It’s never easy experiencing the Death of a Loved one, whether you’ve seen it coming for a while now, or it just caught you by surprise. The reality is that if you love someone, you treasure the time you spend with them and want that time to last forever. That’s one main reason why we feel so crushed when someone we love is taken away from us.

Rough, emotional days can be expected as you come to terms with your loss, and your experience doesn’t have to fit the standards others set for mourning the passing of someone special. In your own time, you’ll heal. It took me a long time to heal after the death of my Grandmother. She was the sweetest, most loving woman I knew. At the time of her death, I was five months pregnant. It was quite the experience to be grieving the loss of a family member, while simultaneously bringing the life of another into the world.

It’s important to be somewhat introspective and come to terms with life lessons that occur when losing a loved one. Discovering these revelations will help in the process of healing and acceptance of the loss.

Help yourself heal by allowing time to focus on the wisdom that can come from the death of a loved one:

You’re innately strong. You’re probably more surprised about your ability to be strong during this difficult time in your life than anybody else around you.

But the reality is we only know our capabilities when we’re faced with a situation for the first time.

Love is all that matters. One revelation you’ll discover is that at the end of the day, achievements, personal possessions and status really aren’t worth anything at all. Loving those around you and taking the time to show that love is the real purpose of life.

Losing somebody you love and only having them in spirit will show you that even without the physical being, that feeling of love is just as strong.

Unspoken bonds are stronger than you think. When faced with loss, the true essence of the bond you shared with your loved one becomes more evident. Losing a loved one really lets you realize that they meant more to you than you were able to comprehend while they were here.

You can identify true friends. Fortunately or unfortunately, in the midst of Grief is when you’ll be able to identify your true friends.

While things are sunny and bright, you’ve probably had lots of “friends” around. But when you truly need support, the people who offer it in one way or another are the ones you should hold onto forever.

The best time to express your feelings is now. One of the most significant lessons you can learn from the death of a loved one is that it’s important to tell others in your life how you really feel. That way, you won’t have regrets about things left unsaid if the day ever comes that you lose them.

The state of grief confronts even the most emotionally sturdy people, so feeling like you’re not able to handle what you’re facing is a challenge that we all face from time to time.

As hard as it may be to accept, though, any affliction, hurt or pain you are experiencing helps to shape the person you are. Making your way to the end of the tunnel says a lot about your ability to overcome the worst and return to a happy, peaceful state of being.

If, however, you’re finding it difficult to get through your grief on your own, try the following strategies to make the journey less difficult.

Course of Action for Overcoming Grief After Death

Acceptance. As difficult as it may sound to you right now, you’ll need to take your very best shot at accepting that something has happened to cause you grief. Bear in mind that acceptance doesn’t have to mean being nonchalant about the pain and hurt, because those are very real. Instead, tell yourself that it has already happened and is in the past.

You haven’t been given the power to change things that have already occurred, but you can certainly change how you deal with the challenge going forward!

Dig deep within your soul to find the strength to move on.

Seek the help of someone disconnected from your circumstance and be open to their approach and point of view.

Healing. It’s important to spend time doing things that bring relaxation and eliminate stress so you’re able to cope well as the days go by.

Spend some time in meditation so you can have a relaxed heart and mind.

Partake in some private rituals – or even with friends and family – that help keep you centered in the sacred. As a carrier of the Pachakuti Mesa, I have found these teachings to be very healing and powerful for ritual and renewal.

Make sure you get your exercise. Physical activity encourages your body to release endorphins that lift your mood and help you feel better. 

Forgive yourself for whatever responsibility you’ve assumed for the outcome of the situation. Try to accept that life’s happenings are under the guidance of a Greater Being.

Thanksgiving. Especially during a time of grief, spend some time reflecting on all the blessings that have crossed your path. If you commit to putting aside your feelings for a moment, you’ll realize how much you truly have to be thankful for. Sometimes the blessings far outweigh the tragedies without you even knowing.

Make a list of all the positives that you’ve witnessed in your life and in the lives of your loved ones.

Meditate on those blessings until they become ingrained in your conscious thought.

Try to identify the lesson in the midst of what you’re experiencing and be thankful for it. You may also like to read my post on how to move through grief to find inner peace.

Remember that there’s a season for everything. Your feelings of hurt and pain have no plans to last forever. 

Losing a loved one can feel like a piece of you has been taken away. Normal day-to-day activities require much more energy when you’re grieving. Dealing with the pain effectively can help you pick up the pieces that are left and continue to live.

Try these methods to help you heal your grief and move forward in a healthy way:

Surround yourself with support. Initially, you may want to be left alone with your thoughts or you may be afraid to love anyone else again. Those feelings are completely normal and even expected. Eventually, though, isolating yourself can be unhelpful to your recovery.

Accept the support of others. Sure, people may sometimes say the wrong thing, but most of them sincerely want to help. Seek companionship and be open about your feelings. When people offer to bring you a meal or spend an evening with you, accept it. Everyone needs support through difficult times.

Keep it real. Be honest with yourself about how you feel and accept your feelings. There’s no right or wrong way to feel when you’re mourning. Part of the healing process involves you allowing your emotions, however intense, to come out freely.

Express yourself. Feel free to talk about your loss with your support network. If you’re not ready to discuss your feelings face to face, start a journal or join an online community of people with similar experiences.

Take care of yourself. Stay as true to your daily routine as you can. Regular exercise and good nutrition contribute to your overall emotional health. Go above and beyond your normal nurturing routine and treat yourself to a relaxing massage, a walk in nature, or some time to listen to soft music.

Educate yourself. Research the topic of grief to learn the signs and strategies for coping with it. Educating yourself on the subject can be essential to the healing process.

As you do your research, you’ll begin to understand your feelings.

You’ll discover that others who have lost someone they love also feel your feelings and you’ll learn about what others have done to work through grief.

Take it one day at a time. When you’re faced with death, all you may see is a blank wall in front of you. Looking beyond the event and imagining life without your loved one may feel extremely challenging. Your feelings may be so overwhelming that they cloud your view.

Certainly, life will never be the same, and you must learn to adjust to living with the absence. However, there’s a brighter picture hiding behind that wall, which you’ll eventually be able to see.

Have realistic expectations regarding your progress.

Grieving takes time and energy. Pace yourself: set small goals and celebrate milestones. Expect challenges when special holidays and birthdays come around. But be ready to continue on your journey to recovery.

It’s common for people who survive a loved one to feel guilty about having fun. You may ask yourself, “How dare I enjoy life without them present?” But in reality, you’re not betraying them by having fun. Take the time you need to heal from their death. You alone know the relationship you shared. You are the best judge of how you should go about the healing process. 

As you practice these strategies and begin to heal, you’ll be able to release your grief so you can find true peace. As always, take the lessons learned with you. Going forward, you can maintain loving, positive relationships. The best way we can truly honor those who have passed is by living our lives to the fullest.

The post How You Can Heal From Grief After the Death of a Loved One appeared first on Mindful Mystic Mama.