No one is prepared for grief. The rush of feelings, the thoughts, anxieties, and heartache can take us by surprise and drive us to our knees. Yet, when we choose to harness that power for self-growth, amazing things can happen. Good can come from pain.

 

Sigmund Freud first brought up the concept of grief work in 1917, and today the idea that bereavement is purpose-driven continues. Dr. James Worden chose to see the work of bereavement as task-oriented: to accept the reality of the loss,  process the pain of grief, adjust to a world without the deceased, and find an enduring connection with the deceased in the midst of embarking on a new life.
 

Your current job is to focus your attention on achieving each of those goals. It will not occur in any logical order; each of us is different and the path we walk in the bereavement journey is not a straight one.  Dealing with grief is hard work. It takes both courage and hard work to successfully adapt to the loss of a significant person in your life.