Educational, Grief, Grief Tips, Mind/Body Wellness, Pespective |
Relationship Grief
I bet you clicked on the link to read this blog post because you’re in a relationship with someone that’s causing you grief.
And, there’s a 50/50 chance that the person you’re thinking of, in terms of relationship grief, is still alive, too.
Relationship grief extends much farther than the normal and natural feelings you feel when someone dies.
We typically think of relationships as a partnership or being in communion and connection with another human. However, I want to take this opportunity to share with you all of the ways we are in relationships and examples of how we experience relationship grief. My goal is for you to walk away from reading this blog post with an expanded understanding that you can then apply to your life with a new perspective.
Types of Relationships
- Other Humans: Spouse/Significant Other, Parent, Child, Sister/Brother, Grandparent, Aunt/Uncle, Godparent, Cousin, Niece/Nephew, Friend, Neighbor, Co-Worker/Supervisor/Boss, Clients/Customers, and all of the service-based industries that make up our daily lives – Hairdresser, Postmaster, Bank Teller, Cashier, Massage Therapist, Healthcare Provider, Teacher/Instructor/Coach, Podcast Host/Audience, Authors of Favorite Books, Taxi/Uber/Lyft Driver, Food Delivery, Police/Fire/Rescue, Veterinarian
- Animals: Pets, Service Animal, Pets of family/friends/neighbors, Strays, Animals that make your Livelihood or are providers (livestock/chickens (eggs/food) /horses (rodeo/competition/service animal), Eco-System
- Nature: Garden, Yard, Farm, Eco-System, Forest, Lake/Ocean/Sea, Air
- Self: Mind/Emotions, Body/Physical Self, Spirit/Your Essence, Soul/Heart, Money, Faith/Spirituality
Read the relationship types a couple of times. It’s easy to understand why life feels as complex as it does. We co-exist, interact, and are participants of all kinds of relationships daily.
Do you see how many or all of these connections have the potential to cause us grief?
If our relationship in one area lacks in another, we may gravitate to other types of relationships in co-dependent, unhealthy ways. For instance, if there are conflicts with a child or parent, one may self-sabotage the relationship to self by turning to food/alcohol for comfort. Another example may be if you lose a home due to a natural disaster. The impact of that will change where you live, the community and neighbors you are forced to acclimate to, and the situation could add strain to a partnership with another if job loss is involved or just by the stress of having to start over. Just because you have to move doesn’t mean your relationship with where you were before the natural disaster goes away; those feelings still exist. Likewise, when someone dies, the relationship continues. The feelings of anything you wish would have been different, better, or more don’t go away on their own. The loss of hopes, dreams and expectations you had for the relationship continues in your heart; therefore, the relationship also continues.
Grief recovery, a program to address the loss of any kind, helps address those feelings that you can’t seem to shake that keep you stuck.
Grief impacts every area of our lives. Because we are so connected to our environments and each other, and we take ourselves everywhere we go, it behooves us to create balance in our lives to feel contentment and inner peace. Otherwise, we go about our lives not feeling very empowered. Instead, we feel at the mercy of our circumstances, immersed in chaos, and often what follows is our physical bodies begin to break down.
As you see, relationship grief is multi-faceted and hardly straightforward. And the very nature of grief is not linear either. Rather, it feels like a rollercoaster ride where your emotions are all over the place. Only, in grief, you’re without the safety and security of believing that the ride will end smoothly. As I mentioned previously, what adds to the complexity of grief and relationships is that we all bring our “stuff” into our relationships.
Wouldn’t it feel better to be proactive rather than reactive in our lives? Wouldn’t it feel better to be in tune with your heart and have your actions align with your feelings that lean to the goodness life has to offer? Because grief makes us feel like we don’t have a choice, and we all bring our “stuff,” you can see, too, how all of these other relationships potentially add more grief to our lives.
Let me explain it this way…
If you are in the depths of grief right now and feel as though you are a victim of your circumstances and want to feel better but don’t know how to do that or lack the support, you will turn to something (or someone) that will make you feel better. But, those feeling better feelings are short-lived. All the while, in the depths of your grief, you’re having all of these other interactions and encounters with the other kinds of relationships. That is unless you’ve drawn the curtains and are lying in the fetal position for days or weeks on end. Keep in mind, you’re always in a relationship with yourself, though. You take you everywhere – even when it’s just you in the fetal position.
