Episode 8: Authenticity, Healing, and the Courage to Belong

In this episode of Courage is Built Here, Justine opens Pathway Three, Be Fully You, with a conversation about authenticity, vulnerability, and the courage it takes to belong. She invites her friend Sarah Guldalian to share how seasons of isolation, rejection, and rebuilding shaped her understanding of who she is and how she shows up in the world.

Sarah reflects on growing up feeling different, navigating friendships, success, and loss, and learning when courage meant standing alone and when it meant stepping back into community. She shares how faith, healing, and honesty helped her reclaim her identity and stop hiding parts of herself in leadership, work, and relationships.

Together, Justine and Sarah explore how authenticity impacts parenting, leadership, and connection. They talk about empathy becoming hospitality, why vulnerability must be boundaried, how hiding leads to isolation, and why true belonging requires courage. The episode returns again and again to the truth that healing allows us to live fully, love well, and show up as who we were created to be.

Key Takeaways

• Pathway Three, Be Fully You, focuses on authenticity, vulnerability, and self-compassion.
• Courage does not exist without vulnerability, and vulnerability requires trust and boundaries.
• Seasons of loneliness and isolation can shape identity and prepare us for deeper community.
• The walls we build to protect ourselves from pain can also block connection and belonging.
• Authenticity allows others to show up honestly and creates real connection.
• Empathy can become hospitality when we stop focusing on ourselves and care for others well.
• Hiding parts of yourself leads to exhaustion and isolation over time.
• Vulnerability is not oversharing and not every space has earned access to all of you.
• Parenting with authenticity includes apologizing, modeling honesty, and building trust.
• Healing allows you to step out of comparison and re-enter community with courage.

About the guest

Sarah Guldalian is the Executive Director of Rooted Sisters, a women’s ministry for professional women focused on studying Scripture, growing in faith, and leading with courage. Sarah shares vulnerably about healing, authenticity, leadership, and faith, and is passionate about helping women live fully and belong deeply.

Connect with Sarah

• Websites:
  • therootedsisters.com
  • sarahguldalian.co