New Year’s Grief Navigation Tools
So the holidays are over but life is not getting back to “normal.” Grief is still the unpredictable ocean of emotion. Your heart might still be trying to navigate the swells of grief that ebb and flow. Possibly, the storms or waves of grief feel like they overtake you.
Navigating your Ocean of Grief
A new year is a logical time to evaluate your responses to your ocean of grief. Possibly a few self-evaluation questions would assist you, my grieving friend. If any of these questions don’t work for you right now, skip them and work with the ones that are useful in your healing process.
How have my needs changed since the death of ________________?
What changes do I recognize in myself that cause me to worry or be concerned?
What adjustments or changes have been positive?
What is my energy level compared to my first few weeks of bereavement?
Do I need to make some choices that would promote my physical health?
Have I reached out to find a counselor or grief coach that can provide some guidance for me? If not why? Are there any steps I need to take to add this resource to my healing?
How willing am I to educate myself about the grief experience? Would I be willing to do some research for books or websites that could help me? 1
Where are my thoughts about God right now? Do I find myself trusting Him with my pain, anger, sadness, loneliness, guilt, regrets, etc? Why? Am I open to being comforted with the promises of Scripture that assure me of His presence, care, and healing?
What new things do I want to try this year?
Am I willing to release my grief, so I can embrace a new and fulfilling life? (This question is NOT meant for any readers who have recently had a loved one die—not that there is an expected schedule, because everyone works within their own grief timeline—it just might not apply to a reader who has had a recent loss.
Regaining Control
Your bereavement is unique to you. The above questions are meant to give you a platform to look at your grief and evaluate where you have been, what you have come through, and where you still want or need to go from here. A huge part of grieving is the sense of losing control. I want to support you in regaining personal control. By acting in positive ways in your responses to the above questions, you are choosing to heal so your bereavement doesn’t control you. It is like giving you the helm of your ship again.
You navigate your own responses to your loss and grief.
Trusting God's Help
While the sea of emotions might toss your ship about recklessly, you still maintain the helm with the power of choice. If you have fallen and can’t reach the tiller, reach out to God, who is doing for you right now what you can’t do for yourself. Please consider putting your trust in him completely. You are loved, known, understood, and helped by the One who has all authority to step in and declare, “Peace, be still!” He is the only One who can quiet the storm and help you regain personal control.
New Year’s Prayer
My heartfelt prayer for each of us is that we begin the New Year by inviting God to give us the wisdom needed to navigate every grief storm. I pray that you will trust Him more than you trust yourself. I pray that you will find gratitude that honors your freedom of choice to receive His comfort, wisdom, and care. I pray that 2023 will be your year of healing and wholeness.
Navigate your Grief with Help
You are not alone in your sea of grief. Here is a wonderful way to experience companionship and the experience of fellow grievers who have found and share principles for navigating your grief!
© Karen Nicola/2023
