Grieving is an ongoing process throughout life. Some steps take one into a unhealthy direction while healthy grieving learns to accept the loss and correlate it to the meaning of the present. This does not magically mean the pain vanishes. The pain of grief will always be present. Losing someone has a steep price. With great love comes great grief when that person is removed. This is a natural reaction to loss, but this does not mean one cannot adjust, while grieving, in healthy ways.
One can show resilience overtime through healthy grief practices that remember the loss and pain but also celebrate the love and person. Examples can include a variety of things that include remembrance of good times, memorials, and new traditions in honors of the deceased.
The article, “What I Learned About Resilience in the Midst of Grief” by Lucy Hone looks at resiliency in grieving. She states,
“In a study investigating U.S. college students’ responses to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Fredrickson found that certain people showed resilience. What was their secret? Experiencing positive emotions buffered resilient people against depression and was the active ingredient that helped them thrive.”
To read the entire article, please click here
Resiliency is key after loss. It does not come easy. Some are more resilient naturally while others have better support. Ultimately, the ability to be resilient can help one find a healthier meaning in loss and be better equipped to adjust to that loss. Grief Counselors need to be able to help individuals utilize their grief in a more active and healthy fashion throughout the grieving process. This will enable the grieving to better put the loss in correlation with the present narrative of life. It will also allow the griever to express loss in a more positive fashion. Please also review our Grief Counseling Certification and see if it matches your academic and professional goals.