​If you’re like me, you want to know what you need to do to heal and move forward in your grief. I wanted to know what the recipe or steps were that I needed to follow to feel better. Unfortunately, it does not exist, as everyone’s grief is unique and follows a different path. The ugly truth about grieving is no one is coming to rescue you, to take away your pain or to help you live the life you want after your loss. It’s up to you to take those steps to move forward. It can feel overwhelming, so here are ten proactive strategies you can apply to your grief to go from surviving to thriving.

​Death of a loved one, especially a spouse or life partner, can be accompanied by so many questions. Why did they have to die? Why did this happen to us? Could I have prevented this? Did I see warning signs? Unfortunately, death and subsequent grief are full of questions that cannot be answered. Learning to live and move forward without those answers can be difficult and it is important to the healing process.

​The Good and Not So Good Advice After Loss
You’ve lost your life partner. Your world is shattered, and you are trying to figure out how to pick up the pieces and how to overcome the pain and sadness. During this time, you’re likely to receive advice from well meaning people on how to resume living and eliminate the pain and suffering. Friends, family and complete strangers are compelled to try to help you feel better. Most are well-meaning, many have experienced their own loss and some just think they need to help, even if they don’t know how. So, what are some of the good pieces of advice I received after my husband died and what was not helpful? Below is my list.