The Resilience and Grit Podcast

What if the impossible isn't nearly as far away as you think?

Inspired by a powerful quote attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, today I share lessons from my journey to Assisi, Italy, and the unexpected adventure of launching this very podcast.

Whether you're facing adversity, rebuilding your life, or pursuing a dream that feels out of reach, remember: You don't have to figure out the entire journey. You just have to take the next step. Because extraordinary transformations begin with ordinary steps of courage, resilience, and grit. And here's the Peace Prayer of St. Francis that I mention:

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Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi (Prayer for Peace)

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:

where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console,

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

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Kathleen DuBois: https://resilience-and-grit.captivate.fm/

What happens when love isn't enough--at least not yet?

In this heartfelt guest episode, my amazing niece (in law) Mary DuBois shares her remarkable journey of young love, heartbreak, self-discovery, and finding her way back to the man she would eventually marry (ahem, my amazing nephew, and podcast engineer, Francis) .

Through faith, resilience, and personal growth, Mary reminds us that sometimes we need to grow individually before we can truly flourish together.

A beautiful story of second chances, trusting God's timing, and finding joy even in life's messiest chapters.

Kathleen DuBois - https://resilience-and-grit.captivate.fm/

What if resilience isn’t just about getting through hard times, but actively participating in our own healing?

In this episode, I share an unexpected, recent conversation with the orthopedic doctor who treated my broken wrist last year after a hiking accident. His advice during my recovery was simple: do the work and envision yourself as healed.

Those words apply to so much more than a broken bone. Whatever difficult chapter we’re navigating, hope gives us a vision for what’s possible, but we still have to take the next step, do the work, and keep showing up.

And remember: slow progress is still progress.

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Episode 4 where I tell the story of my hiking accident and breaking my right wrist in multiple places: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/4-the-art-of-navigating-hard-things/id1868855299?i=1000748342045

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Kathleen DuBois https://resilience-and-grit.captivate.fm/

“What you cannot confront, you can never conquer.”

That bit of wisdom from my neighbor Greg’s front-porch whiteboard stopped me in my tracks. Because resilience and grit aren’t about avoiding the hard stuff, they’re about having the courage to face it.

In this episode, I talk about why honest, clear communication is essential when navigating life’s challenges. No beating around the bush. No hiding. No going radio silent. We can be loving and direct at the same time.

Sometimes the path forward begins with simply facing it, naming it, talking about it--and taking the next right step.

Kathleen DuBois - https://resilience-and-grit.captivate.fm/

How much beauty are we missing simply because we aren't looking for it?

In this episode, I share a simple thought from my friend Greg that stopped me in my tracks: “The amount of beautiful things in your life depends on your ability to notice them.”

Life isn't always easy or perfect. But even in difficult seasons, there are beautiful little moments all around us.

My challenge this week? Notice. Look for the good. Look for the beautiful. Because the more we look for it, the more we begin to see it.

Kathleen DuBois - https://resilience-and-grit.captivate.fm/

In today's episode, I share one of the hardest chapters of my life: going from financial abundance to flat broke and deep in debt, and then the hard journey I took to rebuild myself. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes.

I share the mistakes I made, the fear and shame I carried, the tough choices that helped me turn things around, and the steps that ultimately led me to becoming completely debt free on September 10, 2019.

Seven years later, I have something I once could barely imagine: financial peace.

If you’re struggling with money, debt, or simply trying to recover from a difficult season, I hope my story reminds you that you can indeed change your trajectory, even when things seem impossible. You can rebuild. And you can come back stronger.

Books and authors that helped change my financial life:

The Richest Man in Babylon - George S. Clason

The Energy of Money - Maria Nemeth

Think and Grow Rich - Napoleon Hill

The Total Money Makeover - Dave Ramsey

I mentioned that my financial advisor extraordinaire (Cassandra McNulty) is with a wonderful company called Creative Planning https://creativeplanning.com/

Kathleen DuBois - https://resilience-and-grit.captivate.fm/

The people we surround ourself with matters!

In this episode, I reflect on how ordinary time spent with positive, uplifting people can leave us feeling lighter, stronger and more hopeful. And I share personal development expert Jim Rohn’s famous idea that we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with, and why I’m becoming more intentional about who gets my time and influence.

And then I turn the question around: Am I the kind of person who leaves others stronger than I found them?

Who’s in your five and who are you in theirs?

Kathleen DuBois - https://resilience-and-grit.captivate.fm/

In today's episode, I share what learning to play golf is teaching me about being a beginner, embracing discomfort, and letting other people see me while I’m still learning.

I’m discovering that getting better can sometimes feel like getting worse and that there’s something incredibly rewarding about earning improvement through practice, frustration, perseverance and simply showing up again.

My biggest takeaway? We are never too old or too accomplished to be beginners. I want to keep learning, stretching and trying things that make me a little uncomfortable. Because sometimes the things that challenge and humble us are the very things that remind us just how alive we are.

Onward and upward,

Kathleen J. DuBois

#KathleenDuBois #ResilienceAndGrit

Two simple ideas completely changed the way I think about the impact we have on others.

In this episode, I explore the difference between battery people and vacuum people and the timeless wisdom to be a lighthouse, not a tugboat. You'll discover how your attitude, words, and presence can either drain those around you—or leave them stronger, more hopeful, and ready to face life's challenges.

This episode is dedicated to my incredible golf coach, Bob.

Thank you for reminding me that great coaches don't just improve our performance, they build our confidence, recharge our spirits, and help us rediscover the joy in the game.

#KathleenDuBois #ResilienceAndGrit

Adversity is something we all have in common. In this episode, I share why I believe resilience isn't built when life is easy. It's forged in the moments when we choose grace over reaction, courage over fear, and faith over despair. Together, we'll explore how adversity can become one of our greatest teachers and how, with time, even our deepest pain can be transformed into purpose.

If you're walking through a difficult season, I hope this episode reminds you that you're stronger than you think, you're not alone, and that grace is always a choice. We've got this!