Australian veteran support - Families of Veterans Guild

May wellbeing tips for veteran families

Kelly Taylor — Thu, 21 May 2026 05:58:06 +0000

Sharing our latest wellbeing tips for war widows, defence and veteran families

Meaningful friendships are at the heart of wellbeing, yet building and maintaining them can sometimes be challenging. For war widows, defence and veteran families, the demands of service, frequent moves, and periods of separation can make connection feel especially difficult to sustain.

Taking small, intentional steps toward others, and toward our own emotions, can help us build the kind of relationships that truly support us. Find this month’s wellbeing tips from our latest Wellbeing Newsletter, exploring everyday habits that nurture friendship and using Brené Brown’s Head, Heart, Hands framework to navigate complex emotions like grief.

Building meaningful connections in the veteran family community

Building friendships can feel challenging at any stage of life. Making new friends is not always easy, and for many people it can feel increasingly challenging over time. Routines change, social circles shift, and opportunities to meet others might seem limited. For veteran families, these challenges may be amplified by the demands of service, frequent relocations, and periods of separation, all of which can interrupt friendships and support networks.

Forming meaningful connections takes time and patience. Strong friendships are often grounded in shared values and experiences, and grow through trust, mutual respect, and authenticity. Connection does not need to happen instantly. It can be built gradually through small, consistent moments of care and understanding.

Everyday habits that build friendship

There are many simple, everyday ways to nurture new connections, which include:

Actively listening to allow others to feel heard and valued.
Offering or accepting support to strengthen trust and deepens relationships.
Showing gratitude
Sharing laughter
Exchanging personal stories to help create warmth and familiarity.
Finding common ground. Whether it’s a shared interest, experience, or sense of purpose, the brief interaction can turn into a lasting connection.

Within the veteran community, friendship holds particular importance. Veteran families often carry extra responsibility in supporting their loved ones whom serve. Too often, this support happens quietly and in isolation. Veteran families supporting veteran families creates a unique sense of understanding that can’t always be found elsewhere. Shared experiences can ease the feeling of having to explain or justify one’s reality, allowing friendship to form more naturally and authentically.

Exploring emotions with Brene Brown

Experiences such as grief and chronic stress can easily overwhelm the mind and body, particularly within veteran families who may be carrying layers of loss, uncertainty, and responsibility. The Head, Heart, Hands framework aligns with Brené Brown’s research on emotions encouraging us to notice our thoughts (Head), name our emotions (Heart), and choose small acts of care (Hands), to reduce shame, build understanding, and invite courage into our lives. There are many ways that this tool can be used in your life such as prompts for journaling, an artwork or a discussion starter to explore your emotions and the mind-body connection in grief.

Head: Noticing the story you’re telling yourself

Brené reminds us that humans are “story‑making creatures.” When answers are unclear, for example when grieving, our minds naturally fill the gaps. These stories aren’t failures, they are attempts to cope. Using

Brené’s phrase, “The story I’m telling myself is…”, can help us to gently notice looping thoughts, assumptions, or unanswered ‘why’ questions. Observing our stories without judgement creates space for clarity, compassion, and self‑kindness.

Heart: Naming what you’re feeling

Complex emotions such as grief are rarely just one emotion. For example, grief often includes love, sadness, anger, guilt, relief, and hope. Sometimes separately and sometimes all at once. Brené’s research shows that the more precisely we can name our emotions, the better we can navigate them. Naming feelings doesn’t intensify them. In fact, it helps contain them. When emotions are acknowledged and witnessed, they can soften.

Hands: Small acts of courage and compassion

Brené defines courage simply as showing up, even when the outcome is uncertain. It can be a small, compassionate action such as resting, setting a boundary, lighting a candle, or reaching out for support. Your emotions and experiences deserve patience, respect, and care. You don’t have to carry them perfectly, and you don’t have to carry them alone. Sometimes, the bravest thing we can do is simply allow ourselves to notice, name, and honour what is coming up for us in the moment and not feel we have to react to it.

To find out the latest wellbeing tips or find a free wellbeing activity, please subscribe to our Wellbeing Newsletter.

You can also find all of our wellbeing tips, practical information sheets and guides to support you and your family’s wellbeing, visit our Resource Hub today.

