10 Ways To Deal With The Loss Of A Loved One

Everyone grieves differently and no one can fully understand all aspects of an individuals suffering. At some point we do have to find a place for our sorrow. If it stays at the front of our thoughts it will start to define us. It will direct all of our actions and eventually consume us. When the time feels right, do not get rid of the sorrow. Put it in a special place in your heart so that you can always remember the good times, the love, and the appreciation you have for them and the life they lived.

1. Embrace The Sorrow. Sorrow is not the opposite of happiness. Sorrow can be called the “beautiful sadness” when the feeling comes from a mixture of great appreciation and extreme longing for the loved one who has passed. It takes a human being a while to adjust to major changes in the world, such as the disappearance of a major pillar of our lives.

2. Do Something Positive To Honour Them. You could start a charity or a scholarship fund. Make a donation. Plant a tree or something else that you can watch grow. This can help to ease the sadness back into joy.

3. Remember What Your Loved One Taught You. You can ease the grieving process by remembering what your loved one meant to you when they were alive. Time will do the rest. One day you will just remember their good years and be grateful.

4. Accept The Pain. You can accept the pain and give yourself time to heal, mentally and physically, and understand you need time. We all get upset and lose people we love in ways that were unexpected. It’s ok to be angry and hurt. Validating that your feelings are ok and giving yourself the time to deal with it is key.

5. Don’t Put A Timer On The Pain. Some of us spring back easier than others. Eventually, you’ll allow yourself to smile again, laugh and remember sweet, happier times with you loved ones. The cutting-to-the-heart sadness will always be there, but it will soften over time.

6. Grow from the Pain.  Courageously experiencing our felt sense of grief is an enormously powerful growth experience, although we wouldn’t wish it on anyone else. Being present with our experience as much as we can reminds us of our larger belonging, our timeless self.

7. Focus On The Good Things. Accept that your loved one is resting and for you to focus on things good in your life no matter how small. Focusing on the things you can change will put you in a better state of mind.

8. Keep The Memories. It’s very difficult to do. Over time you have to let go of the loss and keep the memories of the time together. Though loss makes us sad, the memories of the times we did have together with our loved ones remain and make us happy.

9. One Day At A Time. You have to handle it the same way sad and broke people do, one day at a time. Only time will heal the wound.

10. Pain Is Proportional To The Amount You Loved. Always remember that your pain is only ever equal to how much you loved – this is a gift in life, and something to be cherished.