Sometimes people think of grief as sadness. Actually, grief is much more than that. Grief is often a combination of feelings such as shock, confusion, anxiety, anger, regret, and sadness. You may even feel as though you are “crazy". The mixture of feelings can change from minute to minute or from day to day.
Your grief will be shaped by many factors, including your relationship with the person who died, the circumstances of the death, your unique personality, your support systems, your religious or spiritual background, to name a few. It's important not to compare yourself with others or have expectations of how you “should" be feeling. Find ways to mourn that work for you.
Hope is an expectation of a good that is yet to be. Even as you grieve and mourn, it is vital that you also find ways to nurture hope for your future—a future in which you have rediscovered meaning and are living fully again.
The healing process takes time and effort. The more actively you pay attention to and express your grief as it naturally unfolds, the more you are giving yourself momentum toward healing. Contrary to popular belief, time alone does not heal grief. It takes hard work. It takes focus and determination.
Speaking with a trained professional can help you as you move through your grief. Book an appointment todayand begin the journey toward healing.
Life Transitions
Life is full of other types of loss: changes in job, marriage, health and community can cause considerable upset and may actually involve substantial grieving, though we may not be aware that what we are experiencing is actually grief. Loss of identity and changing roles occur throughout our lives. Navigating significant change and loss - through understanding, self compassion and hope - can be enhanced by meeting with a trained companion.
There are many paradoxes around our grief - many things we think we “should" be doing and feeling when we experience any type of loss, especially if these losses are compounded and come to us in multiple “waves". Loss changes us. The goal is not to go back to the life we had, but to integrate the loss and move into the future with a renewed hope. With a certificate in Death & Grief Studies, Amy Lane can help you sort through your experience and learn to live life again.
Loss provides an opportunity to take inventory of our lives, to reconsider priorities, and to determine new directions.
Transitions: Grief, Loss & Change
Loss and transition visit each of us: loss of a loved one, changes in job, family, health and community. Creating more than just sadness, grief is often a combination of feelings such as shock, confusion, anxiety, anger and regret. You may even feel as though you are “crazy".
There is no particular “formula” for healing. Your experience of grief is unique to you. Was your experience sudden or prolonged? Is it recent or long ago? Your gender, age, religious beliefs, and other factors all affect your experience. These will be explored in depth to give you a greater understanding of your experience, taking you out of the swirl of grief.
The goal of working through your grief is not to go back to the life you had, but to integrate your grief and move into the future with renewed hope.
Amy Lane has over 30 years experience as a Certified Spiritual Director and Group Facilitator. She has received training under Dr. Alan Wolfelt at the Center For Loss and Transformation with a Certificate in Death & Grief Studies. Amy offers one-on-one Spiritual Direction and grief support in person in Jackson WY, and online around the world.