Episode 15: Rewriting the Stories That Keep You Stuck

It is easy to stay stuck in old stories because they are familiar, even when they are not true. In this episode of Courage is Built Here, Justine opens Pathway Five, Do the Work, and sits down with professional calligrapher and small business owner Leah Spiros to talk about rewriting the stories that keep you stuck and choosing the next step forward.

Leah shares what courage has looked like in seasons of uncertainty, and how she has learned to keep moving without needing a perfect plan or a guaranteed outcome. They talk about how quickly we can absorb narratives from other people when a relationship shifts, and why doing the work often means returning to truth instead of letting someone else write the story for you.

Together, Justine and Leah explore what it looks like to bring intentionality, kindness, and joy into everyday interactions, including the moments that test our patience or make it tempting to react from old patterns. They also talk about redefining courage, not as bravado, but as quiet steadiness, showing up as yourself, and taking the next step even when you do not feel fully ready.

Key Takeaways

• Pathway Five, Do the Work, is about checking the stories in your brain and reclaiming what is true.
• It can feel easier to stay stuck because it is known and predictable, even when it is not healthy.
• Healing and courage are often not about the “best” step or the “right” step, but simply taking the next step.
• When something shifts in a relationship, our brains tend to fill in the gaps with stories, especially “in the absence of data.”
• Rewriting your story can mean refusing to let other people’s opinions take up “rent free space.”
• Courage does not have to look like bravado; sometimes it is quiet, steady, and simply walking in.
• Intentionality can shape the way you show up in small moments, including how you speak to people when they are rushed or frustrated.
• Finding “your people” can change the story you believe about yourself, including the belief that you do not fit.
• Boundaries can help you stay yourself in spaces that are not safe enough to hold all of you.

About the guest

Leah Spiros is a professional calligrapher and the owner of Wrapped + Written, a St. Louis-based small business serving the St. Louis area and beyond. Leah specializes in the fine art services of calligraphy, engraving and product painting for private commissions, onsite events, brand activations and corporate gifting needs. After her B.F.A. in Interior Design led her to 8+ years in commercial interior design, space planning and project management, Leah took the compositional skills from these professional roles, married them to her love of letterforms, words and artistry and opened her small business. Most recently, Leah was awarded St. Louis Magazine’s A-List Winner for ‘Personalized Presents’.

Connect with Rose

• Website: https://www.wrappedwritten.com/
• Portfolio: https://www.wrappedwritten.com/portfolio
• Facebook + Instagram: @wrappedwritten