
When you lose a loved one, grieving is not something that ends when the
funeral service is over. Grief can be a palpable part of your life for years, and many
people eventually need to seek grief counseling to help them learn to
cope with their feelings. For people living with a loss, mindfulness can
be a way to move forward. By being mindful of your feelings and proactive
about finding a new way to approach life, you can learn to control your
grief rather than letting it control you. Here are some ways to practice
mindfulness as you deal with a loss.
Be Reflective
Take time to consider other painful experiences in your life and how you
managed them. Think about the strategies you used to cope, and ask yourself
if any of those efforts could help you now. You should also think about
how you felt as you were recovering from past hardships and if there were
any signs you can recognize that you were turning a corner in your recovery.
Seeing that you have faced pain in the past and that you did recover can
give you the confidence that you have the tools to get through this as well.
Stay Centered
It’s inevitable that overwhelming feelings of sadness, regret, and
helplessness will strike you as you’re grieving. These feelings
may come out of nowhere when you think you are feeling strong. Rather
than trying to block these feelings, acknowledge them and experience them,
but then practice meditation or try deep breathing. These practices ground
you and anchor you to the present, so you can be in control of your feelings.
See the Future
Set time aside to focus on the kind of future you can see for yourself.
It may be helpful to look for a way that you can engage with some of your
interests and honor your lost loved one at the same time. By seeing a
future for yourself, you can see a way to manage your feelings.
At Chapel of the Chimes Oakland, our compassionate staff is here to assist
families who are making decisions about funeral services, burial, and
cremation during difficult times. Find out how we can help you by calling our funeral
home in Oakland at (510) 654-0123.