The loss of a loved one is heartbreaking. It is heart wrenching and painful. Each person’s grief is as unique as their fingerprint. But what everyone has in common is that no matter how they grieve, they share a need for their grief to be witnessed. That doesn’t mean needing someone to try to lessen it or reframe it for them. The need is for someone to be fully present to the magnitude of their loss without trying to point out the silver lining.
These past few weeks, I have experienced grief. I know what it feels like to lose someone close to you; to watch the people you love hurting. It is never easy. It is vulnerable; it is lonely; it is uncomfortable.
Loss hurts in such an intense way because it is connected to love and belonging. However, pain and discomfort offer us a space to be held by others and grow into our highest self. Each time that we allow ourselves to be seen at our lowest points, our trust and connection with those we share that vulnerability with deepens. Our trust in ourselves deepens, because now you know that you can move through the pain. You know your strength and have been witnessed by those you love.
Healing requires us to live courageously and allow ourselves to fully experience the feelings of loss and grief. When grief is part of your story, it needs to be held to be healed. We cannot heal what has not been processed, and it takes time to move through the pain of loss and grief. We don’t do ourselves any favors when we rush or simply try to skip over the process. Even when it is scary, we must follow our hearts and honor our grief. Allow our hearts to heal the way they truly want to. Grief teaches us the power of our love, and our resilience. When we practice courage we lean into showing the world our whole self, wounds and all.
Lean onto the people around you, take your time in your healing, be vulnerable, and embrace courage. You are so strong and I am so proud of you.
Luv, Liv