The post May wellbeing tips for veteran families first appeared on Families of Veterans Guild.

April wellbeing tips for veteran families

Kelly Taylor — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 06:44:09 +0000

Sharing our latest wellbeing tips for war widows, defence and veteran families

Periods of deployment and extended absences are a familiar part of life for many defence families. While distance can bring added emotional and practical challenges, it can also highlight the many meaningful ways families continue to stay connected. Maintaining wellbeing during these times often relies on intention, creativity, and the strength of community.

This month, we’re sharing wellbeing tips from our latest Wellbeing Newsletter that focus on nurturing connection during deployment and absence, the benefits of paying it forward, and the importance of remembrance and reflection.

Maintaining connection during deployment and absences

For many defence families, periods of deployment or training away from home are a familiar part of life. While these times can bring challenges, they also reveal the remarkable adaptability and creativity of families who find ways to stay connected across distance. Social connection does not always rely on being in the same place as it can grow through small, intentional gestures that remind us we are valued and remembered.

During deployment and absence, small routines can become powerful anchors. A handwritten letter, photo update, pre-recorded audio message or a care package can offer comfort for both the sender and receiver. These intentional routines become touchpoints that strengthen emotional connection and help maintain a sense of closeness during long stretches apart.

Sharing experiences in creative ways

Connection doesn’t always mean constant communication. Sometimes it’s about finding creative ways to share experiences. Some families keep a journal that travels back and forth, gradually weaving together two perspectives into one story. Others swap playlists filled with songs that capture their mood or memories. These gestures create bridges between two worlds, helping each person feel included in the other’s life.

For those at home, connection with community can be just as important as direct contact with loved ones. Defence partners, widows, and families often turn to each other for practical support, understanding, and companionship. Spending time with others who share similar experiences can ease feelings of isolation and strengthens resilience. Community groups, social clubs, and informal catchups become important anchors, offering a sense of belonging during times of transition or uncertainty.

Ultimately, maintaining connection during deployment isn’t only about staying in touch – it’s about nurturing hope, stability, and emotional closeness. Whether through a simple message, a shared ritual, or the support of community, these moments remind defence families that even when distance cannot be avoided, they are never navigating it alone. The bonds formed and strengthened during these times remain a powerful source of resilience, comfort, and wellbeing.

Paying it forward: A mindful practice inspired by Brené Brown

Mindfulness isn’t only about meditation or calm moments; it’s also about the way we choose to show up in everyday life. Brené Brown’s work on vulnerability and wholehearted living reminds us that mindfulness begins with awareness of our own emotions and continues in how we connect with others. One meaningful way to nurture this kind of presence is through the simple act of paying it forward.

Brené emphasises that connection is built through small moments of courage, empathy, and kindness. When we hold space for someone having a hard day, offer a helping hand without being asked, or express appreciation just because it feels right, we practice mindful compassion. These gestures may seem small, but they ripple outward, reinforcing the message that we belong to each other.

Pairing awareness with intentional kindness

For individuals and families alike, mindfulness can be as simple as pausing during a busy day to notice our thoughts, feelings, and surroundings. When we pair that awareness with action; choosing kindness, patience, or generosity, we bring Brené’s teachings to life. Paying it forward becomes a way to honour both our own wellbeing and the wellbeing of those around us.

Brené often highlights that meaningful change happens in ordinary moments. A friendly message, a supportive conversation, or an unexpected act of generosity can shift someone’s entire day. And when these acts are grounded in mindfulness, they remind us to be intentional, compassionate, and present.

This month, consider choosing one small way to pay it forward. Whether it’s offering time, encouragement, or kindness, your action can spark a chain reaction of positivity. In showing up for others, we also reconnect with ourselves, and together we can create a more wholehearted, mindful, and connected community.

Importance of taking time to remember and reflect

Taking time to remember and reflect can be a powerful way to gain insight and carry forward valuable lessons to share with others. Looking back on both the challenges and meaningful moments of our lives allows us to gain perspective, recognise personal growth, and preserve memories that matter. When these reflections are shared with others, they can provide reassurance, guidance, and a sense of continuity within the community.

Reflection can take many forms. It might involve sharing stories about managing deployments, relocations, or the emotional ups and downs of service life. It can also include remembering moments of connection, achievement, or resilience, times when families found strength in one another or in their wider community. By talking about these experiences, veteran families can offer newer members practical insight into navigating Defence life while normalising the emotions that come with it.

