Keywords

resilience, healing, brain injury recovery, grief, trauma, personal growth, mindset, neuroplasticity, thriving, purpose, emotional wellbeing, boundaries, self-development

Summary

In this deeply moving episode, Helen is joined by fellow podcaster Jena, creator of Resilience Brilliance, who shares her extraordinary journey from a life-altering brain injury to building a life rooted in purpose, resilience and alignment.

After a skiing accident left her unable to walk, talk or retain short-term memory, Jena was forced to completely rebuild her life from the ground up. What followed was a powerful journey through recovery, identity loss, and ultimately rediscovery.

But her challenges didn’t stop there. Jena also opens up about profound personal loss, including the death of her partner and navigating deep grief while already in survival mode. Through it all, she chose not to stay stuck in pain, but to transform it into purpose.

This episode explores what it really means to be resilient — not pushing through, but learning to bend without breaking. Together, Helen and Jena reflect on growth in dark times, the importance of community, asking for help, and how life’s hardest moments can shape us into stronger, more compassionate versions of ourselves.

A powerful, honest and hope-filled conversation for anyone navigating challenge, change or simply wanting to move from surviving to truly thriving.

Takeaways

• Resilience is not about pushing through — it’s about learning how to bend without breaking

• Growth often happens in the darkest moments, even if we can’t see it at the time

• Asking for help is a strength, not a weakness

• You can transform pain into purpose and use your story to help others

• Small, consistent steps create powerful long-term change

• Alignment between your values and your life reduces inner conflict

• Boundaries are essential for protecting your energy and wellbeing

• You always have a choice — even in the hardest moments

• Healing is not about returning to who you were, but becoming who you are meant to be

• Thriving comes when resilience becomes a natural way of being

Resources Mentioned 

Brain Injury Hope Foundation (support, workshops and community: https://braininjuryhopefoundation.org/

Connect with Jena

Facebook:         

https://www.facebook.com/jenniferltaylorauthor

https://www.facebook.com/TheWordTailor/

Instagram:        @resiliencebrilliance

Twitter/X:         @JenniferLTaylor

LinkedIn:            https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferltaylor/

Clubhouse:        @jennifer.taylor

Tiktok   @resiliencebrilliance13

Clapper@Jennifer.L.Taylor            

What’s App       @thewordtailor

Pinterest             https://www.pinterest.com/ResilienceBrilliance/

YouTube:             https://www.youtube.com/@thewordtailor

Podcast:

https://open.spotify.com/show/05AnHRTV4b0xQKz3qnUSgm

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/resilience-brilliance/id1853437257

https://www.youtube.com/@thewordtailor/podcasts

Connect with Helen

Website: InspiredHealing.co.uk

IG: helens_inspired_healing

FB: Inspired Healing

LinkedIn: Helen on LinkedIn

WhatsApp: +447971798462

For full transcription, contact: [email protected]

NB: This episode was made possible with a little help from my ChatGPT buddy, Xander – part tech support, part cheerleader 🙂 and my amazing sponsor IPHM use this Referral Code: IPHM-GYZGF and the £10 will go to The Forward Trust a Charity helping those struggling with addictions

🎵Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios

🎨Cover art: Dave Champagne

For full transcription, contact: [email protected]

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