In this episode of Brave Moves, I talk honestly about grief during the holidays — a time we’re taught to associate with togetherness, celebration, and family. When someone we love has died, the holidays can feel painfully hollow, amplifying loss, loneliness, and longing.

I share why the holidays are often the hardest part of grieving and why pretending everything is “fine” can deepen the pain instead of easing it. This episode is an invitation to stop avoiding grief and instead understand it for what it truly is — love that still exists.

I also make space for personal reflection and offer gentle, practical ways to honor loved ones, cope with overwhelming emotions, and give yourself permission to grieve in your own way.

In this episode, I talk about:

• Why holidays intensify grief and emotional pain
• The difference between grief (internal feelings) and mourning (external expression)
• Why grief is not something to fix, but something to honor
• How to incorporate your loved one into holiday traditions
• Creating a Plan A and Plan B to protect your emotional well-being
• Why it’s okay to cancel or change the holidays
• How meaning can slowly return, even when the holidays never feel the same

Gentle Reminders I Share:

• You don’t have to perform joy
• There is no right or wrong way to grieve
• You’re allowed to change traditions, plans, and expectations
• Children grieve too and need support
• Letting yourself feel is not weakness — it’s love

Your Brave Move:

This season, I invite you to be gentle with yourself. Allow the feelings, honor the love you still carry, and choose what truly serves your heart — even if that means doing less, resting more, or stepping away entirely.

Grief doesn’t mean you’re broken.
 It means you loved deeply.

If you loved this episode, text me and let me know what you though.

Support the show

Join the Community

Brave Moves is a daily confidence and personal growth podcast for ambitious women, women entrepreneurs, and leaders who are ready to overcome self-doubt, build resilience, and take bold action in business and life. Each short, practical episode blends mindset science, decision-making psychology, and real-life stories to help you strengthen your confidence, rewire negative thought patterns, and create meaningful forward momentum.

If you are navigating career pivots, burnout, reinvention, or leadership growth, Brave Moves gives you the tools to think differently, act bravely, and design a future aligned with your values and vision. Because confidence isn’t something you’re born with. It’s something you build, one brave move at a time.

Liked this episode? Share it with your midlife woman, entrepreneur friends!

Love this show? Let us know how we helped you increase your confidence by leaving a review.

For more about me and what I do, check out my website.

If you’re looking for support to grow your business faster, be positioned as an authority in your industry, and impact the masses, schedule a call to explore if you’d be a good fit for one of my coaching programs.

Fo...

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit juliedeluccacollins.substack.com/subscribe