forward

In our new community of HH, I'm sure many of us are at different stages of working through grief embracing hope.  Today's sharing is useful for all, no matter where we might be along the spectrum. It is specifically aimed at those of us who wonder how we will ever feel anything but sorrow again... or are frustrated with one step forward two steps back.

When we are deeply involved in the wound we are carrying, it can feel scary to think of moving forward. When pain is a constant, as it often is when it's DEEP, it becomes familiar and hard to imagine life without it. But you can prepare yourself, even before you are ready to let go. How? By taking supremely good care of your body, your mind and most importantly- your soul. This is the ultimate self-love. Believe me, you are worth it.

The steps I'm suggesting support your process and prime you for that moment when the dark clouds begin to part. Think of them as an umbrella during the storm. They offer some protection, even if it's pouring. You might still get soaked, but maybe not as much.  And when the the sun breaks through... and it always does... that umbrellas remains. Perhaps thrown back so you can feel the warmth spreading across your smiling face, but always available as your shelter from the many seasons of life.

Body

• Make a conscious effort to eat delicious and beautiful food. 
• Drink prolific amounts of water. Most of us are always a little dehydrated. You'd be surprised how powerful taking in more fluids really is. (coffee and black tea don't count!)
• Get your blood pumping with exercise... outside when possible. This is essential to healing, and I'll be talking in depth about it soon.

Mind

• Read any books that pertain to your particular crisis. 
• Indulge in a wonderfully written novel that takes you to another time or place that you don't already know about.
• Watch something totally funny. Laugh.
• Learn how to do something new. Re-wire your brain. Either something that you've always wanted to try or something that never even crossed your mind. It can be something small, any effort counts! (a new language, knitting, cooking, skiing, painting.. you name it. Online classes make this easy and non-threatening for so many subjects these days, so I must nudge you towards creative bug)

Soul

• Clearing and quieting your mind, allows your soul (and heart) space for mending. Make sure you schedule it into your calendar if you have to.
• Begin a daily meditation practice. Susan Piver teaches how to incorporated this easily into your life and offers regular meditations that land in your inbox through the open heart project.
• Yoga- body and soul together, need I say more.
• Journaling- the act of taking the words out of your head and putting them elsewhere for safekeeping is always freeing and extremely effective.

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I've been so moved by the incredibly insightful comments that have been shared so far. This was always my wish- that we could pool our collective wisdom to help one another. So I ask you, "What other tools support forward movement after loss?"

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