Tips for Letting Go of a Loved One While Keeping Them Close to Your Heart

In the days after learning of the death of a family member or loved one, it can be difficult to find purpose and meaning in life. Shock eventually gives way to grief and anger and feeling helpless, stressed and confused. Everyone deals with grief differently, which makes recovering from it a unique and individualized process. One thing that almost everyone can relate to is the feeling of guilt when grief begins to subside, and acceptance occurs. Letting go of a loved one who has passed away is hard. Here are some tips for letting go while keeping them close to your heart.

Get Support

Talking about your feelings with friends, family or even a support group is a great way to express yourself and vocalize internal feelings of grief and sadness. Talking about things, with a close friend or therapist, will help develop coping mechanisms that will allow you to move on from grieving, while still keeping the love for that person in your heart. 

Continue to Take Care of Yourself

For many, grief causes a feeling of depression. When depressed, a person may neglect self-care. During a depression, it’s common to forget to bathe, lose interest in food and exercise and the joy in activities you once enjoyed. If you think about what your loved one would have wanted for you, it’s most likely they would prefer to see you thriving. Although guilt may make you feel like you are doing something wrong, continuing to practice self-care is the better way to pay respect to your loved one and move on from the shock of their loss. 

Find Relief in Faith

Prayer is often helpful for many people. Praying can make you feel closer to your loved one like you are still able to talk to them and seek guidance from them. Finding relief in prayer is an excellent way to keep the person close to you, while moving on in your day-to-day life. 

Organize a Memorial

Taking steps to organize a memorial for your loved one can be very therapeutic and healing. By focusing on the positive impact the person has had in your life, and how they have helped others, you can pay respect to them in your own way. If it’s too painful to organize a memorial, you can always wait and plan something for a special day such as their birthday, wedding anniversary or another date that holds meaning. 

Moving on from the death of a loved one is hard, but with the help of your friends and family, it can be easier. Find out how Thomas M. Gallagher Funeral Home in Stamford, CT can make the grieving process more bearable. Call (203) 359-9999 today and speak with one of our friendly and compassionate experts.