In this episode, I share my ongoing grief journey and the valuable lessons I've learned along the way. Grief is a deeply personal process, and everyone experiences it differently. Here are some key insights from my journey:
- Individual Grieving Processes: Everyone grieves differently, with unique feelings, timelines, comforts, and ways to heal.
- Embracing Grief: It's essential to acknowledge and process your grief in ways that work for you. Don't ignore your pain; let the tears come and allow yourself to heal.
- Unexpected Grief Waves: Grief can hit you when you least expect it, like waves crashing over you. Allow yourself to feel the pain.
- Unexpected Sources of Grief: You might find yourself grieving things you never anticipated. Recently, I've grieved my old backyard, my Wimberley home, my church, and more.
Grief is a process with its own unique timeline for each person. I was determined to grieve well, accepting the deep pain. If you love deeply, you will grieve deeply; it is a blessing to grieve. There's beauty in moving from counting the days of grief to counting the days of blessings you had with your loved one.
Daily thankfulness is crucial for making it through each day. Remember, you can't fix someone else's grief, and they can't fix yours. Instead, listen and witness others' grief.
As a certified Grief Educator through David Kessler’s courses and mentoring, I felt compelled to help others. Grief is overwhelming, and often we don't know what to do or say. I discovered that creativity was a significant part of my healing process. It wasn't until two years after Wayman died that I recognized the seven main creative processes I used to cope with my pain.
Here are some Bible verses that have been particularly comforting to me:
- "Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest." (Psalms 126:5-6 NLT) Psalms 126:5-6
- "God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted." (Matthew 5:4 NLT) Matthew 5:4
- "Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes in the morning." (Psalm 30:5)
Additionally, I recommend two books that have helped me reflect on grief and find new meaning:
- "Reflecting on Grief and Moving Beyond Pain: Living with Loss and Discovering New Meaning"
- "Companion Reflection Journal: Reflecting on Grief and Moving Beyond Pain"
I have been dreaming and knowing that I had an assignment to write and release a digital course on healing through the creative process. Grief is a process, unique to each individual, and we must process it to heal. I am excited to announce a new digital course on tools to help you heal from grief and trauma.
The course, titled "Healing Your Heart through Creativity: Painting Module 1," will be available for presale on July 17 at 12 noon Central Time for $27 (regular price $47). A bonus session will be held on July 18 at 12 noon Central Time. Sign up here.
Thank you for joining me on this journey. I hope these insights and resources bring you comfort and help you navigate your own grief process.