Finding your Strengths for a New Life
When you are bereaved, you go through the stage of just not seeing the future, how can you ever enjoy life again. This shows through in the comments of 
this blog. But you can find happiness, you can find a new life.
What I would suggest is that you think about your strengths, think about what makes you who you are. We can fall into the trap of thinking that our lost love made us who we are…that is not true. We are who we are because of our experiences, we existed before and we will exist after our bereavement. So think about your strengths…what are you good at, what do you enjoy doing…how do you provide value to others around you? Then think about how you can incorporate those strengths going forward?
I know that I am (normally) a positive person, someone who sees the good in the world…..that’s why I write this blog, as a way of helping others to see a way through their grief.
Tags: bereavement, coping-with-depression, death, Grief, losing-a-spouse, love, new-life, widowRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Comfort Yourself
3 opinions for Finding your Strengths for a New Life
Beth Waddel
Oct 4, 2007 at 7:49 pm
What a delightful post. i was suddenly widowed over two years ago. I was devastated, developed a victim mentality, and struggled mightily to find some strength, somewhere. The burden was even greater because as a psychologist I “knew” what I should do, but I was unable to “move.” I felt like I was slowly moving through cement.
Life is opening up for me. I have discovered strengths I didn’t really appreciate until now. My biggest piece of advice…don’t grieve alone, reach out, find others to share both joys and sorry with…Happiness is within our reach. The joy never removes the pain, but like the phoenix, we can rise from the ashes of despair and soar into our new life…our new normal.
trudie Richman
Dec 25, 2007 at 9:34 pm
Thank you for your encouraging comment. I needed it. To develop a new identity is the big challenge. I have been writing poetry which is of some help, especially since I have gotten praise for it. Still life is still hell. Thank you for listening. Trudie
Dr.Beth Waddel
Jan 5, 2008 at 1:47 pm
There’s a wonderful book, Thanks, by Robert Emmons, Ph.D that focuses on the healing power of gratitude.
Even when life is hell it sounds like you are doing a good job of finding some “gems” in there like your writing.
For me, after my husband died, I vegged for months. I was so bad that when Katrina happened I was so numb, i didn’t even care what was happening to others.
Slowly as I began to “thaw out” I found that there is hope, light, and faith.
There are a group of us at DoNotGrieveAlone.com who might be able to offer support to you now, Trudie.
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