Grieving - it's not just for the bereaved

The vastness of Grief + Grieving

When someone dies, those left behind to mourn the loss are known as “the bereaved”. While those who leave face death, those remaining come face-to-face with Grief. Those who are grieving come to understand that Grief + Grieving is a wide topic of personal study - different for each person, different with each loss, dynamic + never-ending. The topic of Grief + Grieving is so vast, in fact, that it belongs to everyone. Grieving, come to discover, is not just for the bereaved.

There’s nothing like a world in turmoil to accelerate our personal soul-growth

The world events are mirroring those parts of ourselves (such as the embarrassed, shamed, + afraid parts) that have been stuffed down (unseen + unheard by reasonable, supportive, patient, accepting, benevolent eyes + ears) for a very long time. Our hidden parts are peeking out from the nooks + crannies in our cells where they’ve been hiding, thinking: maybe… it’s (finally) time to come out into the open.

These hidden parts are catching snippets of stories in the news and witnessing first hand – people who are acting out + causing harm – who are most likely feeling overwhelmed, out-of-control, fearful, bitter, hateful, + disheartened.  They’re witnessing increased rates of suicide – close to home now – of friends + family who’ve given up hope. They’re hearing brave speeches from people who have been waiting in the margins – encouraging mass core-change, necessary for an equitable world where everyone belongs, and where compassion guides us. These inner, hidden parts are cautiously – gingerly – wanting to step into a light where they too might be seen, heard, forgiven, accepted, and loved… where healing can begin.

Stress, Trauma, Loss, Grief

There is so much stress to endure.  Every day, more stress, until a simple wrong-turn seems unforgivable and traumatic.  There is so much trauma being retained in our bodies. Every day, more trauma, until there’s a realization that we have lost our identity as a bright Light – a loving being.  There is so much loss to be grieved. Every day there are losses waiting – begging – to be seen, heard, acknowledged… grieved. Every day, there are opportunities to allow Grief to be our sacred teacher.

It is important to note that loss includes more than loss from death.

There certainly is grief + grieving that accompany death – for the person or animal dying, for the people + animals left behind.  The loss of someone special, who you know intimately and have deeply cared for like no other, becomes a hole that cannot be filled (by any other) – a touchstone that now creates a before + after point of reference. 

Grief + grieving accompanies other situations, too. There’s grieving over people divided – the loss of unity and connection; the loss of embracing critical thinking as brilliant conversation; the loss of the perspective that diversity is an opportunity to expand the mind + heart; the loss of support.   

There’s grieving over the increasing loss of species, and the rippling effects these losses are having on a wide variety of aspects of life. There’s grieving over diminishing clean water, earth, and air – excessive garbage, toxic waste, ensuing illness + disease, changing weather patterns + an increase in natural disasters.

When you consciously make the effort, the list of losses does not seem to have an end.  

Recently, I had the privilege of presenting material on stress, trauma, loss, + grief to four different groups of people (online).  In these groups, people divulged a wide variety of losses.

One man realized he was grieving a loss of identity – the lost years of hiding (to one degree or another) the fact that he was gay.  One woman realized she was grieving a lifetime of not being allowed – or allowing – her feelings.  One person shared that physical amputations are a daily reminder of loss, though they don’t necessarily acknowledge or feel supported to grieve daily.  One person realized there were a list of losses they hadn’t grieved, began journaling about each loss, and is finding this process to be an avenue of release into an expansive opening. 

There are qualities of both tender compassion and great freedom in allowing grief.

Join the Compassionate Revolution

The Compassionate Revolution of Grief + Grieving (CRGG) understands this.  We believe that viewing Grief as Sacred Teacher, and allowing grieving – every day, for a lifetime, together – is a solution to many of the world’s problems.  Simply put, we believe that compassion through grieving will be the healing balm the world needs – both personally + collectively, and that, with enough people, we can affect this cultural shift.

It takes a critical mass to shift a world concept. This quest to shift our culture toward compassionate grieving, therefore, is revolutionary.  Our world can go in one of two ways: continue to destroy itself or heal.

This request - for you to help tip the scale toward healing - is urgent.  Please join CRGG’s Course 1: “Release Stress, Heal Trauma, Accept Loss, Allow Grief” to be part of the COMPASSIONATE REVOLUTION. Every person is necessary. You are necessary.

Register here:

The 2022 CRGG Course 1 begins Friday, January 7th. For more information and to register, click here.