Notice and Allow Grief

Part of our spiritual evolution is releasing old patterns, which can include our sense of identity. Sometimes this is done with very conscious work, other times - like losing a loved one - it can happen unexpectedly. Unlike losing a loved one, we may not actually be able to pinpoint why we feel as if we've lost something or someone. Whether we do our ego-dissolving work with consciousness, or things simply shift on their own, we may encounter strange sensations that could be easily described as grief.

But then we might feel bad about those feelings - or ourselves.

One of the most insidious teachings in the New Thought movement is the "be positive" mantra. Our emotions are indicators, not to be ignored or suppressed. Nor are they to be controlling every aspect of our lives. 

Grieving is a normal process when something we love or hold close to us is lost. Even when we buy a new home, we may grieve for the home we are leaving.

If grief is arising for you here are some ways to be with it:

• Notice what you are feeling. Sometimes there may be a whole range of emotions arising at once - joy, grief, hope, confusion.
• If you can, see if you can identify "what" you feel you have lost. It may be something not so tangible like your identity.
• Refrain from judgment. Would you judge another who is grieving? 
• Journal, if compelled, talk to a friend, and find a way to help process the grief in a safe and supportive way.
• Cry. Feel. Be. Allow your grief to be expressed even if you don't fully understand it.
• Avoid getting intoxicated. Escaping with books, social media, or the like may be helpful to "escape" the sadness, but bringing toxic or mind-altering substances in to your body will prolong and thwart the process. Try to be as conscious with your grief as possible, without needing to "fix" it either. 

It is quite intense out there! We are so raw, so naked, and so ready to experience ourselves in our exquisite heart-centered tenderness and this is merely part of the unveiling.

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