Learning from challenges and lived wisdom

Reflecting also encourages us to recognise the lessons we’ve learned. What strategies helped you cope during difficult times? Which routines, support networks, or personal habits provided structure? Sharing these reflections allows others to benefit from hard earned wisdom while also fostering a sense of belonging and shared understanding.

For those doing the reflecting, the process itself can be deeply rewarding. Looking back on life experiences can highlight personal growth, resilience, and achievements that might otherwise be overlooked. It can reaffirm the value of one’s contributions to family and community and strengthen the connections that make the veteran family network so supportive.

Remembering and reflecting isn’t just about the past, it’s about using experience to support others, strengthen bonds, and carry forward the lessons that matter most.

Subscribe to our Wellbeing Newsletter for monthly updates on all activities available in your area, what’s been happening in our Wellbeing Program and also for more tips like this.

The post April wellbeing tips for veteran families first appeared on Families of Veterans Guild.

March wellbeing tips for veteran families

Kelly Taylor — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 23:54:09 +0000

Sharing our latest wellbeing tips for war widows, defence and veteran families

Connection can take many forms, and sometimes it begins with shared reflection and conversations for what lies ahead. For war widows, defence and veteran families, the year ahead may hold uncertainty alongside possibility. Taking time to pause, reflect and reconnect can support wellbeing in meaningful ways. Find this months wellbeing tips from our latest Wellbeing Newsletter, reflecting on personal values and goals and to opening courageous conversations within families.

Connecting through aspirations for the year ahead

Vision boards are a creative outlet that can spark creativity and foster meaningful social connection through shared aspirations for the year ahead. Vision boards offer creative flexibility that incorporates the use of imagery, words, and personal symbolism to represent hopes, values, and intentions. With no strict steps to follow, the activity creating a vision board allows you to express yourself in a way that feels authentic. Engaging in this creative process can encourage gentle reflection on what matters most, supporting identity development and self-agency.

Creating a vision board offers a way to make sense of experiences by organising them on paper. Inner thoughts are externalised in this process, and similar overlapping themes can be captured, for example physical health, mental health, nutrition or general wellbeing. Whether done individually or in a group, the process of creating a vision board naturally invites conversation with others and curiosity within ourselves. Sharing images, discussing goals, or talking about why certain themes resonate can create open, genuine dialogue and deepen connections.

Building community through shared aspirations

Creating a vision board with others also remind us that aspirations are often easier to pursue with the support of others. They can become starting points for conversation, encouragement, and shared motivation. When people come together to create and reflect, it strengthens a sense of community and collective hope for the year ahead. By engaging in reflective and creative practices together, communities strengthen a sense of belonging and collective hope for the year ahead.

For anyone who would like to explore these ideas further, we are happy to share a vision board template to support your reflections. Please send an email to wellbeing@fov.org.au where you can receive a template that you can work through in your own time.

How to have courageous conversations about aging

Supporting a loved one as they age is a meaningful part of family life. It is important to approach mindfully, meeting your loved one where they are at in their journey. War widows in our community have spent decades caring for others, showing resilience through loss, change, and responsibility. As they grow older, one of the most supportive things families can do is to gently open conversations about ageing needs, concerns, and hopes for the future. Many people share that they worry they are “becoming a burden,” to their families. This is why supporting vulnerable conversations about ageing is so important.

Families can support their loved one through compassionate communication which ensures that their physical, emotional, social, and cultural wellbeing is supported in the ways they need whilst normalising feelings of uncertainty and vulnerability. Brené Brown’s insights in Atlas of the Heart remind us that vulnerability is an act of courage and that emotions are not something to “fix” they are something to observed with empathy and worked through with curiosity, and self-compassion. By starting the conversation over a cup of tea, families can establish and grow a safe and respectful space for conversation and healing.

Starting the conversation

Families can begin by acknowledging and validating their loved one’s life story (strength, losses, and contributions) so they feel heard and understood. Brene notes that our ability to connect is strengthened when we share meaning, not just logistics, and the most powerful way to share meaning is through story. Remain curious about their experiences asking what they need you to understand and what helps them to feel supported and secure. This includes practical considerations such as living arrangements, independence, health support, social connections, and safety. Invite their reflections, holding space for their grief about what used to be, and allowing time to process where they are at now.

