Healing in the Grief: Holding Space for Loss and New Life

Grief is one of the most universal yet misunderstood human experiences. It touches every part of our lives—whether it’s the loss of a loved one, a version of ourselves we no longer recognize, a relationship we outgrew, or a dream that never came to pass. And yet, so many of us are taught to hide it, rush it, or “get over it” quickly.

But real grief doesn’t follow a timeline.

It’s not something we fix.

It’s something we tend to—with presence, patience, and compassion.

At Awaken Your Life Coaching, we believe grief is sacred. It's not something to bypass. It’s something to honor. Because inside every wave of grief is an invitation to return to ourselves more fully—wiser, softer, and more whole.

What We Lose When We Rush Grief

We live in a world that often demands we “move on” long before our hearts are ready. We're praised for being strong, for getting back to work, for pretending we’re okay—even when we're silently falling apart inside.

But when we rush grief, we don't skip the pain.

We delay the healing.

Unprocessed grief can show up in subtle but powerful ways:

Anxiety that won’t go away

Emotional numbness or disconnect

Overworking or staying busy to avoid stillness

Feelings of hopelessness or confusion

Chronic fatigue or burnout

Grief demands attention not because it wants to break us, but because it wants to break us open—to what matters most.

Grieving Is a Form of Healing

Grief isn't the opposite of healing. It is healing.

When you give yourself permission to sit with the sorrow—to cry, to be quiet, to rest, to remember—you are actually creating space for transformation.

You’re learning to feel deeply without losing yourself.

You’re learning to hold both joy and sorrow in the same breath.

You’re learning that grief doesn’t mean something went wrong—grief means something mattered.

This is what it means to be human.

Holding Space for Your Own Loss

Whether your grief is fresh or long buried, there is no wrong way to grieve. And there is no shame in carrying it, even years later.

Holding space for your grief means:

Validating your experience, even when others don’t understand it

Letting go of expectations, including your own timeline for “feeling better”

Being present with the waves of emotion without judging them

Creating rituals to honor what you’ve lost—lighting a candle, journaling, walking in nature, speaking their name

This isn’t about making the pain disappear. It’s about letting your pain belong.

Grief and Growth Can Coexist

One of the most profound truths I’ve discovered is this:

You can be grieving and growing at the same time.

You can feel deep sadness and still choose to laugh.

You can miss someone and still welcome new love.

You can mourn a version of yourself and still step into a new chapter.

Grief doesn't cancel out your joy—it invites you to feel more deeply.

At Awaken Your Life Coaching, we hold space for that complexity. We walk with women who are learning to live with both the ache of what’s been lost and the beauty of what’s still unfolding.

You don’t have to choose between grieving and living.

You can do both.

You already are.

What If Grief Isn’t Something to Escape—But a Place to Beheld?

In our fast-paced world, grief often feels like an inconvenience. But what if it’s actually an invitation?

An invitation to slow down.

To listen inward.

To be honest about what hurts.

To reconnect with what truly matters.

You don't have to fix your grief to heal.

You just have to let it be seen. Let it be felt. Let it breathe.

In that space, something new begins.

You Are Not Alone in Your Grief

If you’re in a season of loss—whether it's loud or quiet, named or unnamed—I want you to know this:

You’re not too sensitive.

You’re not too emotional.

You’re not weak for still feeling it.

You are doing the brave, invisible work of healing.

Let your grief have a seat at the table.

Let it speak.

Let it soften you.

Let it shape you.

Because grief, when held with love, becomes a bridge back to yourself.

With love and deep care,

Terry De Aragon

Registered Nurse & Resilience Recovery Coach

Awaken, Heal, and Step into Your Freedom