"If there ever comes a day when we can't be together, keep me in your heart, I'll stay there forever."
— Winnie the Pooh
How does the quote above resonate with you?
Pause here for a moment and free yourself from distractions:
Take a deep breath in... exhale slowly... deep breath in... exhale slowly... deep breath in... exhale slowly... calm your mind and be present...
There is an old saying that has been clouding my thoughts the past few days... I never quite understood what it meant until recently...
“Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die.”
Consider the dictionary definition of “die”:
die | verb stop living. be killed for (a cause). become extinct. be forgotten. become less loud or strong.
What are your thoughts?
My friend Pooh is on to something.... when someone we love can't be with us, or dies, we miss them, we don.t want to forget them... Memories of times spent with that person is a way to keep them close to our hearts.
The focus of this Wellness Wednesday is on stress and grief. Two things that can have an emotional toll if we don't acknowledge them.
stress | noun a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances.
What is stressing you currently?
...get a pen and piece of paper and make a list of your stressors...
grief | noun deep sorrow, especially that caused by someone's death.
How has the death of someone personally affected you over the past month?
...Think about the physical, mental, and emotional ways... take your time...
Disenfranchised grief is a term you may not be familiar with:
disenfranchised grief | noun Disenfranchised grief refers to grief that is not acknowledged by society. Even widely recognized forms of grief can become disenfranchised when well-meaning friends and family attempt to set a time limit on a bereaved person's right to grieve.
*Grief is a process and the length of time it takes to go through the process is different for everyone.
Examples of disenfranchised grief include, but are not limited to:
death of a pet
infertility
loss of a home
grieving someone you didn't know well, or at all (i.e. a celebrity)
loss of a job
finding out a person wasn't who you thought they were
grieving someone with Alzheimer's or dementia,
loss if independence
There are many more examples one could add.
What examples of disenfranchised grief have you experienced during this COVID-19 Pandemic?
...think about it, spend some time here... knowledge is power...
Take note of these common symptoms that alert you your stress and/or grief need to be addressed:
Psychological Symptoms
difficulty concentrating
irritability
sadness
numbness
anger
anxiety
disorientation
Physical Symptoms
extreme exhaustion
headaches
getting sick
loss of appetite
loosing sleep
What psychological and/or physical symptoms of stress/grief have you experienced?
...get your pen and paper and write them down so you can acknowledge and address them... How will you alleviate the psychological and physical effects of stress/grief?
...think about it, what personally helps you...
Today's Challenge: Commit to acknowledging and identifying the effects of stress and grief in your life:
Remember: You cant't change what you don't acknowledge... Knowledge is power!
Write them down in a notebook
Talk about it with someone you trust, establish a support system, identify an accountability partner
Brainstorm solutions: Self-Care: daily exercise, take breaks, eating healthy, getting enough sleep, positive self talk, enjoy meaningful activities or hobbies
Agree to contacting a professional if things don't turn around fairly quickly: A support group or therapist
You are worth it! Don't discount the effects stress and grief can have on both your mental and physical health.
Be intentional and encourage others to do the same and watch what happens.
You got this!
#learnandgroe, #leadbyexample, #selfcarematters. #beabetteryou, #focus, #intention, #justdoit, #youmatter, #honoryourself, #knowledgeispower, #lifecoach, #wellnesswednesday, #leadershipcoach, #leadershipdevelopment, #accountability, #responsibility, #letsgo
Coach Tavia
Related Article(s):
Education Week: Exhausted and Grieving: Teaching During the Coronavirus Crisis
Here's How Grief Affects Both Our Minds And Bodies
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