BW 182: First New Year As A Widow: 5 Permission Slips For Your Heart
Jan 13, 2026
Are you facing your first New Year as a widow and feeling dread instead of hope?
While everyone else is posting “New year, new me,” you might be thinking, “I didn’t even want this year. I just wanted my person back.”
In this episode, Emily shares 5 “permission slips” for your heart so you can walk into a new year without your person with more gentleness, honesty, and faith. No pretending you’re okay. No pressure to set big goals. Just real talk, real grief, and real hope in Jesus.
You’ll hear:
- Why the New Year can feel especially cruel and disorienting after loss
- Permission slip #1: Feel what you actually feel (even anger at God)
- Permission slip #2: Pause and lower expectations when grief waves hit
- Permission slip #3: Step forward without “leaving your person behind”
- Permission slip #4: Be deeply honest with God and with safe people
- Permission slip #5: Be guided instead of doing this alone
To help you put this into practice, I created a free New Year Permission Slip Worksheet just for widows.
👉 Download your free worksheet:
You can print it, fill it out, and literally sign the permission you’re giving your heart this year.
Resources mentioned:
- Free New Year Permission Slip Worksheet:
- Brave Widow Academy (6‑month group coaching for widows):
- Book a free, no-pressure consult:
If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another widow who’s staring down January feeling alone. You don’t have to do this year by yourself.
