Modern Approaches to Mourning: Pivoting from Loss to Healing

Sadness is one of the most common signs of grief. It can also be accompanied by feelings of emptiness, despair, or yearning. Grief can be difficult to cope with, especially if you are grieving the loss of a loved one. However, any form of loss can be challenging. But, you are strong enough to move through the grieving process by pivoting from loss to healing. It does not feel like it at the moment but you are.

What does grief look like? What does it feel like? What are the stages? Let's look at some of what we know about grief and learn how to move through what we feel.

"The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen." - Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

So, what do we know about loss and grief?

• There's no timeframe, this is a process. Be gentle with yourself.

• Recognize exactly where you are. That's exactly where you're supposed to be.

• Loss is not just what you experience due to the death of a loved one. A loss could also be experienced as a result of a divorce or the end of a relationship, retirement, a change in financial status, or even a loss of physical ability due to an illness or accident.

• It can cause someone to be emotionally stuck and unable to connect with others.

• It can cause extreme fatigue, distraction or detachment loss of appetite, chest pain, headaches, despair, anger, and irritability.

• Grief causes separation and transition, and then we move into acceptance or incorporation.

• The transition of moving THROUGH grief is the way to healing.

If you're feeling stuck in grief, you don't have to navigate it alone. I'm speaking from experience. I recently experienced a loss that devastated me and it was followed by one that was not as explosive but delivered its own blow to my gut. I was in pain and I still am but I'm moving THROUGH it. I want the same for you.

Watch Reset with K.'s Writing for Wellness webinar, Modern Approach to Mourning: Pivoting from Loss to Healing, as I am discussing grief in detail with Licensed Professional Counselor Krystal Grimes of Amma Empowerment Services and Certified Life Cycle Celebrant Elle Sojourner of Spirit Fire Life Ceremonies.