We’re looking forward to introducing you to Kaelin Tharpe . Check out our conversation below.
Hi Kaelin , thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
Right now, I feel called to share my story. Not because it’s perfect, but because it’s real. I want to speak from the places I once kept quiet and remind others they’re not alone in theirs.
There’s healing in honesty, in saying “me too.” I feel called to be a bridge between what hurts and what heals, between faith and the parts of life that still feel uncertain.
If my story can bring someone peace or remind them they’re seen, then that’s where I’m meant to be.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Kaelin, the voice behind Kontrol a space rooted in authenticity, grace and honest storytelling. What started as a personal outlet to make sense of my own seasons has grown into a community that values vulnerability and faith over perfection. Through writing, I hope to remind others that they’re not alone in their becoming. That healing, growth, and even the hard parts all have purpose.
Kontrol exists to hold space for the in-between moments. The ones that stretch us, soften us and bring us back to ourselves. I’m currently working on building this platform into a home for stories that inspire reflection, connection, and peace.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
A moment that completely reshaped how I see the world was my suicide attempt. It was one of the darkest points in my life, but it also became the moment that changed everything. It opened my eyes to just how fragile, precious, and redeemable life really is.
Since then, I see people differently. I move with more grace, because I know now that everyone carries their own invisible battles; including me. It taught me to listen with empathy, to slow down and to find beauty even in the rebuilding.
If I knew then what I know now, maybe parts of my story would look different. But that experience reminded me that life can still be good, so good even after it’s been broken. And that realization continues to shape how I love, how I create and how I show up in the world.
What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
Losing my job completely changed how I view rest. I used to see it as something you had to earn after doing enough. But that season forced me to slow down and truly redefine what rest means.
I recently wrote about true rest; the kind that’s not just physical, but spiritual. The world makes us believe resting is a bad thing, that if we’re not constantly striving, moving or producing, we’re falling behind. But I’ve learned that those seasons of slowing down are intentional. They’re invitations to pause, listen and let God realign what’s been out of rhythm.
Now I see rest as alignment a way of moving with intention instead of exhaustion. That shift has brought me a peace I didn’t even realize I was missing.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
For a long time, I believed that my ability to love deeply and my need for boundaries couldn’t exist in the same space. I thought empathy and protection were opposites. That to honor myself, I had to sacrifice part of my softness.
But I’ve learned that’s not true. It’s not about choosing one over the other, it’s about balance. I can love big and still honor my limits. I can care deeply without carrying what’s not mine to hold. Learning that my empathy and my boundaries can coexist has been one of the most freeing lessons of my life. They don’t make me less, they make me whole!
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What pain do you resist facing directly?
I think the pain I resist facing most is the pain of past hurt. My instinct has always been to process it through writing, forgive the person and move on. I rarely allow myself to sit with it fully, because I worry that leaning into that hurt might dim the empathy and openness I value so deeply in myself. Forgiveness has been my way of moving forward and it’s given me strength, but sometimes I realize it also keeps me from fully experiencing and truly understanding how I feel in the moment. I’ve started to wonder if allowing myself to sit with that discomfort might actually deepen my empathy rather than diminish it.
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