she isn’t capable and not because she isn’t strong. But because for the first time, she was truly seeing what she had never allowed herself to see.

When I asked Mari what she had become aware of, she said something that so many women silently live with:

“I’m always doing, and I don’t even pay attention. I keep everything in… and then one day it all bursts out.”

For years, she believed that her lashing out, her explosive moments, her “firecracker” energy were just part of her personality. But they weren’t.

They were the result of a childhood where speaking up wasn’t safe. Where using her voice resulted in consequences. Where silence became survival in order to feel love and acceptance from her mother.

So she learned to stay quiet and didn’t speak up to communicate her needs, which resulted in her avoiding conflict to keep the peace. And like every suppressed truth, it eventually boiled over—only ever coming out when she was furious, overwhelmed, or breaking–when it was too much to handle. This is the pattern so many of us live in: We don’t speak… until we’re so full that we explode.

Before our conversation, Mari thought, “this is just my personality.” But none of that was who she really was. It was conditioning. It was survival. It was the only way she knew to stay safe as a child.

And here’s the truth, when the world teaches you it’s unsafe to speak, you start believing silence is your identity. But silence isn’t who you are, it's an adaptation of your character, a behavior you learned was necessary to display so you could gain acceptance and love as a child. It’s a wound. And wounds can heal.

The moment Mari finally connected the dots—the childhood memories, the withheld words, the anger she didn’t understand—a flood of clarity hit her. She saw all the times she said yes when she wanted to say no. The times she went along to avoid disappointing someone. The times she quietly absorbed pain until she couldn’t take it anymore. She saw how this pattern shaped everything—friendships, relationships, and even her real estate business.

And she saw the deepest truth of all: she wasn’t quiet, she experienced feeling fear when she would speak up as a child and it is a pattern that has silently been running in the background of her life.

Fear of speaking up, conflict, fear of not being loved, of being judged, fear of disappointing someone, fear of being “too much” to handle.

Fear keeps you silent. Silence keeps you stuck. Stuck eventually becomes resentment or anger at those around you. The good news? Once you see the pattern, you can no longer unsee it and that’s when the transformation begins.

As part of her homework, I asked Mari to spend 24 hours simply noticing: When have I stayed quiet out of fear? When did I explode because I held too much? When did I abandon myself to avoid discomfort? These moments are access points to healing. This is how you start breaking the pattern. Not with force and not with shame, but with awareness.

One of the most powerful moments in our session came when Mari told me about how she had been pushed out of her partner’s funeral after 16 years together. She didn’t speak up, she didn’t fight for her voice to be heard. She stayed silent—because silence was familiar.

When you let others push you to the curb, it’s because somewhere inside, you already pushed yourself there. Not intentionally or consciously. But because the pattern was operating on autopilot.

When you do not know your worth, you accept behavior from others that matches the way you treat yourself. This is why the inner work must come first. This is why The GRACE Process™ begins with awareness, truth, and emotional bravery.

Breaking a pattern you’ve lived with since childhood can feel like death. It feels unfamiliar. It feels scary. It feels like you can’t survive something different, even if the new different thing is healthy. You will want to go back to your old ways because they are safe—even though they hurt.

But on the other side of that change is where the magic lives. That’s where you meet the future version of yourself—the one you don’t know yet. You don’t know you yet. But you’re on your way to you. And that journey is amazing and there is joy on the other side of the work.

Once you learn to use your voice, everything shifts. You improve your communication in your relationships, your business, and you learn to set boundaries and your confidence and energy increase!

When you stop abandoning yourself, you no longer attract people who abandon you.
When you stop silencing yourself, you no longer attract people who ignore your needs.
When you start honoring your worth, you stop negotiating yourself away.
And survival strategies can be unlearned and this is the freedom The GRACE Process™ offers.

Awareness of the pattern, Understanding where it came from, Feeling what you’ve avoided, Releasing what you’ve carried, Rebuilding your self-trust, Becoming the version of you that was never developed because you were shut down at such a young age.

