Listen To Your Grief

Grief is a process, and unfortunately, there are no shortcuts. The emotions of grief serve as information that drives us to heal and grow. By distracting or avoiding grief, we miss out on valuable information. It's typical to experience a whirlwind of tricky emotions when grieving, so don't beat yourself up if things feel a bit messy. The work of grief is to engage these complicated emotions. Keep reading for a mindfulness exercise aimed at tuning into your grief. Sometimes it helps to have a guide to support you on your grief journey. Connect with Wingate Counseling for a personalized approach to grief support.

Listen To Your Grief

Your emotions are information telling you what your body needs. The more you tune into yourself, the better you are at supporting your needs. The same is true with grief. There is always a temptation to avoid tricky or painful emotions. By doing so, you limit your understanding and are less capable of supporting yourself.

If you constantly feel confused, jerked around, or caught off guard by your grief, try incorporating a body scan into your daily routine. Spend some time noticing where sensations are stored in your body and what information these emotions carry. A pit in your stomach might symbolize fear, or tension in your shoulder could signify stress, while confusion might present as brain fog. Once you've gotten some information, ask yourself what your body needs right now. Maybe a warm bath or a comforting hug. Try moving your body or connecting with someone. If you're not sure what to do, you need more information. Using a journal or talking to a trusted friend are excellent ways of understanding yourself.

Mindfulness Exercise Prompt

You might be asking yourself, "how do I spend time listening to my grief?" Below is a brief outline of a mindfulness exercise you can try on your own.

Find a comfortable space where you won't be distracted

Take a few minutes to check in with yourself with a few deep breaths

Starting at the top of your head, slowly scan down your body, noticing areas of sensation

Spend a few moments getting to know those areas of sensation

Use descriptive words - what's the shape, color, or texture you notice

If this sensation could speak, what would it say? What does it want you to know?

Create some space with your breath, allowing yourself to be open

Ask yourself what you need at this moment, then go do it

Give this exercise a try while keeping in mind this is a skill to develop over time rather than something you will automatically be great at. It might feel awkward to do these mindfulness check-ins if it's new.

The Bottom Line

Putting in the hard work of grief can seem daunting at first. But know you are stronger than you think, and this hard work will pay off in the long run! Working on your grief isn't about "getting over it." Your grief will always be with you. By leaning in, you allow your grief to support you and build up your life around the pain of your loss. The role of a good therapist is to help you develop these skills for you to use in your daily life. Therapy is all about creating more self-awareness and building skills to support yourself. If you want to learn more about listening to your grief and learn skills for deeper self-awareness, connect with Wingate Counseling for a free consultation.