Sometimes, the hardest part of the holidays isn’t the grief itself, but the secondary suffering we create by trying to outrun it. We pressure ourselves to "power through" for the sake of others, or we scold ourselves for not feeling the magic.

This year, try a different approach: meet yourself in the pain. Instead of treating your sorrow like a holiday spoiler, treat it like a part of you that deserves a seat at the table. When you stop fighting the reality of your loss and start holding a compassionate space for your own heart, the "shoulds" begin to fall away. Navigating the season isn't about finding a way back to who you used to be; it’s about being kind to the person you are right now.

This post addresses the profound challenge of grieving in a fast-paced world. It clarifies that grief is a non-linear process, outlines its various physical and emotional manifestations, and explores the challenges of "keeping up" with daily life. The post offers practical, compassionate strategies for coping, such as creating "pockets of pause" and setting boundaries, and emphasizes the invaluable role of professional therapy in processing loss and finding a path forward.