Grit 'n' Grace: The Podcast for Highly Sensitive Christian Women

Are you tired of tying yourself into a pretzel just to prove you're not "high maintenance"? In this episode of Grit 'n' Grace — The Podcast for Highly Sensitive Christian Women, Cheri Gregory shares three simple but life-changing habits to help you stop merely surviving and start truly thriving as a Highly Sensitive Person. Learn how to stop force-fitting yourself, discover what genuinely works for you, and find assurance in the custom-tailored care of Jesus. Let's move beyond the overwhelm and step into thriving together! https://CheriGregory.com/episode277

January can feel like everyone else hit the “GO” button while I'm still standing in my living room wondering if a bomb went off over the holidays. If you’re still putting decorations away, finding glitter in places glitter shouldn't be, and feeling like you’re already behind on a year you just started, I want to invite you to take a breath — you’re not doing anything wrong. Today I want to talk about the gift of a gentle start—especially for Highly Sensitive People. No rushing into the new year.  No reinventing yourself with "New Year, New You!" No pressure to hit the ground running. (In fact, you don't need to hit anything... ) I want to invite us to take a calmer, kinder approach to the new year.Links: Learn about The Sensitive & Strong Community Cafe https://sensitiveandstrongbook.com/sensitive-strong-community-cafe/ Take the “Am I a Highly Sensitive Person?” Self-Quiz https://cherigregory.com/hspquiz/ Chapters (00:00:00) - A Quiet Start to the New Year(00:00:58) - Grit and Grace(00:01:43) - February 1st Is No Longer A New Year's Day(00:04:25) - A Less Punishing New Year for Highly Sensitive People(00:10:10) - The Siren Song of New Planner:

Some adventures do more than stretch us — they transform us. And today, Pam Watts is back in the guest co-host seat to share with us what God revealed during and after the experience she was still preparing for the last time we talked. What began as doing something fun for something good became something sacred — reshaping her understanding of excellence, identity, rest, and God’s power at work through human weakness.In our conversation, we explore: A different definition of excellence The gift of doing hard things in community How offering our “widow’s mite” opens the door to experiencing God’s might If you’re in a season of saying your own faith-based YOUR — or in the reflective time that comes after—this conversation is rich with clarity, insight, and wisdom. Links & Resources mentioned: Check out Pam's website: Faith-First Family Activity Coaching https://pamwatts.com/ Take the "Am I a Highly Sensitive Person?" Self-Quiz https://CheriGregory.com/hspquiz/ Learn about the "Write Beside You" Unlimited Coaching Program and “Clarity with Your Calling” Mastermind with Cheri https://sensitiveandstrongbook.com/wby-unlimited-coaching-program/ http://sensitiveandstrongbook.com/clarity-in-your-calling-mastermind Chapters (00:00:00) - Grit and Grace(00:01:04) - Grit and Grace: When Life Feels Too Comfortable(00:03:49) - The Cast of 'Hamilton'(00:05:48) - HSPs at the Halloween Parade(00:06:48) - Adam Levine on His Performance(00:08:50) - Pamela's All That Was Enough(00:12:08) - The Wig Incident(00:15:38) - How to Read Your Relationships(00:16:11) - The Community That Helped Me Perform(00:21:27) - The One-Step Less Alone(00:23:46) - Pamela on Rest and Recovery(00:30:02) - The Dance of No Expectation(00:33:05) - Give Your Widow's Might

Have you spent your life hearing, "You're just TOO sensitive?" Are you tired of the overthinking, overwhelm, and exhaustion that come with being a highly sensitive person (HSP)? Ready to stop worrying that something's wrong with you and start understanding and nurturing yourself as an HSP? Welcome to Grit 'n' Grace—The Podcast for Highly Sensitive Christian woman. Your safe haven. I'm your host, Cheri Gregory. I'm an author, speaker, coach, and founder of the Sensitive & Strong Community Cafe. Every week, I'll guide you through building resilience, practicing self-compassion, setting healthy boundaries, unlocking your creativity, and learning to embrace—not fight—your God-given sensitivity. Each episode offers connection, honest conversations, and practical tools to help you navigate a world that often misunderstands HSPs. Together, we'll cultivate awareness, trust and confidence in how God wired you — at the DNA level — to be an HSP. You were made to thrive, and Grit 'n' Grace is here to help you do just that. Now, if you're brand new to the whole HSP concept, come take the "Am I a Highly Sensitive Person?" quiz at https://cherigregory.com/hspquiz/. And remember: God created you sensitive; in Christ, you are always strong.

What happens when you step away from what you thought defined you? In this heartfelt episode, Cheri and Amy reunite for their 2024 "Catch-Up Convo," sharing their personal journeys of transformation over the past 14 months. Amy opens up about leaving behind vocational ministry to dive into a completely new real estate adventure, while Cheri reflects on the power of self-compassion in difficult seasons. Together, they discuss finding joy in unexpected places, letting go of old identities, and embracing God's grace in every chapter of life. It's a conversation filled with laughter, honesty, and hope! Get full notes and a transcript at: gritngracegirls.com/episode276

Do you ever feel like "It's just too late" — to get un-stuck or to start something new? Cheri and Amy are here to remind you that fresh starts and new adventures are always possible—no matter where you are in life. In this episode, they explore the joys of letting go, lifelong learning, and making room for what truly brings you joy. You'll hear stories of stepping out of comfort zones, setting bold boundaries, and embracing the idea that it's never too late to begin again. Join them for a heartwarming chat about discovering new possibilities, pursuing passions, and living with intention at every age. Get full notes and a transcript at: gritngracegirls.com/episode275

