10% Happier with Dan Harris Telling Harsh Stories to Yourself About Yourself? How To Rewrite the Narrative. | Allison Sweet Grant
61 snips
Oct 17, 2025 
Allison Sweet Grant, a psychiatric nurse practitioner turned author, dives into the complexities of childhood trauma and its long-lasting effects on adult relationships. She introduces the 'junk drawer' metaphor to illustrate how we compartmentalize pain. Writing emerges as a powerful tool for self-acceptance and narrative transformation. Allison shares strategies for meditation and outlines how to rewrite personal stories while balancing gratitude and grief. She discusses the therapeutic nature of sharing trauma, emphasizing connection through honesty.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Adolescent Surgery And Lasting Trauma
- Allison Sweet Grant describes undergoing limb-lengthening surgery at age 11 with a metal external fixator for two years.
- She says the procedure was physically agonizing and led to decades of emotional trauma and isolation.
The Junk Drawer Metaphor
- Grant used the "junk drawer" metaphor for the collection of unresolved pain, self-doubt, and anxiety she carried.
- Opening and examining that junk drawer allowed her to process and reframe those experiences.
Use Writing To Process Pain
- Write honestly to clarify emotions and examine painful memories without performance pressure.
- Use writing as a tool to give yourself permission to be vulnerable and reduce self-judgment.
