In this episode of Healthy Mind, Healthy Life, host Sayan sits down with Michelle Bader Ebersole, author of Widow Goals, certified grief recovery specialist, and founder of the nonprofit Widow Goals. Together they unpack what it really looks like to rebuild your life after loss, whether that loss is a spouse, a relationship, a home, or even a former version of yourself.

Michelle shares how she went from being a 41 year old widow with three kids to leading retreats, running a nonprofit, and hosting the Widow Too Soon podcast. She explains why grief shows up in the body as anxiety and exhaustion, why “feeling it to heal it” is non negotiable, and how simple daily practices like gratitude can literally rewire your brain.

This conversation is honest, faith centered, and practical. It speaks directly to entrepreneurs, leaders, and everyday humans who are functioning on the outside but quietly carrying loss on the inside. If you have ever wondered whether peace is possible again after everything has changed, this episode will give you language, tools, and hope you can actually use in real life.

About The Guest:

Michelle Bader Ebersole is an author, speaker, and certified grief recovery specialist who became a widow at 41 while raising three teenagers. Out of that experience she created Widow Goals, a nonprofit that supports widows and widowers through community, coaching, and practical tools for rebuilding life after loss.

She is the author of “Widow Goals: Steps to Finding Peace When You Lose Your Spouse”, host of the Widowed 2 Soon podcast, and a grief group facilitator who helps people unpack all kinds of grief, not only death. Through faith, neuroscience informed practices, and real talk about pain, Michelle guides people from barely surviving to living with purpose again.

Key Takeaways:  

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  Grief is not only about death. It is the emotional response to any significant loss or change. Divorce, moving, a lost pet, or losing a version of yourself all count as grief.

  
  


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  In early grief, it feels like constant storm clouds. Over time, if you do the work, small “sunny moments” return. A first genuine laugh or a simple moment of joy is often the turning point from pure pain toward purpose.

  
  


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  Suppressing emotions keeps you stuck. Healing requires feeling the grief fully. You cannot go around it, you cannot go over it, you have to go through it. Tears are not weakness, they are movement.

  
  


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  Grief impacts the body and mind. After witnessing her husband’s death, Michelle experienced intense health anxiety and physical symptoms. This is a common but often misunderstood stage of grief related anxiety.

  
  


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  Simple daily gratitude is a powerful brain rewiring tool. Writing down three things you are thankful for each night trains your mind to look for what is still good, instead of only scanning for what is missing.

  
  


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  Giving back accelerates healing. When you pour into others who share your kind of loss, you create a ripple of hope that helps you as much as it helps them. Many “baby widows” Michelle supported now lead their own groups.

  
  


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  Grief work is active, not passive. Like a flat tire, your grief will not “get better in a year” if you do nothing. Books, counseling, grief recovery programs, podcasts, and support groups are the work that moves you forward.

  
  

How Listeners Can Connect With Michelle Bader Ebersole  

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  Website: https://widowgoals.org/

  
  


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  Email: michelle@widowgoals.org

  
  


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  Social media: @widowgoals on TikTok and Instagram

  
  


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  Podcast: Widowed 2 Soon (faith based conversations on widowhood and grief)

  
  

Want to be a guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life? DM on PM - Send me a message on PodMatch

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  DM Me Here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik

  
  

Disclaimer: This video is for educational and informational purposes only. The views expressed are the personal opinions of the guest and do not reflect the views of the host or Healthy Mind By Avik™️. We do not intend to harm, defame, or discredit any person, organization, brand, product, country, or profession mentioned. All third party media used remain the property of their respective owners and are used under fair use for informational purposes. By watching, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer.

Healthy Mind By Avik™️ is a global platform redefining mental health as a necessity, not a luxury. Born during the pandemic, it’s become a sanctuary for healing, growth, and mindful living. Hosted by Avik Chakraborty, storyteller, survivor, wellness advocate, this channel shares powerful podcasts and soul nurturing conversations on:

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