Whats more, during grieving, it’s even hard to be around people, and even if we do surround ourselves with friends and family, we can still feel lonely. Why? Because just the thought of being around people while our loved one is not there can feel like we are doing something wrong, because to us, it may feel like we are trying to fill their presence, and that seems like a betrayal although it isn’t.
The goal shouldn’t be to erase loneliness, because honestly, that’s rarely possible, at least initially. The goal is to prevent that loneliness from turning into isolation.
You don’t need to force yourself to make social connections or interactions, but still, when you are surrounded with familiar faces can help you remember that even your loved one passed away, you are still part of the world.
Loneliness will eventually lose its edge. While it may never disappear entirely, you’ll learn how to control it instead of letting it control you.
4. Allowing joy without guilt
When joy returns into our life following a loss, we can easily feel guilty because of that. We may catch ourselves laughing, enjoying a meal or someone’s presence, and even have some fun along the way. But then guilt strikes and we ask ourselves, “How I dare I feel like this when they gone?”
Well, grief and joy aren’t really antonyms because they can co-exist, and they often do. If you feel joyous, it doesn’t mean you no longer mourn the death of the person you loved or that your love for them wasn’t strong enough.
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