How to practice grief.

Practicing acceptance in grief is a crucial but challenging aspect of the healing process. Here are some strategies to help you practice your grief and help you move to acceptance:

1.    Acknowledge your feelings- Embrace the full spectrum of emotions that accompany grief—whether it's the waves of sadness, the storms of anger, the currents of guilt, or the whirlpools of shock, feelings of injustice, or disgust. Everyone has a unique journey in the Odyssey that is grief. Understand that each individual's journey through grief is as unique as their fingerprint, traversing landscapes of emotion that can vary widely in intensity and duration. Recognize that these feelings are normal and valid. People can go through all these emotions before lunchtime, while others take longer to process. (Stang, 2024)

*Remember, we feel grief due to missing someone. When we experience loss, it is because we cared for and valued this person or family member. We can miss someone because we care about them; this is the other side of the coin (dialectical).

2.    Practice mindfulness using a medium: By cultivating mindfulness, you can navigate the turbulent seas of grief with a steadier hand and accept your emotions without judgment. Engaging in activities or self-care such as deep breathing, grounding exercises, meditation, running, exercise, woodworking, gardening, or yoga. The goal is to help you stay grounded in the present moment and accept your feelings without judgment (Stang, 2024).

3.    Educate yourself about grief: Recognize that grief is not a progressive or linear path, but a meandering journey filled with twists and turns. By gaining insight into your unique odyssey, you can foster a sense of self-awareness and resilience. Knowing that it's a natural response to loss can help you feel less alone and more accepting of your experience.

 4.    Focus on what you can control: Focus on taking care of yourself, setting boundaries, and seeking support when needed. Healing from grief takes time. In America, there's a belief that we should stop grieving after a year. This is inherently wrong; there's no set timeline for the process. Be patient with yourself and allow yourself to grieve at your own pace. Grief is not always a progressive or linear process, and you may experience ups and downs along the way. Know that it's okay to have setbacks or difficult days, weeks, or months.

 5.     Practice self-compassion Treat yourself with the same kindness and understanding you would offer to a friend, family member or a fellow traveler on their own odyssey through grief. Embrace self-compassion/grace as a guiding star, illuminating the path toward healing and acceptance.

  6.    Seek support: Seek out supportive individuals who can accompany you on your odyssey with empathy, understanding, and practical assistance. Whether it's through joining a support group or seeking professional guidance, know that you do not journey alone.

*Remember that practicing acceptance doesn't mean forgetting or moving on from your loss. Instead, it involves acknowledging the absence of your loved one while finding peace and, perhaps, even harmony amidst the ebb and flow of grief's tides. Acceptance means learning to live with it in a way that allows you to find peace and, when possible, harmony.

Source:

Stang, H. (2024, January 9). Mindfulness & grief: Meditation for grief and online bereavement support. Mindful Grief Support with Heather Stang. https://heatherstang.com/