The Courage to Grieve
It takes a lot of courage to grieve. It can be scary to feel so deeply and allow yourself to be vulnerable. But choosing to mourn (actively grieve) is how you begin to heal. Mourning honors our loved ones because we decide to carry our love for them into our healing.
When you do something that took courage, you WIN! Grief is rarely experienced without a sense of fear, but naming our own fears out loud and by acknowledging the fears of others helps us to mourn even when it is scary and overwhelming. Recognizing and naming our fears is reclaiming our own power and ownership over our healing.
How did you give a voice to your courage this month? Let us know!
Books and Resources
- Book: The Courage to Grieve by Judy Tatelbaum
- Book: The Mourners Book of Courage by Alan Wolfelt
- Article: Mustering the Courage to Mourn
- Article: Tips to Cultivate Skillful Courage
- TED Talk: The Power of Vulnerability
- Documentary: Brené Brown: The Call to Courage (Netflix)
Inspiration
“One way to learn courage is to experiment with being courageous… we can taste courage, notice courage, pretend courage… having the courage to grieve leads to having the courage to live, to love, to risk, and to enjoy all the fruits of life without fear or inhibition.” Judy Tatelbaum
“Paradoxically, it is the very act of mustering the courage to move toward the pain that ultimately leads to healing.” Alan Wolfelt
“It takes courage to grieve, to honor the pain we carry. We can grieve in tears or in meditative silence, in prayer or in song. In touching the pain of recent and long-held griefs, we come face to face with our genuine human vulnerability, with helplessness and hopelessness. These are the storm clouds of the heart.” Jack Kornfield
“Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy, and creativity. It is the source of hope, empathy, accountability, and authenticity. If we want greater clarity in our purpose or deeper and more meaningful spiritual lives, vulnerability is the path.” Brene Brown