In all of these types of relationships, the one that matters most is our relationship with ourselves. And, it’s the only relationship we have authority over, too.
There are one hundred and forty days left in 2021. How do you want to refine the relationship you have with yourself before 2022?
Are there other relationships that could use some emotional de-cluttering? If so, reach out to me at victoria@theunleashedheart [dot] com if you’re interested in participating in the Grief Recovery Online Group Program. It’s limited to 6 participants this go-around. We meet once weekly for eight weeks in the evenings (typically Wednesdays or Thursdays) for about two hours, starting in September.
Sending you all the love. Thank you for reading.💛
Educational, Energy, Grief Tips, Living Unleashed, Mind/Body Wellness, Resources |
The Grief of Being Out of Alignment
Have you ever thought about how your body responds when you’re doing something you’d rather not do? When you say “yes” to something you wish you had said “no” to?
When you find the courage to say “no” to something or someone, do you feel guilt or shame if the other person responds to your “no” in an unkind way – when they don’t respect or honor your “no?”
Or, do you say “yes” because you’re a people-pleaser? Do you want to see everyone around you happy and don’t want to be the reason someone is angry, upset, or disappointed in you? Even if that means you are going against the grain of what your heart (and energetic body) wants you to do?
On the flip side of all of this, have you thought about what you feel when someone tells you “no? Are you honoring and respecting the “no’s” given to you?
Whether you are asked to change seats on a flight, take on more responsibilities at work, or join a committee, if it’s not feeling like a “heck yes,” there are two ways to approach your response that will serve you.
- Make a “yes” okay with you.
- Say “no,” which is a complete sentence. Period.
I have taken the first approach many times. I have said “yes” to things with good intentions and because I really wanted to, but then found out the “yes” wasn’t what I thought it would be. Have you found yourself in that situation? You feel like something will be no big deal, and then you realize the experience becomes quite the opposite. You do still have choices in that scenario. You can either find a way out of the situation and respectfully bow out or change how you feel about it. You may have to do some internal digging, but it is possible to make an unpleasant experience pleasant simply by shifting your perspective (making the “yes” okay with you).
I feel like I’ve become a master at that one. Most of my life has felt like test after test for learning how to shift my perspective (and energy) around how I feel about certain things. You may recognize these people (like me) when they say: “Well, at least…XXX.” I have always tried to think about a scenario or someone else who “has it worse” than I do. Especially in my younger years, I was also trying to minimize my own experience, which is also a common thing many grievers will do.
What does all of this have to do with grief?
Everything.
What Happens When You’re Out of Alignment
Grief is sneaky in this way. It’s like a spider finding a crevice and creating this masterful web that seems to attract, not lunch, but rather scenarios that will continue to test and challenge you. It just seems to take us so damn long to get the memo. Meanwhile, all of these scenarios and experiences stack up. And, if you’re not committing to experiences or people that are in alignment with the energy you want to be in, then it’s easy to see how this kind of grief, of not honoring yourself, is self-inflicted.
What you may begin to experience, then, are anxiety attacks (or ever-present low-level anxiety), headaches, canker/cold sores, bowel issues, rashes, frequent colds/viral infections, body aches/pains, unexplained fatigue, adrenal fatigue, feelings of burnout, etc.
When this self-inflicted grief goes on long enough, you will eventually find yourself feeling like a victim – to life and, if it goes on long enough – your body. And, all because you are not honoring your needs and desires – of what would feel to be in alignment with who you are and who you desire to be.
More than two years ago, I would not have recognized the signs and signals my body would give me. I would not be aware of my energetic body response, and I definitely wouldn’t have paused long enough to tune into either of these things. Today, however, it’s a very different story.
Our body is always speaking to us. We only need to tune out and tune our antenna inward to know what we need to do. Then, follow that inner wisdom with action that aligns with our heart, mind, and spirit.
The day you can do this is the day that grief’s grip starts to loosen.
Love +light to you today. Thank you for reading. If this message speaks to you today, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Reach out to me on Instagram / FB or email me at victoria@theunleashedheart [dot] com 💛
P.S. I recently launched a FREE Energy Type Quiz! If you want to dive deeper into understanding your energy type and learn some tips, too, click HERE to get started! There’s a free guide to download as well!
Grief, Grief Tips, Growth, Living Unleashed, Mind/Body Wellness |
Uncomfortable Conversations
How many conversations have you avoided because you were afraid to rock the boat, appear to be too emotional or analytical, or downright scared to expose your heart?
