What if the pain you carry isn’t just your own, but part of something greater that’s asking to be healed together?

This idea broke something loose during my conversation with spiritual teacher Blaise Kennedy. We’ve all been taught to heal alone, to “go within, " to figure it out by ourselves. But Blaise brought a new lens—one that views healing not as a solo pursuit but as something deeply relational. It’s what he calls healing through connection—and once you feel it, you can’t un-feel it.

In this episode of Grief 2 Growth, Blaise and I unpack what happens when we stop treating our pain as a personal problem and start seeing it as a shared path toward awakening.

What I Learned About Healing Through Connection

Healing through connection means we don’t have to go through our hardest moments alone. And we’re not supposed to.

In the West, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to figure things out by sheer willpower. But as Blaise shared, our nervous systems were never designed to carry trauma in isolation. They’re designed to co-regulate—to heal in the presence of others.

“You can’t let things live inside you that are painful or difficult… you need connection.” —Blaise Kennedy

When I heard that, it struck a chord. I’ve always believed in the power of presence. But Blaise helped me see that being witnessed is part of the healing—not just a support to it.

Trauma Isn’t Only Personal— It’s Generational

Blaise’s story resonated with me deeply. He lost his father when he was just 12. For the next 12 years, he didn’t have a safe space to process that loss. No one talked about it. No one held space for it. So it got buried.

I’ve worked with so many people who’ve been through the same thing. We often don’t realize what we’re carrying didn’t even start with us. Our pain can be inherited. Our trauma can be generational.

“If you look at the challenges that you have… you can realize you’re basically working on problems your ancestors didn’t get to yet.” —Blaise Kennedy

This is the heart of intergenerational trauma. And it reminded me that grief is rarely just ours—it’s collective. And it’s sacred work to break the cycle.

The Sacred Power of Feeling Together

One of the most profound ideas Blaise shared was the practice of feeling together.

Not just expressing feelings. Not just being in the same room. But truly feeling an emotion in the presence of someone who’s tuned in and witnessing it with love.

“When I feel sadness, and I know someone is here with me, it changes how my body processes it.” —Blaise Kennedy

This isn't therapy. It's not performance. It’s connection at its rawest and most healing. And it’s something I believe many of us in grief are quietly craving.

That need to be witnessed—to be seen in our sadness, not fixed, not avoided—is foundational. And when we’re met there, everything shifts.

How the Spiritual Path Can Sometimes Lead Us Away from Connection

I’ve spent years exploring spiritual practices. I believe in going within, but I’ve noticed how spirituality can sometimes become another form of isolation.

Blaise pointed this out with clarity. The emphasis on individual enlightenment, personal growth, and inner peace can sometimes disconnect us from others.

“We aren’t separate beings. That’s not the design of the nervous system or of human consciousness.” —Blaise Kennedy

Real growth doesn’t happen in a vacuum. And if we’re not including each other in our journey, we might be missing the most important part.

Awakening to the Light We Each Carry

This part gave connected with me on a deep level.

Blaise teaches that each of us brings a unique “light” into the world. A soul-level energy, a purpose, a calling. And it’s not just a poetic idea. It’s real.

“Every single human being brings light into the world. This world needs the light that you bring.” —Blaise Kennedy

When my daughter Shayna passed away, part of what carried me through was the belief that her light didn’t end—it continues to shine through me. Through Grief 2 Growth. Through every person she’s touched.

We don’t just heal. We awaken. And that awakening helps us manifest our soul’s calling. That’s the work. That’s the invitation.

Community as a Catalyst for Transformation

In the past, healing often meant leaving the world—monks, ashrams, silent retreats.

But what if community is the future of healing?

Blaise believes it is. And I’m with him. The next evolution of spiritual development is relational. It’s ordinary people showing up for each other with extraordinary presence.

“What if your friends and family could become part of your healing journey?” —Blaise Kennedy

This is what I’m building here at Grief 2 Growth. A community where it’s safe to be honest. Where we hold space for each other’s stories. Where your grief isn’t a burden—it’s a bridge.

Key Takeaways from Our Conversation

Here’s what I hope you walk away with, just like I did:

* You don’t have to heal alone.

* Your trauma might be bigger than you, and that’s okay.

* You carry light. You matter. The world needs your presence.

* Real healing happens when someone sees you in your pain and stays.

* The next step doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be real.

Take the Next Step With Us

If any part of this conversation touched something in you, I want you to know—you’re not alone. You were never meant to do this alone.

That’s why I created the Grief 2 Growth community. It’s a space to feel seen. To share. To be held. Whether you’re grieving, healing, or just beginning to awaken—there’s room for you.

👉 Join us here: grief2growth.com/community

About Blaise Kennedy

Blaise is a spiritual teacher, trauma integrator, and founder of a global community rooted in relational healing. His work centers on helping people reconnect to their bodies, their purpose, and to the collective field we all share.

🌐 Website: blaisekennedy.com📺 YouTube: @BlaiseKennedy

Thanks for reading, and for being part of this movement. If this conversation inspired you, please share it. Someone out there needs your light.

— Brian D. SmithFounder, Grief 2 Growth

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit grief2growth.substack.com/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit grief2growth.substack.com/subscribe