When the person closest to you triggers the version of yourself you’ve worked so hard to leave behind, how do you find your way back?

In this deeply personal and unfiltered episode of Grace Lives Here, I’m stepping behind the mic from a place I usually try to hide. The "in-between." After a small comment escalated into a night of spiraling, self-doubt, and the temptation to "burn it all down," I’m exploring why progress feels so fragile and why we are so quick to question our worth when things get uncomfortable.

We often think we have to wait until we are past the chaos before we can share our story or help others. But today, I’m realizing that grace doesn't wait for the finished product.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Unbecoming Process: Why healing is less about "becoming" and more about undoing the patterns that no longer serve us.

• Handling Triggers: How to navigate the "injury talking" when unguarded moments with loved ones make us feel small.

• The Power of Being Unfinished: Why it’s okay to offer light and hope even on the days you can’t see it clearly for yourself.

• Self-Blame vs. Responsibility: Learning to take ownership of our healing without falling into the trap of self-punishment.

If you’ve ever felt like walking away because you took one step forward and two steps back, this episode is for you. We are allowed to be works in progress. We are allowed to need time.

Because right here—in the middle of the undoing—is exactly where Grace lives.

Grace Lives Here is made from moments like this one. If your story connects to it, you’re part of it too.

You can reach me here: 👉 https://secondstorystudios.org

Or email me directly at: 👉 secondstorystudios.creative@gmail.com

— Kris

Episode 4: I Survived, But I Wasn’t Free Yet

We talk a lot about surviving hard things. We don’t talk nearly enough about what happens after.

In this episode of Grace Lives Here, I share what it looked like to survive a life-altering illness and realize that survival didn’t automatically mean peace. The danger had passed, but my body hadn’t gotten the message yet. We talk about panic, a nervous system stuck on high alert, and why you can look “fine” on the outside while still bracing for impact on the inside. I share what I didn’t understand then, what I’m learning now, and how listening to your body instead of fighting it can be the next step forward. This episode includes: What it means to live in the after of survival Why your body can stay on guard long after the threat is gone A simple, honest invitation to journal without fixing or forcing Gentle prompts to help you listen to what your nervous system has been carrying

If you’ve ever thought, I made it through… so why doesn’t it feel over? This conversation is for you. No pressure. No homework. Just space to breathe, listen, and begin again. Because this is where Grace lives.

If this episode resonated with you and you feel like sharing your story — even if you’re still right in the middle of it — I’d love to hear from you.

Grace Lives Here is a space for honest about healing, fear, and becoming the person you were meant to be. And that includes your voice.

You can reach me here: https://secondstorystudios.org Or email me directly at: secondstorystudios.creative@gmail.com — Kris

Why It Feels Like We Ruin Things When They Start to Go Right Grace Lives Here – Episode 3

Why does fear show up after things begin to feel better?

In this episode of Grace Lives Here, we talk about the part of healing no one prepares you for.

The moments after progress, when clarity arrives and your nervous system doesn’t know what to do with it yet.

I share a deeply personal story about a night when everything looked fine on the outside… and suddenly wasn’t on the inside.

We explore why anxiety, shame, and self-doubt often surface after growth, especially following trauma, chronic illness, or long seasons of survival.

This episode isn’t about self-sabotage or fixing yourself.

It’s about learning why fear can feel louder when life starts to open up, andhow writing became a place to tell the truth instead of running from it.

If you’ve ever thought, “I should feel better by now… so why don’t I?” This conversation is for you.

In this episode of Grace Lives Here, we explore why anxiety and fear often appear after progress, not just during the hardest moments. Drawing from lived experience, we talk about trauma recovery, nervous system regulation, shame, overthinking, and why clarity and purpose can feel unsettling after long periods of survival.

This episode discusses healing after illness, emotional regulation, self- doubt, journaling for self-awareness, and the misconception of self- sabotage. It’s a reflective conversation about learning to stay present with fear, understanding nervous system responses, and finding grace in moments of discomfort and change. Listeners who are navigating personal growth, trauma healing, anxiety, creative work, or identity shifts will find reassurance and connection here.

If this episode resonated with you and you feel like sharing your story, even if you’re still right in the middle of it, I’d love to hear from you.

Grace Lives Here is a space for honest conversations about healing, fear, and becoming the person you were meant to be. And that includes sharing your voice.

You can reach me here: https://secondstorystudios.org Or email me directly at: secondstorystudios.creative@gmail.com — Kris