Sharing your heart with others through uncomfortable conversations is a lot like being back in a middle school locker room. Just as your personal body is open to criticism, analysis, and judgment from others, so is the heart when your deepest feelings are shared in uncomfortable conversations.
An uncomfortable conversation can be speaking up for yourself for the first time about what you need, from a relationship to telling your parents you’re not pursuing a career they had their sights on for you since the time you were walking. Or, it can be coming out as gay for the first time or any other secret that’s leaving you feeling emotionally twisted in your gut when attempting to shield yourself from the truth of what you’re so afraid to share.
We are confronted with a choice to dive into uncomfortable conversations more times than we probably realize. Still, the decision to not “go there” is often made in a split-second thought that we quickly put that decision out of our minds. That being said, the restlessness we feel about the need to express ourselves emotionally doesn’t go away. Instead, by denying ourselves a release by lifting the weight of what feels like a secret or even conflicting feelings, you are only hurting yourself.
Sometimes, the suffering we cause ourselves by not unburdening our hearts is worse than the act or after-effects of sharing our heart’s truth.
Granted, there is a time and place for sharing. There is also a tactful and thoughtful way to express ourselves too. Information is far better received when we stick to how we feel rather than what we perceive as facts. Because our perceptions are all different, I can look at an image and see something completely different than the person next to me because we all perceive the world around us differently; filtering the world through the five senses of our personal experiences. I experienced this full-on in my Reiki Master certification, the same process as everyone else, but no two experiences of attunements and ignitions were the same.
If there is a difficult conversation, here are a few questions to ask yourself first:
Is it true?
Is it kind?
Is it necessary?
We can sometimes make mountains out of molehills, so asking yourself these questions first may actually spare you further suffering. And, by necessity, I like to think of it, not as your feelings are not valid; rather, five years from now, will it matter? This comes back to possibly making a mountain out of a molehill.
May I Suggest…
If, after asking yourself the three questions above, you still feel that what you need to share needs to be said out loud (rather than working through how your experience may be a projection of your inner world), then it may be worth role-playing out loud. Create a checklist of the main points you want to express, then role-play in the mirror, saying the very things you need to say to the other person. After doing this exercise, you may even find that you feel better, and the situation seems to resolve itself, almost like magic. And, if it’s a situation that is complex or devastating, this will still be helpful. I suggest this to get clear and experience the emotions behind the words. When you go to have the conversation, you’re better able to focus on what needs to be said and not derail the opportunity to fully express yourself because you’re emotionally charged. Discharge some of that emotion first, so you can clearly articulate and express how you feel.
Grief recovery has helped me in unexpected ways, recognize the importance of addressing my emotions first before endeavoring into uncomfortable (and difficult) conversations. And, there have been more times than I can count, that after taking some time to step back and observe what’s going in within me, that I’ve been able to address the conflict in myself that was being reflected in the relationship with the other person.
Self-awareness: it’s a beautiful thing. 💛
Educational, Energy, Grief Tips, Mind/Body Wellness, Pespective, Reiki, Resources |
The Conflict of Self-Sacrifice and Being a Helper
As a helper, boundaries for yourself and others are important to prevent burnout. Without boundaries, knowing when to say “no,” or recognizing when enough is enough, you may find yourself filled with resentment, anger, bitterness, self-criticism, maybe even self-loathing if you are your own worst critic. You may find yourself saying things to yourself that you would never speak out loud to another person. Helpers are often the ones who put on an “I’ve got this” face and yet, on the inside, are crumbling under pressure.
Caregivers/Caretakers are especially prone to burnout. Becoming the one who everyone relies on and goes to for physical, emotional, or financial support can fill the heart with so much joy and purpose, or it can fill the helping heart with dread and the soul with angst.
Challenging Beliefs
One recommendation I have for preventing burnout as a helper is to evaluate your beliefs about helping. When I talk about helpers, I want to clarify that I refer to those whose natural inclination is to help, almost like a compulsion. Natural helpers can’t help but help. I’m not referring to those who help because they feel pressured to do so or are motivated to help because they gain something in return. I think there’s a difference, which is why it’s important to make the distinction.
Anyway, in your childhood, what leads you to believe that helping beyond your physical, emotional, or financial means is how you get your worth?
- Were you raised to believe that only those who help to the point of self-sacrifice are rewarded?
