PART 4: HOW TO COPE WITH GRIEF: Practice Remembrance

In this series, How To Cope With Grief, we have explored the importance of support people, the skill of naming emotions, and the skill of being curious. In this part of the series, I want to explore the practice of remembrance and the many forms it may take.

Is there anything you need to do to recognize, remember, and honor the loved one in your life you have lost? Are there any practices you need to do to remember their life?

Every tradition and faith has a prescribed practice for the end of life. There is a reason for that. It is healthy to remember, recognize, celebrate, and extend wishes and blessings to those who have gone on before us. If you follow a certain tradition or faith, is there a ceremony you would like to engage in? Even if you have already done a traditional ceremony. Right now, you are probably in a different place internally and able to participate in a different way. If you do not follow any traditions or faiths, what is one thing you could do to remember, recognize, celebrate, and extend your wishes toward them? Be creative. It could be anything.

If you are grieving the loss of a job or a home, pause for a moment and reflect on the layers of that loss. A home takes a lot of hard work and maintenance to keep up. You did that. Can you extend some gratitude toward yourself? What were the unique things about that home that you loved and really appreciated? Can you let yourself remember it? Can you express gratitude for those things? If not, that’s ok. What about the people in your life that supported you and helped you get to that place. Can you extend some gratitude toward them? Practicing gratitude is exactly that, a practice. In the middle of the pain of loss, it is important to remember those meaningful parts about what you lost.  

I would love to know what rituals, practices, or ceremonies you have found helpful. Please share those in the comments below.  

As always, you do not have to be alone. Reach out to your support people during this journey through grief and be gentle with yourself. See you back next time for the final part in this series on grief.

Author: Lindsay Cade, LPC [she/her/hers] is a licensed mental health therapist with 7 years experience providing mental health services.

Series Table of Contents
INTRO: HOW TO COPE WITH GRIEF: An Invitation
PART 1: HOW TO COPE WITH GRIEF: We All Need A Village
PART 2: HOW TO COPE WITH GRIEF: Name It
PART 3: HOW TO COPE WITH GRIEF: Be Curious
PART 4: HOW TO COPE WITH GRIEF: Practice Remembrance
PART 5: HOW TO COPE WITH GRIEF: Throw Away Your Grief Watch