Happy holiday moments include bright lights, happy music, and families having fun. We see these in countless ads and in all the stores, but these joyous occasions can also bring about very sad times if you have lost someone through death, illness, or other separations. It can be the most difficult time of the year to cope with.
Hope is the fuel we need to get through these tough times—easier said than done, right? The Catholic calendar centers this time around Advent—finding light during the darkest nights as we wait and prepare for the Christ child. What are some things we can do to bring hope to our grieving situations?
There is science behind hope. It is defined as “The mechanism that facilitates coping with loss, illness, and other stresses.” Here are a few suggestions that might help bring hope to your grief:
- Acknowledge that your hope feels lost
- Know that hope can be restored
- Remember the happy times with your loved one
- Think about the lessons learned while they were with you
- Listen to the music they loved
- Remember the support they gave you
- Create a time and space for grief by spending 5-10 minutes each day journaling your thoughts
- Invite friends and family over to decorate the tree, make your loved one’s favorite cookies, etc.
- Create new traditions
- Spend time helping someone in need
- Seek counseling if you can’t do it alone
Hope is not denying how hard grief is. It is the fuel we need to keep going. It is what Jesus wants us to do: find the light in the darkness.
Some thoughts have come from an article by Megan Shen, Ph.D.
