“Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy night!” ~ Margo Channing, All About Eve
Loss is a part of life. Accepting loss is part of personal growth. In a broad sense, we experience it any time there is a change in our relationship to the world. This experience is often associated with pain. But if we can view suffering as a vehicle of personal transformation and inner growth, it becomes a game changer.
When we run from loss, we also turn our back on love. The two are intimately connected. We hurt because we love. By grieving mindfully we become aware of the intense pain of love after loss. If we stay with the pain, we can redirect that emotional energy into an affirmation of life.
It begins by riding the waves of emotion. This practice of staying present won’t make the pain go away. It makes it more endurable. Think of it as a seat belt. Whether you’re on a roller-coaster or a bumpy road, you’ll likely land safer if you buckle down and loosen up.
