Brilliantly Resilient

The most important foundational pillar of being Brilliantly Resilient for me is perception. It is how you are seeing your challenges. Are you looking at your life the way it "should be," or are you seeing what "could be?"  ~Kristin Smedley How do you see your challenges? No one looks at challenges as a blessing, at least not at first. But many people report feeling as though their challenges changed them in positive ways--once the crisis was navigated. Brilliantly Resilient co-founder Kristin Smedley recognizes that challenges can leave us stuck in the negative if we don't intentionally seek a way forward. For us here at Brilliantly Resilient, that way forward frequesntly lies in our perception of our problems. We're often stuck in the way we believe our lives should be, frustrated by circumstances that keep us from living the lives we want, or believe we deserve.  Yet, as Kristin tells us, once we let go of what we believe our lives should be and make room for what could be, we begin to uncover not only solutions to problems, but new ways of seeing the world that provide opportunities for growth, success and happiness.  As we reset with resilience, perception is one of the foundational pillars of living a Brilliantly Resilient life. Tune in to this episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast for more of Kristin's wit and wisdom, and be sure to pick up your copy of the book, Brilliantly Resilient, on Amazon! Learn more about Kristin's work at https://kristinsmedley.com/. Let's be Brilliantly Resilient together! XO, Kristin & Mary Fran  

Let's wake up every day and let's be on fire about a contribution that we're making to a broader audience. ~ Aleta Norris What's your purpose? Yes, it's a heavy question–one most of us grapple with often. But we can start to find our purpose once we look beyond ourselves. Aleta Norris, best-selling author of Women Who Spark and Women Who Spark After 50, joins the Brilliantly Resilient podcast to share her wisdom about how to live happy, successful lives when our life journey doesn't always match the visions of our younger selves. Despite experiencing hardships and challenges, Aleta assures women that life, especially in its second half, can contain joy, opportunity, and purpose, provided we learn to look outside of our own circumstances and recognize that good and bad can co-exist. With a process-oriented and pragmatic system, Aleta guides women towards vitality and fulfillment, urging us all to be "fully used up" by the end of our journeys. Here at Brilliantly Resilient, we believe that service to others can open the door to discovering one's purpose and brilliance. Once we tap into our resilience to navigate our challenges and define our values, we not only learn what's most important to us, but we uncover ways we can contribute to the greater good, giving our lives meaning. Tune in for more of Aleta's wisdom and be sure to listen for these additional bits of brilliance: When the yucky stuff hasn't happened yet, we spend time focusing only on ourselves. Those of us who reach that crappy part in our lives are blessed, because that's the wake-up call. Our difficulties are our gift if we decide to make them our gift. Look at your life in decades. The 30's and 40's are very difficult decades. The messy middle. But it's not always going to be like that. Accept it for what it is but remember there is so much ahead. You can be good enough at something. You don't have to be great. I'm a good enough mom. Think about the things you love without having to turn it into a decision right away. Let's be Brilliantly Resilient together! XO, Mary Fran & Kristin  

We are always looking for signs of domestic violence, but we hear them more often than we see them. Domestic violence doesn't always look like broken bones and bruises. I was living in domestic abuse and I didn't even know it. ~ Dr. Jennifer Gardella Do you know anyone who is experiencing domestic abuse? Are you sure? As Dr. Jennifer Gardella aptly notes, domestic abuse is not always visible. In fact, if we listen, we can "hear" domestic abuse more often than we can see it. Cutting through all areas of class, education or outward success, many women are experiencing domestic abuse, but because they don't have the physical bruises to show for it, they themselves don't always recognize that they are living with domestic violence. In her new book, Listen for the Whispers of Abuse, Dr. Gardella, herself a victim of domestic abuse, offers signs of abuse including: Feeling you are always "walking on eggshells" around your partner. Having no control over your money or your personal schedule. Not being allowed to make decisions. Being told you are "crazy" or being yelled at for somehow not measuring up to your partner's expectations. Here at Brilliantly Resilient, we know the importance of a tribe. If you suspect a loved one is experiencing domestic abuse, here are some of Dr. Gardella's suggestions to lend support to the victim: "If you hear any inkling of 'I need to get out of here' start to talk to your loved one about safety planning." "Let her know that wherever she is on her journey, you are a safe space and will support her no matter what." "Reach out to other friends and ask 'Are we all seeing this?'" "Drip information whenever you can." Be sure to tune into this episode of The Brilliantly Resilient podcast, get Dr. Gardella's book, and call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 for more information. Let's be Brilliantly Resilient together! XO, Kristin & Mary Fran  

