Grief: A Depressing and Unwanted Friend. 10 Tips to Remember to Make Peace with Him
Everyone experiences grief at different times in life. It may be the death of a loved one, the loss of possessions, relationship breakdowns, or even missing someone who has moved overseas. We can feel great sadness when someone we love, or respect is gone because we miss what they brought or represented to us.
As the Queen said, “Grief is the price we pay for love.”
There is no shame in grief, it is a natural and healthy response and it is important that we allow ourselves to feel grief when sad things happen. However, grief is uncomfortable and painful. There’s not an easy way to grieve but here are some tips that might help you grieve well.
Tips to Make Peace with Grief
Accept support from family and friends - share your needs with those who care about you. It’s ok to ask for support and balance time with others and time spent alone.
Make time for exercise and eat well - eating healthy food, drinking plenty of water, and getting moderate exercise helps when processing your grief.
Get plenty of sleep - you may find yourself sleeping more than normal or conversely you may have difficulty sleeping. Sleep is essential to dealing with the fatigue of grieving.
Be kind to yourself and be flexible - everyone grieves differently. People generally go through all stages of grief, and these stages don’t necessarily go in the same order for everyone. Find and embrace what works for you.
Avoid self-destructive habits – you may find yourself wanting to numb the pain and turn to things like drugs and alcohol. This can prolong the process of your grief.
Keep a routine - routines will help you to regain a sense of normality.
Try to avoid making big decisions too soon - allow yourself time before making big decisions you may regret later.
Express your grief - this can be done creatively so find something that works for you. Consider something you’ve enjoyed in the past, eg. music, dance, art, writing a journal, scrapbooking pictures and memories, or expressing yourself through other people’s art.
Help others - your sense of purpose can be renewed by doing things for others. Take time with this and make sure you are in a good place with your own grief before opening yourself up to the grief of others.
Seek professional help - if you are having a difficult time and you feel the grief is impacting aspects of your life, consider getting professional help from a counsellor or psychologist. You can get a referral from your doctor for this.
Jesus promises He will come back to gather His people to himself in heaven where there will be no tears, no more suffering, and no more death. There will be complete healing and peace which is a hope and promise that we can find comfort in. The Bible talks about this, “Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” John 16:22 NIV
But for now, grief is in the present and we must allow ourselves to process and grieve well. Remember to also find comfort in God and other people who can support you. “If your heart is broken, you’ll find God right there; if you’re kicked in the gut, he’ll help you catch your breath” Psalm 34:18 MSG
If you are feeling shattered or struggling with grief, we understand, it’s hard. You are not designed to grieve on your own. Our team are not counsellors, but we are here to offer a listening ear and encouragement. Click here to reach out to us for a chat.