BW 171: From Isolation to Self-Trust: The 4-Part System Every Widow Needs (Season 2 of Grief)

Welcome to Episode 171 of The Brave Widow Show — and we’re nearly at Brave Widow’s 3rd birthday! Today we continue the Four Seasons of Grief (RISE) mini-series and go deep on Season 2: Isolation, that weird “I’m functioning… but I feel invisible” stage. 



 



You’ll learn my Self-Trust System (the exact 4 components I coach on to help you move from anxious second-guessing to grounded confidence):




1. Decisions — build your “Board of Advisors,” stop waffling, make informed choices.


2. Self-Confidence — why action creates confidence (not the other way around); the Be-Do-Have model.


3. Safety — how to create real-world safety nets so trying new things doesn’t feel like jumping without a parachute.


4. Boundaries — who gets access to you, how much, and why that matters now more than ever.




You’ll Hear About 




•  What “Isolation” really looks like (losing 75% of your social circle, feeling untethered).


•  Why your brain feels “hijacked” (amygdala vs. prefrontal cortex) and how to work with it.


•  Real stories: riding a longhorn 🐂, lighting a propane grill for the first time, and building Brave Widow when no one showed up… yet.


•  The mindset shift that collapses the timeline between who you are and who you’re becoming.




 



Free Resources & Links 




•  🎯 Free Seasons of Grief Quiz: find your season + next steps — bravewidow.com


•  🧭 Book a Free Consult (no pressure): bravewidow.com


•  🧩 Programs & tools mentioned: Chaos-to-Calm Blueprint, Self-Trust System, Connection Protocol (inside Brave Widow Academy)




 



Chapters
00:00 Intro + Brave Widow turns 3
02:00 RISE overview + Season 1 recap (Rawness / Chaos-to-Calm)
03:30 What Season 2 (Isolation) feels like
06:10 “Untethered” story & why decisions feel high-stakes
11:00 The Self-Trust System overview (Decisions, Confidence, Safety, Boundaries)
18:00 Building your Board of Advisors (money, legal, health, home)
24:00 How action builds self-confidence (+ Be-Do-Have)
27:00 Travel, grills, longhorns: practicing confidence in real life
31:00 Safety nets for firsts (travel groups, buddy systems)
48:00 Boundaries that protect your energy
50:30 Your custom plan + next steps (quiz + consult)



 



Work With Me
If you’re tired of feeling lost, lonely, and second-guessing everything, my coaching helps you find clarity, create real connection, and rebuild confidence—for good. Book a free consult at bravewidow.com.



 




#BraveWidow #GriefSupport #WidowLife #Loneliness #SelfTrust #ConfidenceAfterLoss #FourSeasonsOfGrief



 



 



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Book a free consult here: https://calendly.com/bravewidow/widow...




Download the Brave New Widow Starter Kit: A free guide to help you navigate the first steps of widowhood. → https://bravewidow.com/start



 



Grief Recovery Method Group: Tuesdays 12–2 pm CT, Sept 30–Nov 18, $400 (credited toward Brave Widow Academy or 1:1).



Brave Widow Academy: Next cohort starts in November.



 



 



I’m Emily Tanner.  I was widowed at age 37, one month shy of our 20 year wedding anniversary.  Nathan and I have four beautiful children together, and my world was turned completely upside down when I lost him.  



 



Now, I love my life again!  I’m able to experience joy, achieve goals and dreams I thought I’d lost, and rediscover this next version of me.



 



I did the work.



I invested in coaching for myself.



I learned what I needed to do to move forward and took the steps.



I implemented the tools and strategies that I use for my clients in my coaching program.



 



 



This is for you, if:




•  You want a faith-based approach to coaching


•  You want to move forward after loss, and aren’t sure how


•  You want to enjoy life without feeling weighed down by guilt, sadness, or regret


•  You want a guide to help navigate this journey to the next version of you


•  You want to rediscover who you are




 




•  Schedule a consult with Emily:  https://calendly.com/bravewidow/widow...




 



 



Find and take the next steps to move forward (without “moving on”).



 



 



 



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