What You Need to Know about Grief Meditation and Mindfulness

Funeral homes Westmont, PA, are there after you lose a loved one, one of the most difficult experiences you can face. The bouts of grief and sorrow can overwhelm any individual and you can’t predict what feelings or thoughts will arise at such hard times.

Everyone grieves in unique ways; it can pass quickly for some, while may last several years for others. Studies show that meditation and mindfulness can prove to be very helpful in navigating people through grief.

If you’re coping with the loss of a loved one, then bone up on the below tips to take on various challenges on your journey through grief.

What are Grief Meditation and Mindfulness?

Grief Meditation is a practical technique to bring your body and mind back together again and help cope with the loss of a loved one. It involves spending time in a state of total relaxation and calmness and focusing only on the present without engaging in any past or distracting thoughts.

Similarly, mindfulness also reflects a state of calmness and acknowledging the painful feelings you’re going through at the moment but not getting distracted or overcome by them

Both grief meditation and mindfulness are becoming increasingly popular in North America as a way of improving both physical and mental health. You just need to take out 10-20 minutes daily and can do it anywhere, given you’re not disturbed or interrupted.

You Cannot Force Yourself into Meditation

Meditation cannot be achieved by forcing yourself into it or trying too hard – instead forcing yourself into it often induces the opposite effect. You should engage your mind in positive and pleasant activities, the ones you enjoy, like reading, listening to your favorite music, fishing, watching TV, walking in the park, sitting in a peaceful environment and breathing in and out, or going to a hike.

If you can still feel the waves of grief and sorrow while doing these activities but are not distracted by them, you can call that meditation or mindfulness. And you’ll observe the visible change in your ability to handle a mixture of feelings associated with grief such as anger, sadness, loneliness, or depression. Moreover, it can hasten the process of healing.

Meditation is Not the Absence of Feelings

Many people have a misconception that mindfulness or meditation is a state of “an empty mind” or having no feelings or thoughts. That’s virtually impossible. A human brain can never be completely freed of thoughts but what you can do is choose not to engage or get distracted by those feelings or thoughts.

Even if a disrupting thought enters your mind, don’t get carried away by it and return to focusing on your mind and body as quickly as possible.

Funeral homes Westmont PA 1
Young African American woman sitting on exercise mat outside on her patio and meditating in the lotus pose during a yoga session

It is going to be difficult at the outset and you’ll have to begin with short but regular sessions. With time, you’ll master the art of meditation and improve your ability to not only cope with grief but enjoy activities and social events in your personal and professional life.

Lastly, you need to remember that the grief process for every individual is different, so your meditation and mindfulness routine is bound to vary from other individuals coping with the loss of their loved ones. Thinking about funeral homes Westmont, PA, and planning the memorial can help you process your grief as well.