We are done surviving. It’s time to live.

We all have patterns we didn’t choose:

Silence.
People-pleasing.
Avoidance.
Exploding.
Overgiving.
Self-sacrifice.
Shrinking.
Performing.
Pretending.

These aren’t character flaws, they are wounds from childhood development. And wounds heal when they are finally seen.

Mari’s journey is just beginning—but she’s already breaking the cycle of silence, fear, and self-abandonment.

And if you’re reading this? It means your journey might be beginning too, on your way to you.

Barefoot in Italy: How to Find Comfort Within

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 20:13:52 GMT

In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it's easy to forget the importance of self-love and awareness. As Lisa embarks on her journey in Italy, she shares profound insights about embracing discomfort felt in the body–a nervous system reaction. And how to regulate the body’s response and find joy within ourselves. This blog post delves into her experiences and offers valuable lessons for anyone seeking to nurture their emotional well-being.

The Grace Process:

Before landing in Italy, Lisa experienced a moment of anxiety while she was on the plane, which led her to reflect on her feelings. Using the GRACE Process™ she is able to acknowledge her emotions, understand their roots, and move through them to achieve a sense of peace–all in under 10 minutes. For Lisa, this meant recognizing her discomfort and addressing it head-on.

Understanding Emotions

“It was completely possible for me to struggle with feeling anxious in the moment despite being excited about my trip.” She realized that her discomfort stemmed from her nervous system's desire for comfort, which she typically found in other people. This moment of self-awareness became pivotal in her journey. She encourages readers to identify their feelings and understand the underlying reasons behind them.

Breaking Patterns

As Lisa navigates this new experience alone, she confronts her previous coping mechanisms. She emphasizes the importance of breaking the cycle of seeking comfort outside oneself. Instead, she advocates for self-comfort and self-love, revealing that true security comes from within. This revelation led her to embrace her emotions, cry, and ultimately find solace in her own company.

The Steps to Self-Discovery

Lisa outlines a clear process for readers to follow when facing their own emotional challenges. The steps include:

Noticing your pattern of behavior
Getting curious about your feelings
Identifying the emotions you experience
Recognizing what you seek for comfort
Allowing yourself to feel those emotions
Comforting yourself with affirmations of love and safety

This structured approach empowers you to address your feelings and move towards greater self-acceptance.

Lisa's journey in Italy serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of self-love and emotional awareness. As she walks barefoot through the enchanting streets, she embodies the essence of embracing discomfort and finding joy within. The GRACE Process™ she shares offers valuable insights for anyone seeking to nurture their emotional well-being. Remember, true comfort and safety come from within; by practicing self-love, we can navigate life's challenges with confidence and grace.

Key Takeaways:

Embrace discomfort as a part of self-discovery.
Understand your emotions and their sources.
Break the cycle of seeking comfort outside yourself.
Practice self-love through awareness and affirmation.

From Broken to Becoming: Mari’s Brave Step Toward Healing

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 20:08:56 GMT

The Struggle with Confidence

Mari opens up about her past, describing a time when she was bold and confident, unafraid to pursue her goals. "I used to have confidence. I used to be outspoken, bold, not caring, just doing me," she shares. However, life has thrown hurdles in her path, leading to feelings of unworthiness and self-doubt. She expresses a desire to return to her former self, the go-getter who never let anything stand in her way.

The Weight of Stagnation

Despite her aspirations, Mari finds herself stuck, often spending weekends in bed, overwhelmed by the tasks she wants to tackle. "I keep getting in my head thinking I don't deserve it," she admits, highlighting the mental barriers that hold her back. This cycle of self-doubt prevents her from engaging in activities that once brought her joy and fulfillment.

The Importance of Self-Love

When asked how she defines self-love, Mari struggles to find an answer. "I get my nails done, I get my hair done. So that's what I do for myself," she says, indicating that her self-care routine lacks depth. This realization prompts a discussion on the need to confront the parts of ourselves we often avoid, particularly the 'broken' aspects that require healing.