Do you ever watch other women start living big new adventures and wonder, "How does she do that?" In this lively episode, Kathi Lipp shares her unexpected journey from city life to becoming an "accidental homesteader" on 33 acres of wilderness. Kathi opens up about how a series of "what if" moments led her to embrace adventure, grit, and a new way of life. Whether it's raising chickens or building a greenhouse, Kathi encourages listeners to step out in faith, take small risks, and see how God uses their curiosity to create unexpected opportunities. Tune in for laughs, wisdom, and inspiration to pursue your own "what if" moments! Get full notes and a transcript at: gritngracegirls.com/episode274

Christian women are often told that being "too emotional" is a weakness, but what if our emotions are actually a source of strength? In this episode, Cheri and Amy debunk that myth, diving into an honest conversation about buoying life's heaviest moments with the promises of God. Reflecting on their interview with Michele Cushatt, they explore how naming and sitting with our hard emotions Debunking the 'Too Emotional' Myth actually builds resilience and deepens faith. If you've ever felt like your emotions are "too much," this episode offers real talk, validation, and practical steps for approaching your feelings as tools for healing and growth. Get full notes and a transcript at: gritngracegirls.com/episode273

Feeling overwhelmed by grief or big emotions? In this second half of our interview, Michele Cushatt — author of A Faith that Will Not Fail: 10 Practices to Build Up Your Faith When Your World Is Falling Apart — discusses why it's so important to actually feel your feelings, especially during hard seasons. With humor and raw honesty, Michele offers practical, down-to-earth tips for dealing with those big emotions while trusting God's heart for healing and restoration. Get full notes and a transcript at: gritngracegirls.com/episode272

Feeling like your faith is hanging by a thread? Michele Cushatt returns to share the heart behind her book, A Faith That Will Not Fail. Michele dives deep into the power of lament, vulnerability, and how we can truly support each other without slipping into toxic positivity. If you're facing tough times, this episode is packed with encouragement and hope to help you hold on. Get full notes and a transcript at: gritngracegirls.com/episode271

Grit 'n' Grace is baaaaaaaack! After a year-long hiatus, Cheri and Amy return for a much-needed catch-up convo. In this episode, they dive into what they've missed most, how life has changed, and the big lessons God has been teaching them. Amy opens up about navigating major transitions, while Cheri reflects on finding breathing room after seasons of chaos. With laughter, vulnerability, and wisdom, they share how God is at work in the mess. Tune in for a heartfelt and encouraging reunion! Get full notes and a transcript at: gritngracegirls.com/episode270

The saying is true. All good things do come to an end. In this last planned episode of Grit 'n' Grace, Cheri and Amy talk about lessons they've learned about ending well and the biggest personal changes they've experienced through the Grit 'n' Grace years. There are some big lightbulb moments in this episode! Listen to the very end to learn how to keep in touch with Cheri and Amy. Grit 'n' Grace is wrapping up, but your connection with them doesn't have to end!

When we're going through uncertain times, just keeping ourselves afloat can feel like a challenge. It's counterintuitive to believe that uncertainty can be a pathway to our greatest influence. Yet, that's exactly what we see in the book of Esther. With co-authors of the Esther study, Amy Carroll and Lynn Cowell, Cheri discusses four biblical steps that can lead us to influence in our most difficult days.

Let's be honest: It's difficult to love, know, and serve an invisible God. It's especially hard in uncertain times when He's nowhere in sight ... when He seems to have vanished. In today's episode, Cheri is the sole interviewer, digging for solutions to this dilemma with Amy Carroll and Lynn Cowell, co-authors of the new study, Esther: Seeing Our Invisible God in an Uncertain World. We're not the only women who have faced this challenge, so listen in for some ancient and reliable truths!

It's uncomfortable to be in a strange season, one in which your reality looks very different than your peers'. It can happen early in life when everyone else is moving into dorms while you go to work. Or later, when you're raising grandchildren while your friends are having their passports stamped. No matter the stage of life, you can have hope and purpose in your strange season. Cheri and Amy discuss the difficulties and unexpected gifts we find when our lives take a turn we never expected.

When grandparents take on the job of parenting grandchildren, a mix of blessing and challenge ensues. From the rich resource of personal experience, Rick Johnson, author of When Grandparents Become Parents, shares a dose of hope for all involved in this tricky parenting model. If you're a grandparent that's parenting your grandchild or love someone who is, tune in today for words of encouragement that you can absorb and share.

Feeling alone in the chaos and stress of your life? We understand! Yet, everyone has seasons that it's hard to harness the happy that we're promised. In today's episode, Cheri and Amy dig deep into the obstacles to "heart happy" and ways to overcome them. You'll hear both practical tips and deep spiritual practices that will help you draw closer to God for the happy He has to give.

When you're at the end of your rope, is happiness possible? Tricia Goyer, author of Heart Happy: Staying Centered in God's Love Through Chaotic Circumstances, found a secret to happiness at one of her lowest points. In today's episode, she shares that her life, just like ours, has had some painful challenges, but happiness has intersected those seasons in beautifully unexpected ways. Tune in to tap into a truth that we can all benefit from!

It's coming. There will be a day when others misunderstand you. What then? Cheri and Amy discuss strategies to handle being misunderstood so that we aren't devastated when it happens. We can learn from being misunderstood and come out stronger on the other side!

Being misunderstood is the worst. The Worst. If you've been in that circumstance, you're in good company, and your story isn't over. Mary DeMuth, author of The Most Misunderstood Women of the Bible, unpacks the lessons she learned as she studied the scriptural stories of ten real-life women. This episode is full of mic-drop moments when Cheri and Amy were left with tears in their eyes and jaws on the floor.