- Do you believe that, as a helper, only you can do what needs to be done? Were you put in roles where you frequently had to step up and take the reigns because, if you didn’t, the project, experience, job, the family would fall apart?
- How much of this belief are you and you alone putting on your shoulders?
- Are these high expectations you have for yourself or others have for you?
Imagine the grief you may be causing yourself not addressing this or allowing yourself to observe how you respond to others when you feel called to help! Others are not responsible for your self-sacrificing ways. The bitterness or resentment you feel is due to a lack of boundaries, self-care, and self-worth.
I have been on the receiving end of helper-burnout. As a Reiki practitioner, grief specialist, and end-of-life doula, it is up to me to maintain boundaries as a means to protect or regain my physical and emotional energy.
Addressing the Conflicting Feelings
If you address your physical and emotional needs as a helper, you will no longer have conflicting feelings about being a helper. Those feelings are an indicator that something is off, not working, or needs to change.
How to address these conflicting feelings goes back to creating and maintaining boundaries. But, if you’re not being an observer of what is happening emotionally when you find yourself in challenging situations, you won’t know where boundaries are needed.
Start with what pisses you off. What is happening when you find yourself wound up with emotion, maybe even fired up (not in a good way)?
- What is it about the situation that fills you with anger?
- When, in your childhood, did you find yourself needing to be responsible for helping others to feel better (physically or emotionally)?
- How have you put yourself second to the needs of others?
- In what ways could you balance out the desire to help and meet your own needs?
As a child, I had a lot of responsibility. It wasn’t something I chose, it was just how things were and the cards I was dealt. No experience is wasted; therefore, I can appreciate the lessons I gained during those years. However, those years also shaped my beliefs about what it looks like to be a helper, and it was at the expense of my own heart and in conflict with what my soul wanted.
We can even do this to the extent of choosing a profession that our parents wanted. I have come across this in my work with others. People go into a profession that isn’t at all aligned with their heart and soul simply to make their parents happy or proud. When really, either it’s a projection of the parents and their unmet hopes, dreams, and expectations they had for themselves, or it’s an inner-wound that leads the person to believe that, again, their self-worth comes from the approval of others.
When we put our desire for freedom, which includes emotional freedom, on the backburner, we put ourselves in shackles to the needs and desires of others. We learn that personal needs come last, lose our voice in speaking up for ourselves, and learn that our self-worth hinges on the approval of others (how much we helped them). This approval-seeking, therefore, becomes a learned behavior.
The conflicting feelings you feel right now about being a helper is grief, my friend. It’s the loss of hopes, dreams, and expectations you had for yourself, your relationship with others, and your life. It’s wishing things would be, could be, or would’ve or could’ve been – different, better, or more.
Are you feeling conflicted about your strong desire to help and yet meet your needs?
Would you like me to dig more into the energetics of this? Well, you’re in luck! Today I launched a quiz that will help you learn your energy type! From it, you will learn what energizes and drains your energy, blind spots of your energy type, and what to do to turn things around or maintain (if you’re not feeling energetically challenged).
CLICK HERE TO LEARN YOUR ENERGY TYPE TODAY IN UNDER 2 MINUTES!
UPLEVEL YOUR HELPER ENERGY; YOUR HEART WILL THANK YOU!
Grief Tips, Growth, Mind/Body Wellness, Pespective, Resources |
Replay Today and Rehearse Tomorrow
There is a lot of empowerment that comes with reflecting on your day and rehearsing the day ahead. I found myself doing this regularly, only when I started using The Five Minute Journal. And, I gotta say, I’ve noticed a marked improvement in my productivity and feelings of abundance, too. It may be part psychological but, I do know that I have noticed that if I write the same thing several days in a row, it’s the motivation I need to “get ‘er done.” And, I’ve also found all the little ways I am blessed. I just feel like it’s been a great motivator for me. It’s me against me; I’m only comparing myself to the me who made an entry the day before. I do think that’s a powerful aspect of using this little book; it has the potential to be transformative. I also see it as a wonderful tool as someone is working to heal through grief.
On tough days, it can be challenging to find the littlest thing to be grateful for, and feeling the opposite of that is not empowering. I wrote a post a while back about making little changes and, this book definitely makes my list now.
