Grit, Gratitude & Going Blind: Laura Bratton on Navigating Loss, Grief and Resilience

[Note: Apologies for the few moments of echo]

(Ai assist:) As a teenager, Laura Bratton was diagnosed with a rare, still-unnamed eye disease that left her completely blind. What followed was intense grief, depression, panic attacks, and the terrifying question: “How do I keep going?”

In this raw and uplifting conversation Laura shares how she refused to let blindness define or defeat her. She reveals the turning points that rebuilt her life:

- Permission to grieve for a lifetime while still moving forward

- The unexpected power of family, friends, and community who treated her exactly the same

- Discovering mindfulness and learning to observe (not fuse with) painful thoughts

- Cultivating genuine gratitude—not for blindness itself, but for the tools that helped her navigate it

- Redefining “grit” as acknowledging emotions and choosing courage anyway

0:00 Introduction & Welcome – Meet Laura Bratton

0:12 Who Is Laura? Speaker, Coach, Author on Grit & Gratitude

0:55 Laura's Story: Becoming Totally Blind as a Teenager

1:49 The Undiagnosed Rare Eye Disease – Initial Reactions

2:18 From Denial → Intense Grief, Depression & Panic Attacks

4:02 The Lifelong Grieving Process – Permission to Grieve Forever

5:20 Grieving & Moving Forward Can Coexist

7:31 Support Systems: Actions Over Words (Parents, Brother, Community)

9:53 Healthy Interdependence vs. Independence in Grief

11:22 Common Misconceptions & Funny Reactions to Blindness

12:36 Discovering Mindfulness – Resistance to Transformation

14:18 Game-Changer: Observing Thoughts Without Becoming Them

15:52 Body Scan, Tension Release & Listening to the Body

19:00 Breath Awareness – Diaphragmatic Breathing for Anxiety

20:19 Integrating Mindfulness into Daily Life (Slow Reminders)

21:09 Eyes Closed vs. Open in Meditation – Inner vs. Outer World

24:19 Daily Gratitude Practice – Starting Small & Stubbornly

26:03 Cultivating Gratitude Mindset (Not Gratitude for the Pain)

27:52 Reframing: Grateful for Resources to Navigate Difficulty

29:24 Authenticity in Affirmations – Aspiration Over Delusion

31:23 Defining Grit: Courage to Feel & Keep Going Anyway

33:54 Acknowledging Pain Without Judgment – Self-Compassion Practice

36:57 Extending Compassion to Others After Giving It to Yourself

39:13 We're Not Alone – Universal Human Emotions Connect Us

41:15 Peaks & Valleys of Life – Nothing Lasts Forever

42:10 Where to Find Laura: Website, Book & Speaking

43:03 Book Spotlight: Harnessing Courage – Story + Tools for Adversity

44:56 Final Message: You Are Enough – Harnessing Courage Every Day

Author of Harnessing Courage and a sought-after speaker and coach, Laura now teaches organizations and individuals how to face massive change with grit and gratitude. Her message is universal: no matter what life takes from you, you are still enough—and you can keep going.

A deeply human episode about loss, resilience, mindfulness, and the courage to feel it all.

LauraBratton.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-bratton-speaking

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