Simply put, grief is a reaction to loss. Grief may be experienced as, numbness, or even physical pain. Grief is unique to the person who experience loss. You cannot compare grief. Grief is inside you, like having a broken rib is painful to your heart, but no-one can see it. No one can see your grief.

The experience of grief may be brief or long-lasting, but there is no timeline.

Mourning on the other hand is the expression of grief. It is on the outside. In comparison to grief, which is felt or experienced, mourning is conveyed or communicated. For example, to cry is to mourn.

Grief is a reflection of a connection that we lost. There is grief of death of a marriage or job loss or pet loss, but we will mainly focus on having a loved one died.

There is no way out of the pain, except through the pain. We must learn to live without them in a way to honour them. Grief must be witnessed; it must be listened to. You need a community.

Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional. Suffering is what your mind does to you. Our mind can be so cruel to us in grief.

Lastly is how do we find meaning in life. How do we find a purpose, that will continue to honour our loved ones and heal ourselves.

Hopefully these pages, blog and tools will assist to navigate you.

Much love
Ronel

This is a basic guide to understanding your loss. It is important to note that everyone experiences loss and grief differently, and that there are no set time-frames for each stage. They are tools to help us frame and identify what we may be feeling. But they are not stops on some linear timeline in grief.

Avoidance, Confusion, Shock, Fear, Refusing, Disbelief. NO! “This isn’t really happening!”

Frustration, Furious, Outraged, Bitter, Anxiety, Resentful, Angry, Irritated “This shouldn't be happening to me!”

Struggling to find meaning. “I’ll do anything!!” PLEASE!! Please....!

Believe, Breath, Serenity, Calm, Peace. New plan in place. “This is my reality, I choose to accept it, and move forward”

Overwhelmed, hopeless, Shaken, hostility, Bleak, Sad, Heartbroken, Bereaved, Troubled. “Everything is hopeless”

People think that grief slowly gets smaller with time. In reality, grief stays  the same size, but slowly life begins to grow bigger around it, as new memories and new things evolve.