Making Meaning After Loss: 4 Opportunities to Embrace Grief and Find Purpose

Life is a beautiful journey, filled with ups and downs.  It is all-encompassing with joy, laughter, and love, AND there are inevitable losses that transform us, and leave us grappling with grief and emptiness.

The pain of losing a little one, in particular, can be very challenging to navigate, making it difficult to envision a brighter tomorrow. In the midst of sorrow, we are faced with a profound opportunity to create meaning out of loss and to transform our grief into a space of purpose and meaning.

Come along with us as we explore the process of meaning-making and how it can lead to healing and growth.

1. Honor the Memories.

   Memories are the link between the past and the present moment.  Cherishing memories of our loved ones keeps their spirit alive within us.  Honoring their memory can look like creating a memorial, donating to a charity in their name, or engaging in activities that you know they would’ve loved to create a sense of purpose.

2. Acknowledge Grief.

   Our culture loves to deny hard, uncomfortable feelings. Grief is not one of those feelings to suppress because it is completely natural, and deserves our attention. Looking toward grief, and all of the pain, anger, and sadness it comes with, will only allow us to be able to discover the lessons it has to offer and begin to create meaning.

3. Embrace Healing.

   Healing doesn’t happen overnight, it is a journey and gradual process that doesn’t like to be rushed. Throw out the timeline, and tune into you! Allow yourself to grieve, accept the pain for what it is, and be open to the lifelong journey of grieving. Each of us will find our own way toward healing, and it’s perfectly alright to take detours along the way.

4. Find the Warm Embrace of Support.

   Lastly, we encourage you to seek support from friends, loved ones, and organizations (such as RAISE). Find those who listen without judgment, empathize, and share parts of themselves with you. Embracing your story can give meaning and insight into your grief. Connecting with others with shared experiences can feel less lonely as you navigate the newness.

Meaning-making is a beautiful tribute to our loved ones (or little ones) who have run up ahead. When we use our experiences of loss to create change in our lives, and the lives of others, we are living in our purpose. Ultimately, making meaning showcases the resilience we have as humans, and empowers us to find strength and purpose.

You may try some of our suggestions and decide it doesn’t work for you. These are tips that we offer, but we encourage you to listen to yourself, do what you feel works for you, and discard what doesn’t. If you have a good tip, we would love to hear it as it may support someone else who is grieving. Please send it to us at info@raiseyourhearts.org.