Families do not need to navigate this alone. Our social work team is here to help. We can support you and your loved one to explore their unique needs and access aged care supports such as My Aged Care services, Department of Veteran Affairs Veteran Home Care programs, and our wellbeing and social connection programs for war widows and families of veterans. These services provide practical assistance and emotional reassurance to empower you and your loved one to navigate the ageing journey in a gentle and considered way.

Subscribe to our Wellbeing Newsletter for monthly updates on all activities available in your area, what’s been happening in our Wellbeing Program and also for more tips like this.

The post March wellbeing tips for veteran families first appeared on Families of Veterans Guild.

February wellbeing tips for veteran families

Kelly Taylor — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 02:44:16 +0000

Sharing our latest wellbeing tips for war widows, defence and veteran families

Looking after your wellbeing remains essential for war widows, defence and veteran families, especially during times when connection can feel harder to reach. This month, we’re exploring what it means to reconnect with yourself and others, with compassion and care. Below, you’ll find 2 practical wellbeing tips from our latest Wellbeing Newsletter, offering reassurance and simple ways to support connection and self‑respect during February.

When connection feels hard

The start of a new year often brings mixed emotions. While there is talk of fresh starts and new routines, this time can also feel overwhelming, especially for families of veterans. After busy holiday periods or long stretches of change, feelings of disconnection can become more noticeable.

Disconnection does not always look dramatic. It may show up as pulling away from others, cancelling plans, or feeling slightly out of step with the world around you. Sometimes it is emotional, such as feeling flat, tired, or unseen. Other times it is social, where attending gatherings or reaching out simply feels harder than it once did.

These experiences are common and understandable, they are not a sign of failure, and they do not mean connection is gone for good. Emotional disconnection is often felt internally, even when others are nearby. Social disconnection can be more visible, as routines shrink or familiar activities fall away. Both can exist at the same time, and both deserve patience and compassion.

Navigating expectations

At the beginning of a new year, when expectations can feel high and routines are unsettled, these feelings may feel stronger. There can be pressure to be social, to feel motivated, or to start fresh, even when your energy or circumstances have not caught up yet. This is a natural and understandable response to change.

Reconnecting does not need to be big or daunting. Often, it starts small. It could be a quiet coffee with someone you feel comfortable with, attending a social group or class that sparks your interest, or simply showing up for something familiar. Connection can also grow through shared activities such as gentle movement, walking, yoga, pilates, sound bath or a day at the beach.

If reaching out feels difficult right now, you’re not alone. Gentle steps, taken in your own time, can help restore a sense of belonging and show that connection can be meaningful in many different ways.

Exploring self-care through mindfulness with Brene Brown

We often think that putting ourselves first is selfish. Brené Brown’s research tells a very different story. According to Brown, this work isn’t about choosing ourselves instead of others, it’s about choosing self‑respect alongside connection. When we don’t, resentment, burnout, and disconnection quietly take root.

One of her most well‑known reminders is this: “Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves, even when we risk disappointing others.” Mindfully putting yourself first begins with awareness. It’s noticing when you’re saying yes out of fear rather than alignment. It’s listening to your bodies and reactions that tell you a boundary is needed long before words arrive. Brene Brown reframes boundaries as an act of kindness. Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind. When we’re honest about our limits, people know where they stand and we stay connected without abandoning ourselves.

This practice also asks us to loosen our grip on perfectionism. Brown describes perfectionism not as healthy striving, but as self‑protection or a shield against shame. Choosing yourself sometimes means allowing yourself to rest, decline, or do less, without earning it first.

A simple reflection can help:

What am I feeling right now
Am I acting from love or fear?
What boundary would honour my self‑respect in this moment?

Putting yourself first will likely bring discomfort. Guilt may show up. So might the fear of disappointing someone else. But Brene Brown reminds us that discomfort is not failure; it’s often the price of vulnerability. When we choose self‑respect, we don’t lose connection. We build braver, healthier relationships with ourselves and others.

Subscribe to our Wellbeing Newsletter for monthly updates on all activities available in your area, what’s been happening in our Wellbeing Program and also for more tips like this.

