The Idea of the Week
When we come up against grief, we may think that grief is this heavy ball that we have to push through or find our way around it. We may tend to think that grief is something we have to learn to move on from no matter how heavy it is or how it tries to pull us back. But, in this 15-minute video, Nora McIrnerny encourages us to shift our approach to grief: We don’t “move on” from grief. We move forward with it.
❝And when I talk about Aaron, I slip so easily into the present tense, and I’ve always thought that made me weird. And then I noticed that everybody does it. And it’s not because we are in denial or because we’re forgetful, it’s because
the people we love, who we’ve lost,
are still so present for us.❞
—Nora McIrnerny, TED
The Practice of the Week
As we carry our grief forward through the holidays, we must also be mindful of our own capacity for the holidays, the events, and even the everyday life activities. Some events may take more energy than they usually do, or we may not have the physical, emotional, or mental capacity to carry through with activities or traditions. So, let’s look at the ways we can incorporate self-care practices into our day.
This 5-minute article shares 9-self care Tips for Grief and includes a FREE Grief Sensitive Holiday Planner worksheet.
- Be kind to yourself and give yourself grace.
- Check in with your physical health, too.
- Practice sleep hygiene.
- Eat healthy and stay hydrated!
- Breathe mindfully.
- Move your body.
- Connect with others.
- Express and create.
- Meditate.
Another important self-care practice is to Set Expectations and Boundaries During the Holidays. In an eleven-minute video, Kati Morton provides tools and communication strategies that will help you manage expectations and boundaries with your family and loved ones.
How do you help a grieving friend? We often think the way to help someone in grief is to help them move on from it and to take on the job of cheering them up. But this short 4-minute video shares one way to support your grieving loved one: acknowledge the pain.
When we help our loved ones, we can struggle with words. What are you supposed to say to support your loved one in grief? In this 11-minute video, Kati Morton shares 7 things NOT to say to someone who is grieving and what to say instead.
Thank you for sticking with us for our grief during the holidays newsletter series. Don’t forget to check out our Facebook and Instagram page!
News of the Week
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The Thought of the Week
Wishing you a peaceful week!
