After suffering a loss, make sure to give yourself plenty of time to take care of whatever needs to be done. Hopefully you’ll have friends and family that will be there to help you. Give yourself sufficient time just to cry and reminisce. Don’t begin to settle legal issues, go through your loved one’s belongings, or whatever else needs to be accomplished until you are completely ready.
At some point, though, it’ll be time to return to your every day routine. You’ll have to go back to work and continue with your usual activities. While moving on with your life may be the last thing on your mind, concentrating on something other than your loss may be exactly what you need in order to begin your healing process.
Here are some ways that can help you to move forward after the loss of a loved one:
Start focusing on something other than your loss. As much as it may seem like you’re severing the ties between you and your loved ones, this is never the case —
they are still with you and are able to communicate with you, give you signs to let you know they are there, and help you in ways they never could before.
Set goals and stay busy. After a loss, you may want to reevaluate your life and begin to make changes that will cheer you up, like deciding to travel more, taking a class, or even just planting a garden. Keep busy as you work towards your new goals, and check them off as you accomplish each one.
Spend quality time with others. Lean on the love and support of your friends, family, and community as you transition back to your normal life. This includes pets, too! When you’re surrounded with those you love, it can make getting back to normal much easier.
Banish guilt. It’s normal to feel like you could have done something differently during your loved one’s life, or even that you could have prevented his or her death. Know that your loved one is in a place of complete love now, where blame and guilt don’t exist. Your loved one now knows your good intentions and sees the bigger perspective of why you did or didn’t do certain things.
Keep their memory alive. When you’re transitioning back into normal life, you may feel called to keep your loved one’s memory alive in a way that’s visible to the world. There are so many ways you can do this, from planting a tree to donating a park bench, or even setting up a charity or scholarship in his or her name.
It’s okay to be happy again. Remember, if you decide to move on and live your life to the fullest, it doesn’t mean you have forsaken your departed loved ones, or that you have put them out of your mind! As a matter of fact, it’s quite the opposite. You will always love and never forget them. You have been so blessed, not only because they were physically with you when they were here on earth, but also because they are still by your side, watching over and protecting you in more ways than they ever could before!
Many blessings to you, now and always!