“Coping with Grief” workshops involve participants identifying some of their concerns and feelings associated with grief and loss. It is common to hear words such as;
Anxiety Fear Guilt
Missing Positive memories Negative memories
Sadness Emptiness Depression
Crying Hate Longing
Anger Broken heart Love
Keep in mind, everyone’s journey and experiences are different
and unique to the individual.
There are times when the topic of an afterlife is brought into the discussion with:
- What might the afterlife look like?
- What would you want it to look like?
- How would you want your loved ones to be in that space?
Comments such as;
Be happy Youthful Peaceful
Free of pain Free spirited Okay
Now, I want you to put yourself in a different frame of mind and think of how your loved ones would want you to be for the rest of your life?
Just a thought, but let’s imagine:
Happy Okay Cheerful
Fun loving Peaceful Safe
Free of pain Adventuresome Carefree
Free of suffering Content Responsible
You might look at this and think or say a number of different comments:
- I’m not ready to be happy.
- I feel I would be disrespectful if I was not sad all of the time and missing them.
- I don’t know how to “feel” anything anymore.
- I feel guilty when I smile too much.
- It feels wrong to laugh even when something is funny.
I am not telling you what to do, only providing a different perspective that has been on the minds of many individuals.
You can type in “after life” in the computer and search for books, articles etc. which mention numerous aspects of “after life”.
Two books that come to mind are:
- “Heaven is for Real” by Todd Burpo
- “The Shack” by WM. Paul Young
Another topic connected to “after life” is “after death communication” which I will explore in more detail with you in another article.
As always, I bring information and food for thought; ideas to explore if you choose to.
All my best,
Barbara
Image courtesy of StuartMiles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net