My dad died by suicide when I was 18. At 40, the trauma led me to a career in coaching.

• Lynda Williams channeled the grief from losing her father into pursuing her life's passions.
• Traveling across continents helped her discover her resilience and positive mindset.
• Her career has evolved from hospitality to PR, and now she's a life coach.

Grief is a complex, powerful beast — it can either pull you down or catapult you forward. At 18, I faced the traumatic loss of my father to suicide.

I chose to channel my grief into following my passions. Now, at 42, I have packed my life with adventure and ambition that has taken me across all corners of the earth and all corners of personal growth.

Introspection through travel

There was a pivotal moment in the messy aftermath of my father's death; I sat there in a pool of tears on my mom's kitchen floor after learning some truths about my father. I was sad and angry, and at that moment, I decided I wasn't going to waste my life wallowing in confusion and misery.

I went back to college, embraced internships in London and Washington, DC, and then at 23, armed with a backpack and a year's worth of savings, I set out on an adventure that spanned three continents.

I traveled through Asia, Australia, and South America. I hiked volcanoes and mountains, dived in the Great Barrier Reef, sailed the Whitsundays, ticked off numerous UNESCO Heritage sites — including Machu Pichu — and explored piranha-infested rivers in Brazil on horseback. It was all on a shoestring, and it was a trip that changed my life.

The stories I heard from people I met along the way opened my mind to new ways of thinking and allowed me to learn more about myself — including recognizing my own resilience, positive mindset and place of privilege on this planet.

Building a career in travel and hospitality

On return from my travels, I moved to London and pursued my then-dream career in hospitality. After three years at a family-run hospitality firm, I took a demotion — both in title and salary — when I convinced Maybourne Hotel Group to let me work for them in an entry-level position.

I'd closely followed their brand for years as they were leaders in the industry. From the very first day, I got to work, doing everything from cleaning out bookshelves to making rounds of tea. I was on a mission to get noticed and impress my boss. Within six months, I was promoted to a manager position.

One year into my dream job, my partner at the time had an opportunity to open an office in Singapore. I found a role at the luxury hotel company Aman Resorts, so I left that dream job prematurely and headed on to the next, in a land 7,000 miles away from home.

Coaching others on their journeys

In 2013, I decided to set up my own PR agency as a foreigner in Singapore. I noticed a niche in the market for a more expert and in-house approach. The journey from employee to entrepreneur was a roller coaster, but it was also liberating — the resilience I had built over the years helped me through the more challenging times.

Over the years, I went through my own therapy and grief-processing methods. I also explored different types of wellness, from meditation and mindfulness to yoga and breathwork — which I would later write about in my wellness blog, The Soothe, and practice in my coaching.

Studying grief and suicide allowed me to connect with others who had experienced loss, and to contribute to the conversation surrounding mental health from a young age.

I naturally started to share my stories and informally coach my peers, my team, and my friends — it wasn't paid, nor was I qualified in coaching at this stage.

I realized that my journey held the potential to inspire and guide others facing their own challenges. And as my "Why" story was becoming more evident and unfolding, I knew I had to help individuals on a deeper and more meaningful level. So I got my coaching qualifications, saw a renowned Buddhist Meditation Teacher to learn mindfulness and meditation, and learned other tools to complement my coaching method.

Becoming a coach wasn't really a career choice; it was a natural progression, an evolution, and a way to share the lessons learned and empower others on their journeys.

If you or someone you know is experiencing depression or has had thoughts of harming themself or taking their own life, get help. In the US, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which provides 24/7, free, confidential support for people in distress, as well as best practices for professionals and resources to aid in prevention and crisis situations. Help is also available through the Crisis Text Line — just text "HOME" to 741741. The International Association for Suicide Prevention offers resources for those outside the US.