Grief is not just feeling sad, or experiencing the death of a loved one. Grief is a very complex process that people experience for many different reasons. Whether it’s coping with the death of a relationship or the end of a chapter of your life, grief is a journey.
It’s accepting closing the chapter of a book and moving into a new stage of life. Navigating grief can be challenging, yet it promises healing and growth. If you’re someone enduring grief, here are some of the best tips for moving towards recovery and finding joy again.
Acknowledge Your Loss
The first step is acknowledging what happened. Recognize why it is that you’re feeling loss, and accept what is. Accept that your feelings may change throughout your grieving process, and don’t resist.
The truth is that as much as some people may think that grief is a linear process, it’s more of a sphere. You may bounce back and forth between guilt, sadness, and hope, only to find yourself back to feeling angry. There’s no right or wrong way to experience grief, but rather accepting it as it is. Allow yourself to feel things as you feel them, and don’t judge yourself. No one grieves the same way as someone else.
Seek Support
As much as you might isolate in the beginning stages of grief, this can be dangerous if you let it go on for too long. Allow people to support you and love you throughout your grieving experience.
This will not only benefit you, but it will allow others to feel useful. Whether it’s bringing you food, or simply spending time with you watching the television, accept help from others as much as possible. You’ll find a sense of comfort and solace knowing that you’re not going through this alone.
Honor What Was Lost
There’s a reason why rituals like funerals exist. They allow you to honor the memory of someone and celebrate their memory. Take an opportunity to honor what it is that you’re grieving, through a ritual of your very own. Perhaps you can create a scrapbook of memories, or light a candle and remember what you’ve lost fondly. Honoring what is lost will help you through the grieving process and will also provide a sense of connection. Instead of trying to forget what was lost, you honor it and keep the memory alive in a positive way.
Prioritize Self Care
Grieving is something that can be incredibly mentally and physically exhausting. So it’s important that you provide yourself plenty of self-care throughout the process. From getting enough sleep, to eating well, taking care of yourself is essential to make it through this difficult period of your life. Additionally, you may want to consider therapy as this can provide the tools for navigating the ups and downs towards healing.
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