Grace Graham, who overcame numerous obstacles to become a successful businessperson, shares her inspiring story of resilience, strength, and overcoming extreme difficulties. She discusses her experiences growing up with a father with Parkinson's disease, surviving an abusive situation, and battling addiction. She emphasizes the importance of not playing the victim, pursuing education, and confronting trauma to create a positive legacy. Grace reflects on her journey of self-discovery, healing, and embracing therapy and spiritual practices. She also expresses gratitude towards the person she is talking to and promotes her remarkable company.
The power of talk therapy and expressing emotions can help overcome negative thoughts and traumas, leading to healing and strength in vulnerability.
Believing in oneself and cultivating self-love through mindfulness and affirmations is crucial in moving forward and handling future challenges.
Deep dives
Grace's Personal Journey and Starting a Business Against the Odds
Grace Graham, who faced incredible personal odds, started her own successful business and works with the Prince's Trust to instill self-belief in others. She emphasizes the power of the mind in overcoming adversity, sharing how her father's illness and death impacted her self-worth and relationships. Grace's early years were challenging, and she experienced abuse and trauma, leading to addiction and a downward spiral. However, after going through therapy, she found the strength to report her abuser and subsequently transformed her life. Grace now runs Works Bar, a corporate well-being company that offers massage therapy and other holistic services to help employees manage stress and improve their well-being.
The Importance of Talking Therapy and the Journey to Healing
Grace highlights the significance of talk therapy in the healing process. She shares her belief that speaking about experiences and traumas sets one free and helps overcome negative thoughts. Grace emphasizes the importance of finding someone to confide in, even if initially uncomfortable, and expressing genuine emotions. She mentions authors like Louise Hay and Eckhart Tolle, whose books have greatly influenced her mindset, helping her observe and detach from negative thoughts. Grace's therapy and spiritual practices, along with the support from the Prince's Trust, have enabled her to navigate her emotional journey and find strength in vulnerability.
Overcoming Challenges and Looking to the Future
Despite facing significant trauma, Grace has found the resilience to not let her past define her and continues to move forward. She stresses the importance of having faith and believing that one has the tools to handle future challenges. Grace acknowledges that healing and progress take time, using holistic practices, like mindfulness and affirmations, to cultivate self-love and positivity. She also expresses gratitude for the support she received from the Prince's Trust, which allowed her to start her successful business, Works Bar. Grace's future plans include expanding her well-being services, incorporating cognitive-behavioral therapy, and promoting mental and physical well-being in the workplace.
Recognition and Inspiring Others
Grace recently won regional and national awards from the Prince's Trust for her inspiring journey and success. She is proud of what she has achieved and grateful for the opportunities to share her story and positively impact others. Grace believes it is essential to talk openly about mental health and encourages individuals facing difficult circumstances to reach out, speak up, and ask for help. She remains committed to her own growth, regularly attending therapy, and using her experiences to inspire and empower others.
Warning: this episode contains a short reference to sexual violence
This week Fearne has a very special honour: to let a remarkable person know that she has won a national award, on behalf of The Prince's Trust.
Grace Graham has faced more than her fair share of obstacles to become a success in business. In this candid interview, she tells us what she's overcome and how it led her to be the person she is now.