Your Survival Guide to Managing Grief During the Holidays
1.Plan Time to Cry. Crying is just the beginning and just as important as laughter or expressing any other emotion. Crying can reduce stress and promote health benefits by releasing pent up feelings. Schedule time alone to cry. If shedding emotional tears does not always come easy, listen to a sad song, or watch a sad movie to set the stage. Let go, be yourself and let the tears flow.
2.Accept Compassionate Acts of Care. For some, accepting help from family and friends may be difficult. Allowing someone to help frees you from everyday tasks so that you can grieve. Although family and friends may not always know what to say, most are willing to help in big and small ways. Communicate how they can help you. Be specific. Create a list to give whenever someone asks. It may be something as simple as putting gas in your car, walking the dog, running an errand, or tidying up the house. Keep in mind that you are not alone as others are wanting to support you during this difficult time.
3. Cancel the Big Holiday Celebrations. You are allowed to do what is best for you. Your family and friends will understand. Consider doing something on a smaller scale like lighting a candle in honor of your loved one, making a small donation in honor of their favorite charitable organization, sharing a small meal with a close friend or family member; and afterwards, sorting through your photo album sharing stories of holidays past. Let go of any expectations. Remember, you are in control and there is no right or wrong way to grieve during the holidays.
4.Honor Old Memories and Create New Traditions. You may want to honor your loved one by cooking or baking their favorite dish or continuing to hang their holilday stocking over the fireplace mantel. Consider creating new traditions. Make a one-of-a-kind memory ornament and place it on the tree in their honor. Name a star after your loved one and on a clear evening look up and marvel at its beauty and majesty. Be creative, use your imagination - the sky is the limit!
5. Practice Grateful Living. Stop and look around. Live in the present. Appreciate the small moments. Take nothing for granted? If there is anything we have learned, it is that life is fleeting. Moving forward, recognize that each moment we spend with family and friends or doing activities we enjoy is a gift. Celebrate joyous moments and mundane moments and everything in between leaving nothing to chance.
"I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not deter or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again." - William Penn -
6. Seek Professional Help. Do not sweep your feelings of loss and grief under the carpet. I've heard it said before, the harder we love the harder we grieve. Nothing could be further from the truth. Nonetheless, do not neglect your emotional well-being? Seek professional help!
2.Accept Compassionate Acts of Care. For some, accepting help from family and friends may be difficult. Allowing someone to help frees you from everyday tasks so that you can grieve. Although family and friends may not always know what to say, most are willing to help in big and small ways. Communicate how they can help you. Be specific. Create a list to give whenever someone asks. It may be something as simple as putting gas in your car, walking the dog, running an errand, or tidying up the house. Keep in mind that you are not alone as others are wanting to support you during this difficult time.
3. Cancel the Big Holiday Celebrations. You are allowed to do what is best for you. Your family and friends will understand. Consider doing something on a smaller scale like lighting a candle in honor of your loved one, making a small donation in honor of their favorite charitable organization, sharing a small meal with a close friend or family member; and afterwards, sorting through your photo album sharing stories of holidays past. Let go of any expectations. Remember, you are in control and there is no right or wrong way to grieve during the holidays.
4.Honor Old Memories and Create New Traditions. You may want to honor your loved one by cooking or baking their favorite dish or continuing to hang their holilday stocking over the fireplace mantel. Consider creating new traditions. Make a one-of-a-kind memory ornament and place it on the tree in their honor. Name a star after your loved one and on a clear evening look up and marvel at its beauty and majesty. Be creative, use your imagination - the sky is the limit!
5. Practice Grateful Living. Stop and look around. Live in the present. Appreciate the small moments. Take nothing for granted? If there is anything we have learned, it is that life is fleeting. Moving forward, recognize that each moment we spend with family and friends or doing activities we enjoy is a gift. Celebrate joyous moments and mundane moments and everything in between leaving nothing to chance.
"I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not deter or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again." - William Penn -
6. Seek Professional Help. Do not sweep your feelings of loss and grief under the carpet. I've heard it said before, the harder we love the harder we grieve. Nothing could be further from the truth. Nonetheless, do not neglect your emotional well-being? Seek professional help!
Proudly powered by Weebly