What has someone had to live through to become the person we now describe as resilient?

In this episode of Reframing Resilience I'm joined by Sarah Brason, Grief Navigator, creative entrepreneur and brand strategist.

Sarah and I explore what it really means to be seen as strong and resilient and the experiences that can sit behind those labels.

We talk about the burden that can come with being “the strong one”, why appearing resilient doesn't mean we aren't struggling and how being seen as capable can sometimes make it harder to ask for help.

Sarah openly shares some of the experiences that have shaped her own understanding of resilience, including sexual assault when she was 19 and the loss of her daughter Rowan before she was born. We talk about grief, survival, vulnerability, the emotions we don't always expect to feel and the importance of giving ourselves space to actually feel and process what we've been through.

Sarah shares a powerful analogy; a seed has to sit in the darkness and crack open before it can grow. Perhaps resilience is similar. We don't have to be grateful for the difficult things that happen to us but they become part of our story and can shape the strength and capacity we carry forward.

This conversation left me reflecting on something I think we often forget: when you look at someone who seems incredibly strong or resilient, take a moment to wonder what they may have lived through to become that person.

Resilience isn't something we're born with. It is built, slowly, through what we've experienced, processed and survived.

And sometimes resilience might not be about pushing through at all. It might be about having the capacity to stop, listen and feel.

About Sarah

Sarah Brason is a Grief Navigator, creative entrepreneur and brand strategist who loves exploring the intersection of creativity, resilience and human potential.

She believes that even the hardest experiences can teach us something meaningful and is passionate about helping others embrace who they are and what's possible for them next.

Find Sarah

Website: griefnavigator.co.uk
Instagram: @grief_navigator
LinkedIn: Sarah Brason - Own Your Story

Content note: This episode includes discussion of sexual assault, baby loss and grief.