GROWING THROUGH GRIEF: Feeling Stuck
By Angela Clement
Are you feeling like you are doing all the things right and still nothing is improving? Do the same feelings keep coming back? Do you feel like you should be feeling better by now? Are you starting to believe that you will just feel the sadness and longing forever?
If you have had these feelings, you are not alone. Many people who have had the loss of a close loved one can feel frustrated or overwhelmed with the thoughts and emotions that accompany us in the process of grief.
What to do? First check in and see if you are numbing. What I mean by that is you are doing something else that is distracting you from actually taking time to rest. I find myself scrolling through my phone with no real intention. Some watch TV. Sometimes I get busy working or doing things that need to be done. It’s not to say that these things are wrong. Sometimes we just need a little reprieve from all that is happening and also life is busy. Yet if we don’t take time to just sit in silence and rest, then we are going to miss out on an opportunity to free ourselves from some of these heavy emotions. They will keep resurfacing. I believe our emotions bring messages for us. Have you ever had the experience of coming to some kind of realization in the night? Or in the shower or in the bathtub? It is in these times of silence where we quiet our minds just enough to give way for some intuitive guidance to appear and often it helps us gain a new perspective on our situation.
If you are taking that quiet time for yourself and you are still feeling like you are stuck, no need to despair. Life is full of seasons just like nature. A season of non action gives you time to rest and also an opportunity to dream again. Sometimes we just have to be okay with things being slower or even sadder than we would like for a while and turn our attention to just being more creative. Now being creative doesn’t necessarily mean painting, drawing or making music even though those are great creative outlets. Being creative can mean simply learning a new game, trying a new recipe, decorating a space, gardening, reorganizing or simply spending some time in nature. Being creative is just doing something that helps you reconnect with your soul. We all need to schedule more time for this. We might feel like it is wasting time, but it’s not. It is deeply caring for ourselves and turning our troubles over to the Divine for healing. Why not do some simple things that bring you joy each day? Cherish some time to do something just for you. It’s okay to slow down and take a break.
When we take time to just be with ourselves we get to know who we are becoming. When life changes, so do we. See this as an opportunity to get curious about your own journey.Take time to figure out what you value and what truly matters to you. In this life, we come with a purpose built into your very being. You are a unique and special being with your own path to walk. If you can step out into the world being unapologetically you, this will be so helpful to others on the planet as well as you! It will bring you joy. Go find your tribe of people that you love to be with. If you haven’t found them yet, you may need to step a little out of your comfort zone and try getting out and doing things you love. The people you are meant to meet are there. They are waiting for you!