100. Finding Light After Loss: Rebuilding Identity Through Grief and Empty Nesting

This Empty Nest Life

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What happens when life changes overnight, shattering your identity through loss? In this heartfelt episode, we delve into the profound journey of Emily Tanner, known as The Brave Widow, who transformed devastating grief into a supportive community for others navigating widowhood and significant life transitions.
After losing her husband in 2021 while raising four teenagers, Emily realized how inadequate our cultural understanding of grief can be. “Platitudes like 'He's in heaven' didn’t help at all,” she reflects.
Highlights

• The identity shifts that come with widowhood and empty nesting, and the importance of intentional rebuilding.
• Emily’s four stages of rebuilding: devastation, survival mode, exploration, and creation.
• The exploration phase as a metaphorical journey through a forest—embracing curiosity amid uncertainty.
• Practical insights on how to support individuals in grief through curiosity and validation rather than quick fixes.

Key Takeaways

• Widowhood and major transitions require a complete overhaul of one's identity and purpose, prompting the need for reconstruction.
• Understanding the importance of true connection.
• The most effective way to support someone in grief is to be curious and validate their feelings instead of offering platitudes.

Emily Tanner's Bio

Just one month shy of their 20th wedding anniversary, Emily was widowed unexpectedly at the age of 37. She and Nathan have 4 children who were ages 10 - 19 at the time.
After the devastating death of her husband in 2021, Emily made the life-altering decision to leave her healthcare executive career and founded Brave Widow in 2022, an online coaching program and community dedicated to helping young widows navigate grief, heal their heart, and a build a life they love again.
Emily holds an MBA with a focus on Leadership and Ethics from John Brown University and has earned certifications in coaching and leadership from the Faith-Based Coaching Academy, the Grief Recovery Institute, and Maxwell Leadership.
Find Emily Online: LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter (X)

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Chapters

1. 100. Finding Light After Loss: Rebuilding Identity Through Grief and Empty Nesting (00:00:00)

2. The Power of Curiosity in Grief (00:00:14)

3. Creating the Brave Widow Community (00:06:06)

4. Navigating Double Grief and Identity Loss (00:10:33)

5. Four Stages of Rebuilding Life (00:15:27)

6. Being Present Without Fixing (00:21:48)

7. Setting Boundaries After Loss (00:27:33)

8. Learning to Ask for Help (00:32:00)