“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: “The Healing Power Of Gratitude” (November 2021) — Channie Amato, LMFT
The turkey is hot, the meal is ready, the table is set. You’re surrounded by loved ones at Thanksgiving dinner, and yet you somehow feel empty inside. A once joyous time filled with laughter, good food and good memories now feels like a trigger to miss the one who’s painfully not there.
The holiday season can be hard in times of grief. Taking a moment to practice gratitude is a powerful tool to nurture yourself, an important way to heal, while still honoring your loved one.
If you are grieving, think to yourself: What is still strong? What or who supports you? What brings you peace? Perhaps it’s:
• Family and friends who love and care for you.
• Communities, such as your spiritual and religious affiliations, neighborhood, Support Group, your place of work, or place you volunteer.
• Hobbies and interests, such as golf, playing cards, music, creative arts, gardening, going on walks or reading.
• Memories of your loved one, both your own and others. Your loved one continues to live on in the stories shared.
Sometimes grief is so dark it seems impossible to think of something good or positive. In those moments try to remember things in the past that brought you a sense of strength, peace and balance.
Take a moment with me to take a breath. Start by placing one hand on your chest, the other above, or on your abdomen. Take a long intentional inhale through your nose, and an extended exhale through your mouth. Continue to take long intentional inhales, and extended exhales.
Feel the warmth of your hand, bring notice to your chest rise and fall with each breath.
On your next inhale, think of what you’re grateful for, take in that breath, let it nurture, circulate and provide. As you exhale release and let go of something that no longer serves you.
Inhale, fill up. Exhale, release.
Wishing you much Love and Light in healing your heart… moment by moment.