Replay Today
When you reflect on the day, consider what could’ve made the day even better. Maybe you passed someone you knew whose energy seemed off, and rather than stopping to say hello and ask how they were doing, you, instead, made it seem like you were preoccupied and gave a slight wave. And, now you regret not saying hello because you sense something is wrong. Reflecting on that moment and what you could have done differently helps bring that awareness to the forefront. And perhaps, the next time you see that person, you will apologize for not following through on your gut. Not delivering that communication of regret stays within you.
Moments, such as the one described above, happen in our lives all of the time. We just give those moments very little attention. This little book helps to bring moments like that to the forefront.
Similarly, you also can reflect on what was amazing about the day – gratitude! What a great way to end the day!
Rehearse Tomorrow
A natural thing happens when you reflect on the present day; you start thinking about the next day. And, although this isn’t a step to work through in this little journal I’m talking about, I think it naturally happens, at least it does for me. I also typically plan my week ahead on Sundays. Doing this activity helps me to prepare for the week ahead mentally. I plan out what needs to get done and when. I’m not perfect at getting everything done that I set out to do, but as I mentioned, when I write these things in this little book and don’t get them done, it’s highly motivating. I don’t need to look to others to motivate me – it’s possible to find it myself, which is found through action only I can take (and you, too)!
I also believe that by rehearsing tomorrow, you can go into the day with intention. And, going about your time with intention is a way to uplevel your day (and life), too.
Applying Replay & Rehearse to Grief
Again, it comes down to awareness, intention, and action. As you go through your days, you will find a theme emerging. You will start to see where you can stand to make some changes. And, you can make some micro changes that add up to big shifts over time. And, both reflection and gratitude are tools for doing just that.
Wrapping you in love and light today and always. Thank you for reading.
Childhood Grief, Educational, Grief, Grief Stories, Grief Tips, Mind/Body Wellness, Parent Loss |
Losing a parent is a complex experience. You may feel shock, anger or frustration, or a combination of all three. Other common experiences include feeling guilty if you weren’t there for their death or a sense of the current situation not feeling like a reality.
As a child and even when you become an adult, you expect to have your parents around for many years to come. You believe that they’re going to be there, watching over you, providing you with their help and support until you’re well into adulthood yourself. But that’s not how it always works out. Many people lose parents early as I did (age 8).
Therefore, in this post, we take a look at some of the things that you can do after you lose a parent (from an adult perspective) and why the experience is so complex.
Do What You Need To Do To Take Care Of Your Wellbeing
Grief can have a profound physiological effect on the body. That’s because it puts you into a state of shock and can often happen without any warning. Even if you have forewarning, there is nothing that finalizes a loss like that person’s death. Even though you may know it’s coming, the finality of it often doesn’t hit until after the loved one passes. You may feel as though the person is already gone, depending on the circumstances (such as in the case of terminal illness or dementia). However, again, it’s not until the loved one passes where the finality hits.
Before the passing of the loved one, there are plenty of distractions, too. Doctor visits, daily tasks of caregiving and support, and logistical and practical things people need to be taken care of while they’re alive. Before a loved one passes, these familiar patterns of behavior suddenly change with death, and this alone can put people into an emotional tailspin. Suddenly, the need to be needed is no longer there. For some, this may come as a huge relief. However, it’s still a change in a familiar pattern of behavior. For others, it’s the sudden awareness of time and this desire to fill that space of time starts to creep in, so what do many grievers do? They find a way to keep busy. And, far too often, that is the unhelpful advice others will give, too. “Just stay busy and, you’ll be fine – eventually.” So, so unhelpful to a griever.
Therefore it’s at times like these that you need to ensure that you’re looking after yourself better than you usually would. Getting enough sleep, for instance, is critical. If you struggle with sleep normally because of work, you may request bereavement leave or a change in your duties. I’ve had several podcast guests share in this sentiment, too, to take the necessary time off. You will not be as productive, anyway. When we break a leg, we go to the doctor and take the necessary time off from work to heal. Why do we not do this with our hearts? Gotchya there, didn’t I? It’s absolutely true! Our hearts need time to mend, just like any broken body part would. Granted, there is no timeline to grief, and it can feel like a luxury to have time off. For some people, that’s simply not an option. That being said, what are your options? You may need to get creative, but sometimes just changing how you work can benefit your emotional health significantly. Maybe grief will help you to realize that the environment in which you’re working is toxic and that it’s time to find something else more nurturing to your spirit.
Grief is a clarifier, and it awakens the dormancy of other hurts in our hearts. Use the awareness that it brings to make positive changes forward for your well-being.
