The grief that follows when someone close and beloved dies is the most profound of all emotional experiences. Early in the grief process, the mourner may believe that the intense suffering will never end and all that lies ahead is languishing indefinitely in the pain of loss. The changes in oneself — and in life itself — seem overwhelmingly negative.

However, as mourners travel the journey of grief, most eventually recognize that they have also grown in ways they never had imagined. Like any growth process, growing through grief takes time. It doesn’t happen overnight. It’s hard work, and it’s painful. But it also can be rewarding.

Grievers have shared the following ways in which they have grown through grief, including:

• “I realized I’ve done many things I wasn’t sure I’d be able to do. I’ve learned I am capable.”
• “I used to be ashamed of my feelings, but I have learned to accept and express them.”
• “I’ve learned to reach out to people with far more compassion and understanding.”
• “I have become more independent and learned I can build a new life with new interests.”
• “I am learning new priorities and how to live  in the moment.”

Growth takes place by keeping an open mind, having a positive attitude toward change, having a willingness to learn new tasks and take risks, and being very mindful and affirming of personal progress throughout the journey of grief. Joining a grief support group also can facilitate growth, as fellow grievers encourage one another in the difficult changes of life and loss.

If you need grief support, please reach out to our Pathways of Hope^SM Grief Counseling Centers.

Pathways of Hope^SM Grief Counseling Centers

Ohio’s Hospice offers grief and bereavement support through our Pathways of Hope^SM Grief Counseling Centers, which provide a variety of services to the communities we serve. Support and education are provided by a team of counselors and social workers, all with significant experience and expertise in assisting grieving children, adolescents and adults.