The post February wellbeing tips for veteran families first appeared on Families of Veterans Guild.

January wellbeing tips for veteran families

Kelly Taylor — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 00:01:47 +0000

Sharing our latest wellbeing tips for war widows, defence and veteran families

A new year can bring fresh hope and also fresh demands, particularly for war widows, defence and veteran families. This month, we’re highlighting wholehearted living as a compassionate framework for sustaining wellbeing. Below you’ll find this practical tip from our latest Wellbeing Newsletter to help you begin 2026 with care and steadiness.

Wholehearted living in the veteran family community

Brené Brown’s concept of wholehearted living means to engage with life from a place of worthiness, courage, and connection. This idea resonates deeply within the veteran family community. For example, Defence life shapes families in unique ways; long periods of uncertainty, sudden change, emotional sacrifice, or profound loss. Therefore, wholehearted living offers a framework that honours these realities while also supporting resilience and wellbeing.

Authenticity – letting yourself be seen

There is often pressure to stay strong, cope independently, or avoid burdening others. Wholehearted living invites family members to show up authentically sharing fears, fatigue, grief, pride, or hope without shame. Authenticity creates deeper trust within families and communities.

Self-compassion – being gentle with yourself

Veteran families frequently carry high expectations managing households alone during deployments, supporting a partner’s transition from service, or navigating grief after loss. Self-criticism and resentment can grow quickly. Brown’s call for self-compassion reminds families that being human, imperfect, and emotional is not weakness it is normal and healthy.

Resilient spirit – rising strong after hardship

Resilience is woven into the fabric of veteran family life. Wholehearted living emphasises resilience not as pushing through but as acknowledging difficult experiences, learning from them, and reconnecting with hope. It validates the reality that healing from trauma, transition, or grief is a journey, not a timeline.

Gratitude and joy in the everyday

Defence life often teaches people to appreciate the small things such as a partner’s safe return, a child’s laughter, shared meals, or community support. Wholehearted living reinforces that gratitude is a stabilising force especially in stressful or uncertain periods.

Trusting intuition in times of uncertainty

Veteran families frequently navigate the unknown, such as relocations, health impacts, emotional shifts, or the sudden demands or impacts of service. Brown’s emphasis on trusting intuition supports families in making grounded decisions, even when life feels unpredictable and uncertain.

Play, rest and permission to pause

The veteran community often carries a culture of endurance to keep going, don’t complain, just get it done. Wholehearted living reframes rest and play as essential for wellbeing. Laughter, downtime, and connection help families recover from constant vigilance and emotional intensity.

Meaningful work and shared purpose

Many veteran families find purpose through service supporting others, volunteering, raising children, honouring their loved one’s legacy. Wholehearted living recognises that meaningful work isn’t about status or productivity; it’s about living in alignment with values such as compassion, loyalty, and community.

Laughter, song and dance – permission to feel joy again

For families carrying grief or long-term stress, joy can feel complicated or even undeserved. Brown emphasises that joy is a form of courage. Reclaiming moments of lightness celebrating milestones, sharing stories, dancing in the kitchen can help to rebuild emotional strength.

Why wholehearted living matters for Veteran families

Wholehearted living validates the full spectrum of the veteran family experience including courage, fear, pride, grief, strength, uncertainty, and love. It offers a framework that helps families to;

Reconnect with themselves after challenges
Build healthier relationships
Support each other without burning out
Support transitions
Heal from trauma
Find belonging and purpose within the community.

It reminds every member of the veteran family that you are enough, that your experiences matter, and that living with vulnerability and compassion is an act of strength not weakness. If you are interested in exploring deep ideas and emotions such as those spoken to in this article, please join our writing through grief workshops online that are a popular and repeated activity.

Subscribe to our Wellbeing Newsletter for monthly updates on all activities available in your area, what’s been happening in our Wellbeing Program and also for more tips like this.

The post January wellbeing tips for veteran families first appeared on Families of Veterans Guild.

December wellbeing tips for veteran families

Kelly Taylor — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 04:04:50 +0000

Sharing our latest wellbeing tips for war widows, defence and veteran families

As the year draws to a close and the Christmas season approaches, it’s the perfect time to reflect, reconnect, and restore balance. In this month’s Wellbeing Newsletter, we’re sharing 3 practical tips to help you thrive, exploring the power of sharing wisdom, understanding resentment, and embracing the outdoors. These tips are designed to support your wellbeing and strengthen the bonds within your family and community during this meaningful season.

