loader from loading.io

16. Embracing the Messy Middle

Calm & Confident with Trina Gray

Release Date: 06/27/2025

46. The Relentless Pursuit of Less show art 46. The Relentless Pursuit of Less

Calm & Confident with Trina Gray

In this week’s episode, I shared some listener feedback and expanded a bit more on last week’s topic of decision-making. Today, I talked about simplifying life – from your health to your office to your closet to your budget to your thoughts. I shared examples from my own life of doing fewer things better and how that helps me feel less rushed, less stressed and more confident. We often don’t need to do more, we need to do fewer things better. Or we need to have fewer things, and like them more. There are so many ways to apply it. Dive and an enjoy.    What You’ll Learn in...

info_outline
45. How to Make Decisions show art 45. How to Make Decisions

Calm & Confident with Trina Gray

In this week’s episode, I shared a lesson that I created when making decisions in my business this month. We all have decisions to make in life – big and small. From parenting, to vacations, to budgets, to projects, to home repair, and more. Letting decisions sit undone causes unnecessary stress and confusion. Decisions do not go away. In fact, they usually get harder the longer you delay. Even saying “no” to something is a decision. Here is my acronym for making a more confident decision: IDC. Dig in more to that with me in today’s episode. You’ll learn how to get informed about...

info_outline
44. Breaking Through the Noise of Wellness with Elise Joan show art 44. Breaking Through the Noise of Wellness with Elise Joan

Calm & Confident with Trina Gray

In this week’s episode, I interviewed my dear friend and celebrity wellness expert Elise Joan. @elisejoanofficial  Elise shared the value of the Calm & Confident podcast in her life, and how she has navigated transitional times. We dove into her beliefs on reducing stress in life, including the stress caused by overly restrictive fitness and nutrition standards.  She wants women, especially over the age of 30, to know that living with joy, and connecting with community is as important as finding movement that you love, and nutrition that is nourishing.  Elise has studied...

info_outline
43. Love the Whole Book of Yourself show art 43. Love the Whole Book of Yourself

Calm & Confident with Trina Gray

In this episode, I shared a lesson about accepting all of your past chapters. We all had parts of our lives that we’d rather not revisit – decisions we made, places we went, or people we surrounded ourselves with that did not bring out our best selves. Those chapters – whether they lasted months or years, still shaped the person we are today. When we hold onto worry, shame or regret, it’s hard to show up as our most energetic selves today. We are our entire life, we are all of our chapters. We are all the pages that have been written. When we accept it all, we are able to love...

info_outline
42. Walk into the New Year with Confidence show art 42. Walk into the New Year with Confidence

Calm & Confident with Trina Gray

In this must-listen episode to start the New Year, I shared my most powerful lesson of 2025. This is not about resolutions, or regrets. It’s about reflection. Tune in to hear the one lesson that shaped my life and work the most. I’ll share tips, examples, stories and gems to help you take my top lesson and implement it into your life for greater ease and joy. Then I shared my unique strategy for planning and dreaming for the best year to come. You’ll take an inventory (through your photos and calendar) of what brought you joy, happiness, peace and growth in 2025. You’ll add it to your...

info_outline
41. The Little Things Are the Big Things (Holiday Edition) show art 41. The Little Things Are the Big Things (Holiday Edition)

Calm & Confident with Trina Gray

In this episode, I shared a phrase that we are all familiar with: “The little things are the big things.” I first heard this advice as a young mom. Older parents often reminded me to cherish the small moments with my kids, not just the big vacations for birthday parties. I listened, even when life was busy. I paid more attention to conversation in the car, going out for pancakes, taking a walk together with the dogs. These smaller moments made up my life as a mom. The same can be true in marriage or friendship – the kind text message or note by the coffee pot – those small acts of...

info_outline
40. Awards That Don’t Exist show art 40. Awards That Don’t Exist

Calm & Confident with Trina Gray

In this episode, I shared a recent Instagram post called: “Awards that you’re trying to win that simply don’t exist.” My daughter shared this with me from @womenwhotype. I loved the concept and dove deeper into each of these false awards, as well as how to avoid the temptation to earn it,  and what to do instead. It’s a quick, fun listen. You are worthy just as you are. Feeling accomplished feels good. But burnout, and overwhelm are not the right path.  “I guarantee you there is someone in your life that would be willing to help if you'd ask, and be willing to kind of let...

info_outline
39. 12 Commitments to a Calm & Confident Life show art 39. 12 Commitments to a Calm & Confident Life

Calm & Confident with Trina Gray

In this episode, I shared 12 commitments directly from my 2025 Calm & Confident planner. Let this serve as a road map to a better life. This will feel like a “best of” edition of my favorite, foundational life lessons — some that I’ve shared in more depth on this podcast and some that I have not. I know that a few of these commitments will resonate with you, and you’ll know it when you hear it. Grab onto those lessons and take them in, work them around in your mind, and put them to work. Some of the lessons will not speak to you as much – good. You need to know your own life,...

info_outline
38. Calm Down show art 38. Calm Down

Calm & Confident with Trina Gray

In this episode, I shared three simple ways to calm down when your thoughts are running wild in your head in the middle of the day, or the middle of the night. Our day is made up of our thoughts. When we choose better thoughts, we choose a better day for ourselves. However, many things want to take us off track — headlines, social media feeds, other people’s words and actions, or everyday life challenges. How can you take back control of your thoughts, and redirect your energy? How can you shut down intrusive thoughts and find a place of calm? How can you let things roll off your back? How...

info_outline
37. Organize Your Life show art 37. Organize Your Life

Calm & Confident with Trina Gray

In this episode, I shared a method that I learned more than a decade ago from my mentor Todd Durkin, for “color coding” your life. I have tweaked it and adapted it over the years to fit my life as a working mom. This can work for you as a college student, working professional, or retiree. Take my tips, tricks and examples and make this your own.  This system is an easy way to create more harmony in your life by ensuring that all four colors are represented in your month. In order to be responsible adults, we need “red tape” time to handle the logistics of life and our households,...

info_outline
 
More Episodes
In this episode, I dive into the concept of “the messy middle” — the often uncomfortable stage after something changes in life.  Inspired by Robin Sharma’s quote, “Change is hard at first, messy in the middle, and gorgeous at the end,” I talk about how this messy space shows up in all areas of life — from your work to relationships to health. I may have a scratchy voice (thanks to a cold!), but I’m here, showing up consistently, because I value our time together.  I offer practical tips on how to navigate the messy middle — from building routines that anchor you, to visualizing the beautiful end that keeps you moving forward. My hope is to help you fill your calm and confident toolbox, so you’re better equipped for any transition life throws your way.
 
“Look for what is constant, to create sameness, to embrace routine when life feels messy, to tidy up the parts of your day that you can so the messy parts don't make you so undone.” - Trina
 

Key Points:

  • The messy middle is a universal part of change—messy, emotional, and necessary for growth.
  • Establishing a routine creates familiarity and stability when life feels chaotic.
  • Envisioning a beautiful ending keeps us hopeful and motivated during tough transitions.
  • These tools apply across all life areas—work, health, relationships, and personal development.
  • The goal is to help you build a calm and confident toolbox to thrive through change.

Connect with Trina:

Instagram | LinkedIn | Website