by Barbara J. Hopkinson
New years signify new beginnings in many ways—new year’s resolutions, a new calendar year, maybe a new fiscal year—even an exciting new year of life. Unless you’ve lost a loved one.
Then you may not feel very “new” or very motivated to make resolutions, or even to celebrate life. Your new beginning may be figuring out how to make it through another year without that loved one you miss so much.
Remember, LOVE and GRATITUDE heals, so factor those into your new beginnings this year. Even loss is a new beginning for you both, in a way—your loved one to a spiritual life and you to a physical life without them. But nothing breaks the bond of love, not even death. Be grateful for the gift of time you had with them and begin again, knowing they are with you, sending you love.
Three of the most important tips I learned after traumatic loss helped me successfully begin again:
• Be good to yourself, be open and trust your own intuition
• Helping others helps you heal
• It’s ALL about the LOVE
1) Understand that taking care of you is the baseline for you to be able to heal and help anyone else around you. You might be surprised at some of the things that can help you heal. Keep an open mind to try new things. Also, I can’t emphasize how important it is to learn to listen to and trust your own intuition rather than others’ opinions of what is best for you.
2) Find a passion and DO something to HELP someone. You will be amazed at how much it heals you and helps you begin to work toward a NEW NORMAL, while it takes the focus off yourself and your pain.
3) New beginnings are most successful when based on LOVE. Love yourself and the one you lost—enough to begin again. Focus on that love and the positive memory. Love is what binds us, what brings us joy and makes memories. Love is what gives us hope, heals the loss, and makes the loss a sacred part of our story. Love gives everything meaning.
May you begin ANEW with LOVE, GRATITUDE and HOPE.
Happy New Year!
New years signify new beginnings in many ways—new year’s resolutions, a new calendar year, maybe a new fiscal year—even an exciting new year of life. Unless you’ve lost a loved one.
Then you may not feel very “new” or very motivated to make resolutions, or even to celebrate life. Your new beginning may be figuring out how to make it through another year without that loved one you miss so much.
Remember, LOVE and GRATITUDE heals, so factor those into your new beginnings this year. Even loss is a new beginning for you both, in a way—your loved one to a spiritual life and you to a physical life without them. But nothing breaks the bond of love, not even death. Be grateful for the gift of time you had with them and begin again, knowing they are with you, sending you love.
Three of the most important tips I learned after traumatic loss helped me successfully begin again:
• Be good to yourself, be open and trust your own intuition
• Helping others helps you heal
• It’s ALL about the LOVE
1) Understand that taking care of you is the baseline for you to be able to heal and help anyone else around you. You might be surprised at some of the things that can help you heal. Keep an open mind to try new things. Also, I can’t emphasize how important it is to learn to listen to and trust your own intuition rather than others’ opinions of what is best for you.
2) Find a passion and DO something to HELP someone. You will be amazed at how much it heals you and helps you begin to work toward a NEW NORMAL, while it takes the focus off yourself and your pain.
3) New beginnings are most successful when based on LOVE. Love yourself and the one you lost—enough to begin again. Focus on that love and the positive memory. Love is what binds us, what brings us joy and makes memories. Love is what gives us hope, heals the loss, and makes the loss a sacred part of our story. Love gives everything meaning.
May you begin ANEW with LOVE, GRATITUDE and HOPE.
Happy New Year!
Barbara J. Hopkinson, Grief Mentor, Author, and Speaker with A Butterfly’s Journey, is a guest blogger and coauthor of F.A.I.T.H. – Finding Answers in the Heart, Volume II. To pre-order your copy of this inspirational book, click here.
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