#165 From horror to hope; the emergence of resilience and optimism following tragedy and crisis with Caroline Roodhouse
#165 From horror to hope; the emergence of resilience and optimism following tragedy and crisis with Caroline Roodhouse
“It’s not a tick box exercise. It’s a genuine need to care for people and other human beings. Ultimately they’ll thrive again given the right support…and bring a whole new level of compassion and empathy if they’re nurtured the right way.”
What happens when your life changes in an instant, not by choice but by tragedy? In this episode I’m with Caroline Roodhouse, who shares her incredibly moving story of losing her husband to suicide, the surreal aftermath, and the slow journey of rebuilding identity, family, and hope.
Caroline opens the door on grief: the shock, the vividness and then the blur, learning to parent alone, redefining family from a ‘square’ to a ‘triangle’, and the tools and thinking that helped her through the darkest chapters.
We talk about being a ‘hope carrier,’ the lifelong waves of loss, and the vital work of supporting others at home, in the workplace, and in community. Caroline is an incredible person, impressive with her ability to share how she navigated the hardest moment of her life, and now supports others in that moment.
Caroline change toolkit:
Soundtrack: Anything by Taylor Swift (thanks to the kids!)
Book: Emotional Agility by Susan David
“Try not dwelling on the past and not worrying about the future, just focusing on what’s in front of you right now. Sometimes that means one minute at a time, and that’s okay.” Caroline Roodhouse
More about Caroline
Caroline Roodhouse is a mother, writer, lifelong learner, internal communicator and speaker on the subjects of mental health and bereavement through suicide.
In 2018, Caroline’s husband, Steve, took his own life without warning or explanation. Caroline writes and talks about her lived experience of grief and loss to give a voice to others who have been impacted and to continue her own healing journey.
As a ‘double parent’ with a busy work life, spare time is limited, but when she is able, Caroline builds on her skills both personally and professionally by listening to and appearing on podcasts, attending conferences, workshops and learning sessions, contributing to the public conversation and reading plenty of books!
Find out more: https://daddyblackbird.com/
Produced by winteraudio.co.uk
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