The death of a loved one and the ensuing grief are two of the most difficult experiences in life. The grief journey looks different for everyone, and there are many grief recovery resources to assist our neighbors throughout El Cerrito, Piedmont, and Albany in their grief. These include a grief support group, therapy sessions, or online grief videos and guides. One of the most useful ways to keep track of your own grief journey is to keep a grief journal.

 

Here are some of the benefits of keeping a grief journal:

 

Journaling can help you process difficult emotions.

Journaling promotes self-reflection and introspection and can lead you to gain a better understanding of your emotions, especially the more complex ones related to grief. Writing may make it easier to notice the things around you that are triggering challenging thoughts and feelings. When you’re grieving the death of a loved one, the most beneficial thing you can focus on is your own healing.

 

A grief journal provides a place to save special stories.  

Save your favorite stories and meaningful memories of your loved one in your grief journal. Here you can write these things down in detail and even choose to include favorite quotes, poems, or pieces of scripture that make you think of your loved one. A grief journal can be both personal and interpersonal. You may even wish to include memories or anecdotes about your loved one provided by family and friends.

 

A grief journal lets you see how far you’ve come. 

Grief isn’t a list of items to check off as you complete them. A grief journal is a personal written record of how you’re moving through your grief. Write down anything you wish in it, from how you’re feeling day to day to the self-care steps you can take to feel better. Try not to judge what you write in your grief journal and let it be an honest reflection of how you are handling your grief from moment to moment.

 

Coping with the grief of losing a loved one is one of the toughest parts of loss. At times moving past heavy feelings of grief may feel impossible. If you think you may benefit from professional grief support or have questions about our burial options, contact our caring team today. We are here for you 24/7.