Good grief

Experiencing loss is an integral part of our lives. It is a reminder of the impermanence of life's conditions. Our grief allows us to process these losses. We tend to go through various stages of grief, each serving a purpose. Our first reaction to a loss is generally shock and denial. It is there to help you step back from the event so that you can assess its impact on your life. The next stage is generally anger which is there to mobilize you into action. This is followed by bargaining which is an attempt to regain control of what has occurred. Next comes depression which is the mind's way of coming to terms that we are powerless to change what has happened. It is generally accompanied by a deep sense of sadness. Finally we move into acceptance of what is. There is no way to predict how long each of the stages will last or whether some of them will recur. Eventually a shift takes place and we move on with our lives aware of how the loss has affected us. Think of what our lives would be like without this grieving process. Without a release of the emotions accompanying each stage we would be overwhelmed and incapable of taking further action. What are you grieving today and what stage are you experiencing along with it?