In your grief, it’s easy to become numb to yourself and to the world. The vibrancy of the world – its colors, noises, smells and tastes – can be too much for you to manage. Add the lack of touching, which you miss so much, and you just want to climb into your hole and ask the world how it can go on when your life has stopped. Consequently, you may revert to not wanting to feel anything and, hence, you make yourself…

Do you feel that you’ve reached a plateau in your grieving, and are you frustrated that it seems as if you’ve stopped moving forward?

Take heart! The plateau is a place where you can rest after expending all your energy on what needed to be done. Stop chastising yourself for being there. Everyone needs to rest when they are working hard. This caution extends to physical work as well as emotional, spiritual and mental work.

Instead, on the flat ground of…

Today, I would like to introduce you to a new word of which I just became aware, YŪGEN, and how it is applicable to grief.

According to the Urban Dictionary, yūgen is at the core of the appreciation of beauty and art in Japan. It values the power to evoke, rather that the ability to state directly. The principle of yūgen…

I'd like to introduce you to a German word that I think could help you to understand some of the confusing emotions you're experiencing in response to the loss of a partner.

The literal translation of the word SEHNSUCHT (German pronunciation: ze nzuxt) is longing, yearning, or…

Grief is an introspective journey from the darkness of loss to the light of renewal.

The caption below highlights some of the states of being and emotions a mourner may experience. I have the word RENEWAL in the largest size font because that is your goal – to reach for a renewal of your life and the ability to let love and joy…

When it comes to coping with grief, there is an often-used term "the light at the end of the tunnel."

I've always loved the image that conjures up in my mind. For me, the darkness of loss certainly felt like being stuck in a deep tunnel, and as I marched forward on my journey of grief, I looked for any illumination that could provide me respite from…

After your loss, it’s possible that the way you communicate with others has changed.

Perhaps you are more chatty than usual – sharing your story with all who will listen.

For the most part, I am a very private person; however, for a short time…

Preface

There are a myriad of reasons why people decide to take their own lives, although there is a preponderance of suicides due to mental illness, maybe even as high as 90%. What about the other 10%? These are people who may have found themselves depressed due to a certain event or set of circumstances; perhaps…

"Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass.…

"Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass.…

I often hear from those that have…

“The more we develop the habit of noticing goodness,

the more our own sense of well-being rises.”…

To Honor: a privilege (to show respect); a showing of usually merited respect; reverence (implies profound respect mingled with love or awe)

All the definitions and synonyms of honor include the concept of…

When a loved one passes, it’s human nature to remember only the good things about that person. In fact, if you were to think about anything negative, it might seem dishonorable to him or her. However, the truth is that each of us is human and, therefore, we each possess human failings.

No one is perfect; no one is a…

My father passed away 27 years ago, but he's never been very far away. The lessons he taught me are infused in my soul and continue to play a big role in how I conduct myself today.

He was an immigrant who came to the…

Closure! Isn't that what we all want when we've been…

One of the elements of being able to successfully cope with grief most often involves experiencing a change in perspective. Please consider the following thoughts and pictures to help you on your journey.

 …

I imagine that the holiday season has been very tough for some of you, facing it without your loved one by your side. It doesn't really matter the length of time that he/she has been gone; your heart still aches for your loss, especially at this family oriented time of year.

…

When a spouse passes away, you lose your most intimate connection in life. It was in the home that you built together where you felt most like yourself. You were able to bare your soul -- the good, the bad and the ugly -- and still be loved and accepted. Now that he or she is gone, you may be set adrift without a tether to anchor you securely. And so you flail loosely about as you navigate the stormy sea of…