The power of the outdoors on wellbeing

Spending time in nature offers a gentle way to support wellbeing and build connection. The natural world provides a calming environment that helps us feel grounded and present. For families of veterans, outdoor experiences create opportunities to slow down, breathe, and engage with people in safe, relaxed, and enjoyable ways.

Being outdoors with others allows relationships to develop naturally. Walking side by side, sharing a view, or tending to a garden together can open space for conversation and companionship. These shared experiences help build trust, understanding, and emotional closeness. Nature’s steady rhythm offers a calming backdrop that supports connection.

Healing in the outdoors with activities

Outdoor activities can be adapted to different preferences and abilities. Whether it is a gentle walk in a local park, sitting by the water, exploring a community garden, or joining a guided nature walk, there is something for everyone. These activities strengthen family bonds, encourage shared memories, and provide purpose and joy. For families who have faced relocation or significant change, outdoor activities can help meet new people and build supportive networks.

Engaging with nature does not have to be complex or time consuming. Even small, regular moments outdoors can bring feelings of connection, belonging, and calm. If you are interested in joining one of our wellbeing walks for social connection, check out our wellbeing activities here.

Understanding resentment for wellbeing

Resentment isn’t “bad.” It’s a signal, a message that says, I’m giving more than I can. I said yes when I meant no. I’m exhausted from being brave. It often points to crossed boundaries, unmet needs, or parts of ourselves we’ve quieted for too long. Brené Brown reframes resentment as a strong response to unmet needs, compromised boundaries, or being prevented from living your truth. She describes resentment as a buildup of pain, fatigue, and loss of agency that accumulates when we keep giving beyond our capacity.

For war widows and families of veterans, resentment can feel protective. It can keep the bond with your loved one alive and hold space for pain. Listening to resentment with kindness can reveal what it’s trying to teach you. This resentment may be directed at systems that glorified sacrifice but failed to offer support, at a partner who is gone, at themselves for not “moving on,” or at cultural expectations of strength that silence grief. These pressures create dissonance, isolation, and a shared identity around unspoken hurt.

Noticing and engaging with resentment matters. When explored with curiosity, it can become a pathway to establishing safety, boundaries, self-compassion, and post-traumatic growth.

How do we work through resentment: from pain to self-reclamation

Name the source.
Notice resentment without judgment.
Reclaim agency.
Rewrite your narrative.
Connect through hope, not only grief.
Practice embodied boundaries.

Sharing wisdom through mentoring

Sharing wisdom through mentoring can be deeply beneficial and mutually enriching, especially in the veteran family community. When a veteran family member with years of lived experience shares insights, practical advice and encouragement with someone newer to the community, it helps newer families make connections, build confidence, resilience and a stronger sense of belonging.

A veteran partner or widow can offer guidance and encouragement to someone newer to the lifestyle, providing practical tips and emotional support, such as:

Sharing lived experience: insight into Defence life, relocations, deployments, emotional ups and downs.
Providing social connection: introductions to local support networks, community groups, Defence family events.
Offering emotional support: listening without judgement, reassuring that loneliness or uncertainty are normal, sharing coping strategies.
Practical guidance: tips for navigating Defence systems, housing, family support programs, childcare.
Encouraging self-care and independence: identify personal goals, hobbies, employment or study to maintain identity outside Defence.
Building resilience: share stories of adaptation and perseverance to normalise challenges and foster confidence for future changes.

Mentoring: purpose and fresh perspectives

Mentoring can be deeply rewarding for the mentor, offering purpose and connection, opportunities to reflect on experiences, and fresh perspectives from newer or younger family members. Offering support fosters a renewed sense of identity and contribution. Sharing hard-earned knowledge and helping others navigate Defence life validates the mentor’s experiences and highlights personal growth and resilience.

Subscribe to our Wellbeing Newsletter for monthly updates on all activities available in your area, what’s been happening in our Wellbeing Program and also for more tips like this.

The post December wellbeing tips for veteran families first appeared on Families of Veterans Guild.