"A mourning moment" by bob willis

Myths of Grief

​Grief and loss have been present since the days of Adam and Eve. They lost their innocence, animals died to provide covering for their bodies, and their son (Cain) killed his brother (Abel). Since those early days there have been myths about grief that need to be revealed.

​* "You must go through the 5 stages of grief". There is not a clear step by step process to grief. It is different for everyone.
* "You should avoid discussing grief so it will go away". Holding in the emotions of grief can lead to emotional or physical issues. Discussing feelings with a safe person can help soften the pain and normalize the feelings.
* "Crying is a sign of weakness". Shedding of tears is a healthy way to mourn and express sorrow.
* "Staying busy will keep the pain away". Trying to stay busy can be an attempt to run from the pain of loss. It is impossible to escape by running. We cannot run that fast, we cannot run that far...our grief goes with us.
* "Grief and mourning are the same". Grief is the confusing and painful mix of emotions within a person following a loss. Mourning is the outward expression of those emotions. The way to find comfort with grief is to allow healthy mourning.
Believing and accepting these MYTHS is a way to avoid the reality of grief. It is healthier to identify and express these emotions.
Tomorrow I will give an overview of "softening the pain" to provide an easy outline to be used and shared.
Bob Willis, author
"A Guide for Grievers"
"JESUS: The CRUCIFIED CAREGIVER"