Grief is something everyone struggles with at some point in their life, and the reality is that it will never fully go away. Whether it is the loss of a loved one or a significant life change, the weight of sadness and despair can be overwhelming.
Although the five stages of grief can be different for everyone, one universal way of coping with grief is through journaling. By expressing your feelings and thoughts on paper, you can release the emotions you have been holding inside.
Journaling has been known to help people process what they are feeling and cope with loss. Here are a few grief-related journaling prompts to get you started.
1. “My favorite memory of you is...”
Highlighting a favorite memory is a great way to reminisce and keep your loved one's spirit alive in your heart. By reflecting on these moments, you can honor your loved one’s memory as well as focus on the joy they brought to your life.
Through journaling and writing down some of your favorite memories, you can truly appreciate the impact your loved one made in your life, even after they have left the physical world.
>>> Related Resource: DIY Projects to Honor a Loved One’s Memory
2. “If you were still here, I would tell you...”
This journaling prompt gives you an opportunity to express the things left unsaid after your loved one’s passing. This prompt can act as a last or ongoing conversation with the person you’ve lost and can be a great way to heal. Some ideas for topics to share with your loved one can be:
- Life updates to share
- Gratitude towards that person
- Symbols that remind you of them
- Asking for guidance
- Reflecting on your memories together
Using these topics can be an incredible therapeutic exercise where you can imagine your loved one is still with you. It can also help release emotions that may be bottled up inside you, while communicating what you are feeling mentally and physically.
3. “The ways I have received support during this grief include...”
Receiving support throughout the grieving process is necessary for healing. Sharing the different ways you have received support from people or resources can help you acknowledge you are not alone. Whether it is professional services, family and friends or self-care activities, recognizing this support can be a way of expressing gratitude during this difficult time.
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4. “My new everyday hobbies include...”
As your everyday routines change when you are navigating grief, you may feel lost or disrupted from your usual activities. Exploring new hobbies or a new routine can be a great way to cope with a loss and reduce any grief triggers.
A few hobbies you can incorporate into your everyday life include sewing or crocheting, reading or exercising. These hobbies can help you have an activity and purpose to look forward to throughout your day while processing the loss of your loved one.
5. “The advice and encouragement you would offer me is...”
You may have asked yourself, “How can I possibly move on without my loved one in my life?” Imagining and journaling about advice from your loved one can be comforting, as well as reassuring.
These can be words of wisdom they would want you to know through the grieving process, or something they believe would help you at this state now. After you answer this prompt, take it with you to carry on their words even without their physical presence.
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Adjusting to a new routine can be extremely difficult and hard to process. Journaling with these prompts can be a great way to process the recent death of a loved one and cope with these new life changes. If you are interested in more grief support resources, subscribe to our email newsletter.
