As the world celebrates the courage, progress and resilience of women this International Women’s Day, I find myself reflecting on the bravery and inner strength of millions of widows across the globe. Women, who rise every day, dig deep and set foot into a world they barely recognise - a world that cruelly strips them of their confidence, their identity and their purpose.

Part of my role as a widow coach is to support widows to reclaim their future, to think about a life beyond their loss, rediscover their sense of purpose and gain clarity on how they wish to show up in the world.

In this blog, I want to begin by looking at how widowhood triggers an identity crisis and a significant loss of purpose and confidence. I’ll then move on to consider how this loss can in time present us with an opportunity to explore new beginnings. 

One of the things I have come to realise following the passing of my husband almost 10 years ago, is that as painful and soul-destroying as grief is, this she...