National Grief Awareness Week reminds us that not everyone looks to the holiday season with excited anticipation. Many experience sadness, regret, emptiness, and anxiety due to the loss of loved ones.
It is important that those who are struggling with the holiday season are embraced with a compassionate heart. Here are some ways to encourage them during this time:
1. Continue to invite them to events even if they decline.
2. Do not pressure friends and loved ones to “get out because they will feel better.”
3. Be willing to sit with them and listen free of judgment. Sometimes just being present without saying a word makes all of the difference.
4. Don’t try to “fix” the person’s situation.
5. Don’t try to tell someone how they should feel.
6. Talk about the loved one. Avoiding talking about the loss does not remove the pain. Recognizing the loved one is missed and sharing stories acknowledges that they lived.
7. Understand that grief has no time limit or expiration date.
8. Drop a special note or card in the mail that lets them know that grief has no time limit, and you are thinking of them.
9. Drop a meal by or have one delivered. Grief can be exhausting, and the gesture of a meal may mean a lot.
10. Be understanding. Time does not heal all wounds. Love, compassion, and understanding make the wounds easier to bear.
If you or a loved one is struggling with grief and loss, help is available. Contact me today at 901-371-7073 for a grief care coaching session. We will develop a plan for you to process your loss and learn to live again.
My office is conveniently located in Southaven, Mississippi, at New Directions Counseling. Sessions are available in person and via zoom.
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