Some people think of marketing as flash. I was Facebook rich and client poor for 5 years. Stop friending your peers, they aren't your clients. ~ Tai Goodwin Are you an entrepreneur? If you own or promote a business, how much time do you spend posting on social media? Better yet, how much time do you spend posting on social media and assume that you are marketing your business?  Tai Goodwin, founder of That Marketing Team, knows about the distinction. As Tai notes, "The internet has made the barrier of entry very low. But people don't want to do the unsexy research to figure out who their best audience is. There is a skill set that has to be learned to be successful."  Getting likes on social media makes us feel good. But we can't just post about our business or work and assume the right people are seeing it. As Tai reminds us, we have to do the hard work of digging deep, homing in on our customer base, articulating who we are, and building relationships with our audience.  Here at Brilliantly Resilient, we understand the value of relationships. Yet, it's important to focus on building the right relationships, especially in business. And Tai knows a few things about resilience, too, like recognizing that receiving what we ask for takes the resilience to know we have to do the work to get it. (Be sure to listen from minute 33 on for some true Brilliance from Tai!)  Tune in to hear more of Tai's wisdom on this episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast, and find out more about Tai at www.thatmarketingteam.com. Let's be Brilliantly Resilient together! XO, Mary Fran & Kristin  

Getting sucker-punched is part of everyone's journey. Sometimes the most successful people had more worst moments to share with the audience. But it always came back to them being resilient, getting up again, swinging that bat and eventually connecting and hitting that single, double, home run or sometimes grand slam. ~ John Lee Dumas, EOFire Have you ever envied—just a little—people who are highly successful? Have you ever thought their lives were somehow charmed and problem free? Have you ever thought—that could never be me; I've been knocked down too many times? John Lee Dumas has interviewed hundreds of hugely successful entrepreneurs, all with one major thing in common—sucker punches. As JLD notes, no one is spared challenges; it's being willing to tap into your resilience and get up to swing again that makes one successful. Coupled with intense focus, a grateful perspective and action with skills and knowledge, JLD believes that if you have a chance to try, you can move towards a win. Tune into hear more of JLD's wisdom on this episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast, and be sure to check out our episode on EOFire, which JLD has declared one of his classics! Let's be Brilliantly Resilient together! XO, Mary Fran & Kristin

For several seasons we've been bringing you all of the stories about how if we can do it, you can do it. Then it was with our guests, if they can do it, you can do it. But people were asking okay, "But how? How do you do it?"  ~ Kristin Smedley We're back!! Welcome back to a New Season of Brilliantly Resilient Live! As former teachers and moms, September is our New Year. We get excited about new beginnings and this new season of Brilliantly Resilient is just that. We're changing it up a bit this season. We'll still be brining you great content and great guests. But we're also going to dig into what caused us to create Brilliantly Resilient in the first place. We both experienced our own traumatic sucker punches and train wrecks, but after meeting one another we realized that our process to navigate our crises was very similar. It's that process--the how we did it, and still do it--that we're going to offer you in a slightly different way. So this season, you'll be seeing us together, with guests, and separately, as we share our individual takes on what it means to live with a Brilliantly Resilient mindset. As we continue to grow, we want to help you do the same. And to that end, did you know that we bring Brilliantly Resilient on the road? Over the past several years, we've been honored and proud to bring Brilliantly Resilient to many companies, ERGs (Employee Resource Groups), conferences and associations, both in person and virtually. It's a joy to hear how the B.R. process resonates with others both professionally and personally. So if you'd like to have us join you at work or with a group, drop us a line at howdy@brilliantlyresilient.net  or get our speaker kit to learn more. Meanwhile, enjoy this new season and happy September to all! Let's be Brilliantly Resilient together! XO, Mary Fran & Kristin

Doubt can go two ways: One direction leads to fear, the other to hope. ~ Dr. Lee Warren: Hope is the First Dose What does it mean to hope? As children, we hope for a bike for Christmas or a puppy. As we grow, hope may be in the form of a prom date. But as we grow, and life brings its challenges, it becomes harder to hope, sometimes resulting in depression or despair. Dr. Lee Warren has survived more than most--divorce, war, the loss of a child to an unsolved murder. Any one might crush a spirit. Yet Lee continues to turn to hope in God to find meaning and purpose in life, despite admitting to doubt and questioning, which he notes are part of the human journey. Lee has continued to inspire us here at Brilliantly Resilient with his encouragement and belief--leading us to continue to hope and move towards a greater purpose. Read more about Hope is the First Dose, below and be sure to tune into Lee's episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast. To get the full B.R. Summer Reading list, click here. Lee Warren: Hope is the First Dose A practicing neurosurgeon and award-winning author shares his roadmap to finding hope and even happiness when the worst happens—by placing trust in God—in this powerful memoir of personal tragedy, grief, and recovery. In Hope Is the First Dose, Dr. Warren offers tender empathy and hard-won insights to give you tangible hope. No matter what you're facing, it doesn't have to be the end of you. Let Dr. Warren help you find your way back to a new season of hope, faith, peace—and even happiness. The first dose is hope—and it comes in the form of grace from the skilled hands of the Great Physician. Tune into Lee's episode of the Brilliantly Resilient Podcast! Let's be Brilliantly Resilient together! XO, Kristin and Mary Fran