Another area you’ll want to tend to is ensuring that you prioritize your nutrition and cooking, even if you don’t feel like eating. Healthy foods are one of the best ways to get on the road to recovery. Clearly, aim for moderation in all things, and avoid alcohol use as dependency on it long-term can harm you. As I’ve shared before, alcohol and food can easily become STERBS (short-term energy relieving behaviors) that we resort to when all we want is to feel better. These things don’t make us feel better after, though. They only pile on the guilt and shame.
Share Memories
Telling stories about the loved parent that you’ve lost can actually aid you in your bereavement. Talking to grandchildren about your parents’ lives, for instance, allows you to appreciate their life and stops you from bottling it all up.
I recall a story that broke my heart. This person was an adult whose parent had recently died. The person expressed how upset it made them when their child brought up the grandparent (this person’s parent) and how they would, essentially, shut the child down from talking about their beloved grandpa. This absolutely broke my heart.
Young children know how to grieve. Heck, they express every emotion there is, don’t they? However, as we age, it is the adults in our lives (and unhelpful and hurtful) messages in society that perpetuate this belief that we are to not share our feelings and are to grieve alone. Therefore, emotionally stifled children become emotionally stifled adults. And, these beliefs about how to grieve are then passed on to the next generation.
Do you see why this is important to understand and why I am so passionate about educating about grief? Our future generations rely on us getting this through our heads and doing better than the generation before us.
So please, as much as it hurts you, put your adult ego aside, and please allow children the time and space to express themselves. Have the conversations about how you miss your loved one – together. Cry – together. Grieve – together. You are teaching a valuable lesson that they will carry with them well into adulthood.
I was not given that opportunity, like so many children aren’t. As an adult, expressing yourself and sharing memories is the fastest (and healthiest) way to feeling better. And, it’s so important to choose your listening ears wisely, too.
Do Something To Remember Them
You can also pay your respects by creating a tribute memorial for a loved one. This could be anything, from planting their favorite flowers in your backyard to creating a home shrine. You could also explore financial options, such as donating to their favorite charity.
Take Time To Forgive
Before you roll your eyes, read on…💛
Some people are angry with their parents. So, emotionally, their death can be even more complex. You feel various emotions, some of which make you feel dreadful about yourself and who you are as a human being. Trust me; I get it.
Life doesn’t always provide us with answers to all our questions. But that’s okay – you can accept the mystery. Therefore, you can forgive your parents, even if you don’t understand why they acted in the way that they did at times.
The beautiful thing about grief recovery is it allows you to address those moments in time you can’t seem to let go of and forgive. Those times that pull you back in time, and you feel the pain and hurt all over again like it was yesterday. These moments are impacting you daily, whether you realize it or not. How you are coping (or not) impacts your life, whether you care to admit it or not.
Forgiveness isn’t for them; it’s for you. It’s not about condoning or forgetting; it’s about no longer swallowing the resentment, which is a poison you’re holding onto in your body.
Forgiveness is about emotional freedom from the pain that you will no longer let those things hurt you anymore.
Allow Comfort
Lastly, you’re allowed to let other people comfort you and take over some of the responsibilities of your life for a time. Completely isolating yourself doesn’t do much to help, and it would likely make matters worse.
This is so hard for so many people who were raised as people-pleasers. You know who you are, the ones who take care of everything without a word needing to be said. You’re the one who gives until they’re blue in the face and, deep down, resentful for it. You want to be cared for but simply were never taught how to be because, again, you maybe had to grow up fast as a child. There wasn’t any coddling or nurturing in your life, so you found your resilience, self-sufficiency, and resourcefulness instead. You likely had a lot of responsibility as a child, too.
You don’t know how to be cared for and, I get you. I do. So, rather than feeling the pressure of delegating, start with YOU. What does your heart need today? A walk in nature? A soak in the tub? Or a good belly laugh? Nurture your heart with the simple pleasures of life and feel gratitude in those moments. Then, as you go, assess what you can let go of, delegate, and ask for help.
If you have children and are a stay-at-home/work-at-home parent, you may want to put them into childcare for a while or see if you can do a child swap with a friend – it’s a win-win! Or you could temporarily hire household help to assist with the chores. Find some way to build in support.
We often don’t know what we need until someone throws it in our lap. So, if you’re reading this and know of someone on the grief struggle bus right now, steal some of these ideas or read this post on learning how to support a grieving friend or listen to the podcast where my guests share tips just like this!
