What would you do if you started losing your sight in high school—and by graduation, the world had gone completely dark?

In this episode of Dancing in the Discomfort Zone, I sit down with Laura Bratton, (Www.laurabratton.com) speaker, author, and founder of Ubi Global, whose story proves that adversity doesn’t define you...your mindset does. Diagnosed with a rare eye disease at nine years old, Laura lost her vision completely as a teenager. But instead of getting stuck in grief, she built her life around two unshakable pillars: grit and gratitude.

Laura shares how she learned to transform obstacles into opportunities, from becoming the first blind student to earn a master’s degree in theology from Princeton to launching a global organization that helps others navigate change with courage. Her book, Harnessing Courage: Overcoming Adversity with Grit and Gratitude, dives into exactly how she did it, and in this conversation, she gives us a front-row seat to that journey.

Her approach is refreshingly real: she doesn’t sugarcoat struggle or preach toxic positivity. Instead, she shows how acknowledging hard emotions, setting long-term goals, and practicing daily gratitude can turn even the toughest transitions into growth.

What You’ll Hear About

• The real definition of grit (it’s not just pushing through)
• How daily gratitude rewires your mindset for resilience
• The difference between moving on and moving forward
• How clear communication creates connection and confidence
• Practical steps to thrive through any major life change

Laura’s story will make you rethink what’s possible—and remind you that thriving starts with how you choose to see the world.