Grief is usually thought of as an emotional response when someone close to us dies and yet, it is not restricted to the loss of something and someone we love. When we really allow life to live through us, grief is an ongoing natural response to moving away from habits and old patterns, into a fuller, more enriching life. – Fiona Moore
Our lives are constantly moving and changing and we are always surprised when a new chapter arrives. Sometimes we can feel overwhelmed by these changes and dealing with these new emotions.
In suppressing these valid feelings of sadness and pain, we allow unresolved emotion to accumulate and this can dampen our capacity to bounce back and move through life easily.
When we recognise that these small changes of loss in our life are important to acknowledge and work through, we will not build up emotion and pain in our bodies.
Holding onto this emotional pain overtime can suppress our immune system and cause sickness, anxiety and even depression.
“Grief does not change you, it reveals you.” – John Green
Embarrassment, loss of identity, or feelings of isolation about our grief can stop us from sharing and releasing. When we face and expose these emotions, we will find compassion and love for ourselves and connect to our soul purpose.
- Honour your grief and be truthful about what you have lost. This really is a loss – be careful not to minimize it.
- Accept the fact that this loss has really happened and it’s apart of everyone’s life.
- Don’t resist. This does not mean to give up. It means to acknowledge and accept everything you feel.
- Share with others . You don’t have to talk about the specifics of the loss, just your feelings about it. This is an important way for you to process your grief and to not get stuck in it.
- Take your power back. By talking about your feelings and receiving guidance on how to deal with your loss, you can take the power back into your life.
There are gifts to be found everywhere, even in the darkest of times, so never deny your feelings from being felt and honour them as important steppings stones to complete healing.
LIVING IN THIS MOMENT 
Your posts are amazing. I always connect with what you’re saying.
Thanks Liana! I appreciate your comment. There’s always something to learn. Xx
Grief does not change you, it reveals you… I like that thought. Thank you for writing this post and giving permission, in a sense, for people to not be ashamed when they grieve.
Diana xo
Thanks Diana. Grief does reveal us and so that is why perhaps we hold onto it. When I allow myself to feel grief, it opens my heart to release and make more space for love!
Karen
Makes sense to me Karen!
This makes absolutely perfect sense. I will remember these wise words. Thank you, Karen. I’m glad Diana sent me.
Thankyou Jennifer. I was very happy she sent you over too!
Yes my hope in sharing my story is to give hope to those beginning their journey of grief. When I started my journey I wanted to know if someone else was feeling like me and needed to know I could survive this loss.
Thanks Diana
When I was grieving the loss of my marriage, I leaned on the supposed ‘stages’ of grief (shock, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance) trudging through the stages as quickly as I could so I could get to ‘acceptance’ and be over my grief and its pain. It was only when I got there that I realised that just got me to the point of accepting what had happened. It was then that I realised that I still had to truly mourn and work out how I as a person was going to survive with that loss in my life. To do that I had to work out who I was and so, yes, the real me was revealed.
I understand perfectly what that quote means, of grief revealing the real me inside.
I agree! Grief truly revealed me too and exposed everything I was hiding from life. Still it has brought us here Elizabeth and as sad as it has been at times, we know more now and so can see and be more.
Karen
Diana, thankyou so much. I was really surprised and it meant a lot to me. I appreciate your thoughtfulness!
Karen x
You’re very welcome Karen. I’m guessing your blog helps many who are grieving. 🙂
Diana xo
Fiona Moore’s quote resonates deeply within me. There are so many losses in my life, big and small, that I have attempted to minimize, ignore — and in my efforts to ‘make’ them go away, I’ve caused myself more pain.
Such a beautiful post — I am grateful Diana sent me your way this morning. I am grieving the loss of my dearest canine friend and appreciate the grace of your words.
Thanks Louise for coming over! I appreciate your feedback. I am sorry for your loss. Grief is a big part of our ever changing journey and when we acknowledge it, we help heal and let it go. I look forward to reading your blog.
Karen
Grief reveals you. How very true. Diana sent me over and I’m grateful that she did. ♥
I am very grateful to Diana as well. It was very thoughtful of her.
This is such a helpful and compassionate article Karen. Thank you! Loss and grief are part of being human. When we accept it and embrace it, the healing … and for me, being able to feel again … can begin.
Val x
Thankyou Val. I think we all forget to accept grief as part of our everyday life. I have been enjoying reading your posts as well.
Karen
Karen what a beautiful post all humans who live long enough will suffer loss, only maybe not the loss you are going through. I am sorry for your loss. I guess when the challenging events of life hit us we have a choice in how we deal with it. It looks to me like you are on the right healing path.
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. We all have a beautiful story to share and it is great we can connect and learn from each other.
Karen