It takes huge courage to grieve – to grieve the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, the absence of children, the loss of our health or the loss of the life we thought we’d have.

It’s much easier to avoid our feelings, to sidestep our pain.

It’s much easier to stay busy, to rush and to push.

It’s much easier to fill our bodies and minds with stress, worry and adrenaline, so that we’re numb to our grief.

It’s much easier to change our emotional state by overeating on food, drinking too much, taking drugs, over-working and over-achieving, compulsively exercising, or seeking out the attention or touch of someone else, even though we know that relationship isn’t good for us or is destined to end.

Staying with the feelings is the road less travelled.

Feeling the feelings is the harder path.

But it’s the one that yields the greatest healing and growth.

So muster up all your courage, dear reader, and sink into yourself.

Allow yourself to go there, into the depths of your heart, and to feel your pain.

Yes, it may hurt, but it won’t topple you, because you are strong.

And by feeling and healing your feelings, you will grow taller and emerge stronger.

Sending courage your way – the courage to grieve.