This metaphor helps us to navigate feelings towards grief. Grief is a natural and complex part of life that arises when we lose someone or something important to us. It is a deeply personal experience that can take many different forms, including sadness, anger, confusion, or even numbness. These emotions, while challenging, are a normal response to loss and a reflection of the value we place on what we have lost. Rather than fighting against these feelings or overthinking them, we can learn to approach them with openness, curiosity, and without judgment. By allowing ourselves to experience grief as it unfolds, we create the space needed to process our emotions in a way that feels authentic and meaningful. This approach can help us accept the reality of our loss, integrate the experience into our lives, and ultimately find a way to move forwards.
When we add extra pressure onto ourselves to feel or think a certain way, it can inadvertently make things more difficult. For example, we might tell ourselves that we should feel better by now, or that we shouldn’t feel a certain emotion, like anger or guilt. These self-imposed expectations can lead to further frustration, shame, or a sense of failure. Instead, by releasing these pressures and accepting our emotions as they are, we give ourselves permission to grieve in our own time and in our own way. This compassionate stance allows us to engage with our emotions more freely, fostering resilience and supporting long-term emotional well-being.
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