Everyone will experience grief from time to time in their lives. Some people will become consumed by that grief. It will take over their lives and cause them to have negative experiences. Others learn how to handle the grief and find happiness. You can learn how to nurture your grief and move toward happiness if you follow some tips.
- Enjoy your memories. When you are grieving, memories can be frightening. You are afraid to access your good memories because they might make you sad. You will realize, though, that the happy memories you have with someone you lost will actually warm your heart and help you feel happier. You will remember that the time you spent together had a purpose and your loved one had a very happy life.
- Honor your loved one. Honoring your loved one can help you turn the grief into something positive. If your loved one had cancer, create a fund in his name and raise money to fight the disease. If he was passionate about helping the homeless, volunteer in a soup kitchen. Continue your loved one’s work here on earth. It will make you feel as if he is still a part of your life.
- Share your grief. Handling your grief on your own is a daunting task. Instead, share it with friends and family members. You will bond over the grief and you will be able to unburden yourself to a degree.
- Find your higher power. Whether you believe in God, nature, or the connection of the mind with the universe, find your higher power and turn to it. Use your religion or spirituality to gain strength and find meaning in all of the pain.
- Learn to live without regrets. Don’t put off that phone call to your mother or the visit to your friend. Live each day like it is the last so you will live without regrets. You can build your relationships even stronger than they already are. That will help you move away from the grieving process.
- List everything you are grateful for. Spend several minutes each day adding to the list. You will be amazed by how many wonderful things you have in your life. This will help you move forward with your grief. Instead of suffocating, you will learn that you still have so much more to live for.
- Don’t try to control what you can’t control. People waste a lot of time trying to control things that they cannot control. Instead of trying to change things that are outside of your power, put all of your energy into the things you can control. You can’t control other people, but you can control how much time you spend with your loved ones and how much joy you get out of creating new memories. Focus on those things and let everything that is outside of your control slip away.
- Make a positive change. Times of grief give you the opportunity to look inside of yourself and see what you need to change. Maybe you need to spend more time with your family and less time at work. Maybe you need to be more present when you spend time with your family. Evaluate yourself and make some positive changes. That is a great way to honor the person who has passed away.
While you cannot avoid grief all together, you can lessen its impact on your life. You will have to go through the stages of grief, but if you follow these tips, you can come out on the other side refreshed, happy, and ready to make positive memories during your life.
