“Healing Grief… Moment by Moment” is a podcast created and produced by HOPE Connection. In each short episode Dr. Jo Christner or another HOPE Connection therapist offers a meditative exploration of a different aspect of grief and the healing process. As you listen, we wish you love, light and comfort.
This episode: “Resilience” (April 2021) – Dr. Jo Christner
This is a moment of healing.
When your loved one dies it’s normal to feel like you’ll never get through. It’s just so painful and difficult. It is — and you will get through.
Your body is naturally wired with the ability to be resilient. You’ve been testing and flexing it all of your life. Day by day you have gotten through difficult challenges. This is one of the most difficult.
Know that you will heal step by step and sometimes minute by minute.
There are a few things you can do to build your resilience… your emotional, mental, physical and spiritual muscle.
One: Pay attention to the way you talk to yourself. You need a gentle and compassionate inner voice right now. You’re wounded and hurting. You might say, “I will somehow get through this pain and I will heal.”
You don’t have to believe it. Just start to say it.
Two: Pay attention to now — this very moment in time. Stop. Look around and find one thing in your surroundings that feels comforting somehow. It might be something in nature — a flower, a tree, a cloud, a squirrel.
It might be a photograph, a religious symbol, a favorite blanket or even your dog. Three: Make connections with others who understand. If you join a grief group, they truly understand because they’re in the same trench. Reach out and support each other. Remember — we’re not here to see through one another, we’re here to see one another through.
Four: Take care of yourself. Each day do at least one thing to take care of yourself — your mind, your feelings, your body and your soul. Good self-care keeps you primed for resilience.
Five: Stop often and just breathe deeply. Breath gives you support and strength through oxygen to your body. Just stop and take a few deep breaths. Take a moment and do it now. Breathe. Your resilience will grow and you will get through.
Wishing you much love and light in healing your heart… moment by moment.