The Role of Journaling

Mari shares her experience with therapy and journaling, mentioning that she started writing five years ago as a way to process her emotions. "I thought I have grown, I thought I've evolved some, but I'm still wanting the same things," she reflects. This honesty underscores the importance of continuing the work of self-discovery and not shying away from the difficult emotions that arise when you are working on lasting change.

Facing the Future with Courage

As the conversation progresses, Mari acknowledges her readiness for change, despite feelings of fear and uncertainty. "I know there's more for me. I want to... I'm capable," she states, emphasizing her desire to build her business and care for her family without the weight of guilt. The discussion shifts to the importance of staying committed to the process of change, even when it feels uncomfortable.

Mari’s journey is a testament to the power of self-reflection and the courage it takes to confront personal challenges. As she embraces the discomfort of change and commits to her healing process, she is poised to rediscover her confidence and pursue her dreams.

Key takeaways:

The role of vulnerability in fostering growth, and the necessity of staying committed to one’s journey, no matter how daunting it may seem.

From Survival to Self-Love: Lisa’s Origin Story

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 20:54:11 GMT

Where Lisa started

In a world where many strive to meet the expectations of others, Lisa Grace's journey of self-discovery offers a refreshing perspective on personal growth. As a mother of three and a successful real estate agent, Lisa realized that despite her achievements, she had lost touch with her true self. This is where my transformation starts. A journey to joyful living that I didn’t know I was taking. Not because I didn’t need it, but because I didn’t know it was accessible and how to get there.

Understanding the Journey

Lisa's journey began in Idaho, where she dedicated her life to her family, marrying young and raising her children. For years, her identity was intertwined with those around her, leading to a lack of self-awareness. "I didn't know me," she reflects, sharing how she often adopted the interests of others, much like Julia Roberts' character in the movie "Runaway Bride."

The Turning Point

After more than a decade in real estate, Lisa achieved financial success, earning up to a million dollars a year. However, she realized that external achievements did not equate to internal happiness. "I had happiness and there were happy things...but when it came down to it, happiness and joy were really the exception," she admits. This realization became a catalyst for change when Lisa found herself divorced at 44, prompting her to confront long-buried emotions and patterns of behavior that had shaped her life.

The Emotional American Ninja Warrior

Lisa describes her self-discovery process as an "emotional American Ninja Warrior," where she faced her fears and insecurities head-on. Through introspection, she unearthed the behaviors that had once served her but were no longer beneficial. "I was surviving, not living," she shares, emphasizing the importance of recognizing harmful patterns to foster true joy and fulfillment.

Planning for Transformation

Recognizing the need for a significant change, Lisa set a bold goal: to travel to Italy for an entire month to celebrate her newfound self-love. "I didn't know when...but I made it possible" she states, demonstrating the power of intention and planning. With careful preparation, she ensured her responsibilities were managed while she embarked on this life-changing journey.

Embracing New Experiences

Lisa's trip to Italy symbolizes more than just a vacation; it's a quest to discover what she truly loves and gives her time to get to know herself. "I want to learn to love and know myself even better."

Helping Others Transform

Lisa's ultimate goal is to guide others on their own paths to self-love and transformation. She acknowledges the common struggle of feeling trapped and the misconception that significant life changes are necessary for growth. "You can be happy no matter what your external circumstances," she reassures, offering hope and practical advice for those seeking to break free from their patterns and live the life they have been yearning for.

Lisa's journey illustrates the importance of self-awareness and the courage it takes to confront one's true self. Through her experiences, she emphasizes that self-love is not just about external achievements but about understanding and embracing who you are.

Key takeaways from Lisa's journey include:

Recognize and confront harmful patterns in your life.
Set bold intentions for personal transformation.
Explore new experiences that align with your true self.
Understand that happiness can exist regardless of external circumstances.