I went to Ukraine thinking I'd find victims of war and recipients of humanitarian aid. What I found were civilians creatively, consciously engaging in what was going on around them. Every person had their own process as a starting point to resilience. ~ Greta Uehling: 'Everyday War' Can you imagine life in a war zone? For those of us living in the United States, life in a war zone is something we observe from afar. The images we most often see are devastating, showing civilians huddling in fear near bombed out homes and cities. Yet, when Dr. Greta Uehling visited Ukraine to better learn how civilians were coping with the war, she discovered resilience and brilliance as people often "made choices based on others' vulnerability," discovering also that "relationships became essential to resilience." Dr. Uehling's book, Everyday War illustrates how individuals found their worldview shifting as they discovered the importance of relationships, awareness of others' suffering and the usefulness of transferable skills in navigating life in a war zone with resilience. Here at Brilliantly Resilient, we've often said that the roots of resilience and brilliance can often be found in service to others. The week's reader's pick illustrated that in a beautiful and poignant way, even amid a war-torn country.  Read on for more on Everyday War and be sure to tun into Dr. Uehling's episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast. To get the full Brilliantly Resilient Summer Reading list, click here. Let's be Brilliantly Resilient together! Greta Uehling: Everyday War  In Ukraine, landscapes filled with death and destruction prompted attentiveness to human vulnerabilities and the cultivation of everyday, interpersonal peace. What goes through the mind of a mother who must send her child to school across a minefield or the men who belong to groups of volunteer body collectors? In Ukraine, such questions have been part of the daily calculus of life. Greta Uehling engages with the lives of ordinary people living in and around the armed conflict over Donbas that began in 2014 and shows how conventional understandings of war are incomplete. Everyday War considers where peace can be cultivated at an everyday level. Tune into Dr. Uehling's episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast! XO, Kristin and Mary Fran

Bad things happen. It's what we do with them. Grace is defined as an undeserved, unmerited gift. I've been given a gift. ~ Geralyn Ritter: 'Bone by Bone Have you ever experienced devastating trauma? We've all had challenges, but thankfully, most of us have never had to deal with crushing, life-altering trauma. Geralyn Ritter knows what can happen to change life in an instant. In 2015, a terrifying train crash changed Geralyn's life in a moment--forever changing who she was and who she would continue to become. Here at Brilliantly Resilient, we talk often about life's challenges, but rarely do we encounter someone who so perfectly personifies the Brilliantly Resilient mindset. Geralyn has utilized her experiences to become a force of light and life to all who hear her story. Learn more about Geralyn's best seller, Bone by Bone, below: Geralyn Ritter: Bone By Bone On May 12, 2015, Amtrak 188 derailed outside of Philadelphia going 106 miles per hour. Geralyn Ritter was thrown from the train and sustained catastrophic injuries to her chest, her abdomen, and her pelvis. After enduring weeks in the ICU, dozens of surgeries over the following years, unremitting pain, PTSD, depression, and opioid dependence, Geralyn was faced with a daunting question: beyond mere survival after trauma, where is the path back to joy? Bone by Bone shares her powerful story of resilience with humor, grace, and no-holds-barred honesty. Bone by Bone addresses the long-lasting impact of sudden trauma and extends hope--from the perspective of someone who has been there and back. Tune into Geralyn's episode of the Brilliantly Resilient Podcast! Be sure to pick up a copy of Bone by Bone and click here to get the full Brilliantly Resilient Summer 2023 Reading List! Let's be Brilliantly Resilient together! XO, Mary Fran & Kristin

S.E.L.F. Serve others, Eat and exercise, Learn something, Forgive somebody. ~ Rob Kenney: 'Dad, How Do I?' Everyone has, or had, a dad. But not everyone has been lucky enough to have a great relationship with their father. Rob Kenney, a.k.a. "Dad, How Do I?" was one of those people. After a challenging childhood, Rob eventually became a father himself, and decided to become a virtual dad to anyone who needed one. We've interviewed many folks here at Brilliantly Resilient, and we can honestly say that Rob is one of our absolute favorites. With great warmth, authenticity, and a ton of "dad jokes," Rob forges relationships with people he's never met who come to see him as a surrogate father. Read on for more about this wonderful dad and be sure to check out Rob's book and his episode on the Brilliantly Resilient podcast. Rob Kenney: Dad, How Do I? Rob Kenney's father left him and his seven siblings when he was fourteen years old, and the youngest had to fend for themselves. He wished that he had someone who could teach him the basics—how to tie a tie, jump-start a car, unclog a drain, use tools properly—as well as succeed in life. Now a father himself, Rob decided that he would help people out by providing how-to tips as well as advice—and even throw in some bad dad jokes. He started a YouTube channel for anyone looking for fatherly advice, gaining millions of views for his how-to and inspirational videos. In this book, Rob shares his story of overcoming a difficult childhood with the strength of faith and family and offers inspiration and hope as well as providing 50 practical DYI instructions. Tune into Rob's episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast! Get the entire Brilliantly Resilient Summer Reading List here! Let's be Brilliantly Resilient together! XO, Kristin & Mary Fran