Written by On November 9, 2023, at 1:00 PM ET, speak with experts via LinkedIn Live who will discuss wellness, grief empowerment, and better managing the emotions of grief-related experiences. Learn to use the negative energy of grief as a catalyst to discover a better version of self. Transform stagnation into movement and progress.
Grief is a powerful emotion. It evokes feelings of anger, sadness, frustration, and guilt. It has traditionally been associated with the bereavement process and the mourning associated with losing someone dear and special. John James and Russell Freedman of the Grief Recovery Institute wrote a book titled, “The Grief Recovery Handbook.” They expanded the definition of grief to include over 40 reasons. Circumstances from divorce to loss of limbs have been added to evoke the emotions of grief.
Some societies (many in America) associate grief with negative emotions, and some even lead people to believe that the feelings are everlasting. The initial feelings are manifested in the process, and people have the right to feel that way because grief is usually associated with some loss or experience manifesting negative feelings. Time is the factor that can create either a lasting or lingering effect or the effects of empowerment. There is no defined time period, and when one is ready is the only “right” time.” Only human will can determine whether grief will be that 800 lb. gorillas sitting on one’s chest or let it become fuel to incentivize them towards being a better version of themselves. The decision is crucial.
Society has led some to believe they should stay subjected to the negative feeling of grief and allow it to dictate their lives. Others have chosen to reject the philosophies of the status quo, fought, and used grief’s negative energy as an incentive to become a better version of themselves. Examples have been seen throughout history. People have taken extremely harrowing situations and converted those situations into fuel to create, manifest, and honor those who were victims of the experience that caused survivors to grieve.
Examples include the famous guitarist and singer Eric Clapton, who wrote the multiplatinum hit song Tears in Heaven. The song was an homage to his 4-year-old son, who died in a terrible accident. Tears in Heaven is now listed as #362 on Rolling Stone Magazine’s top 500 songs of all time. Nancy Brinker is another example. She never expected to become a significant contributor to the fight against breast cancer.
When Nancy’s sister Susan G. Komen died in 1982 from the disease, she vowed to do everything she could to eradicate the illness and help people and their families who suffer from the effects. It has been over 42 years, and her fight continues. The byproducts of grief and negative emotions can bring out a better version of some, but perspective and will to fight are the crucial deciding factors.
It has even been witnessed on several occasions in the sports world. In 1990, after suffering the loss of his mother, going through a divorce, and being seen as a 42-1 underdog in his upcoming fight with “Iron” Mike Tyson. James “Buster” Douglas did what many considered impossible: Douglas knocked out Tyson and took away his heavyweight championship status. In 2003, Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre pulled off a stunning upset over the Oakland Raiders that amounted to a 42-7 victory that included 399 yards of passing in just the first half of play. He achieved these results 24 hours after his father died from a heart attack.
Some allow grief emotions to transform them into someone special. Although all the feelings of pain, hurt, and loss are still there, these people use the emotion of grief to their advantage and empower themselves from the experience. Some factors may keep some from seeing the light because of the darkness. Issues like mental illness, lingering depression, and self-esteem may make pushing for a better version of self much more difficult. They are not impossible, but they are highly challenging.
A man named Steven Vujicic talks about this. Although he has achieved many goals, such as becoming an author, ordained minister, CEO, and incredible motivational speaker, Vujicic talks about the condition of Tetra-Amelia Syndrome, Which caused him to be born without limbs. The degree of depression he suffered during times in his life was extreme. Even people who have not been so unfortunate suffer from issues with depression.
The actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is very public about his bouts with depression and the things he must do to fight it constantly. Sometimes, medication and therapy may help address these conditions. All of it is still a choice that the individual must make. Grief is a tricky emotion that often leads people down some rabbit holes. According to the CDC, depression, and grief can be causes of suicide and self-mutilation.
Even though grief and depression are not the same, grief involves some aspects of depression. It becomes a symptom of the overall grief experience. That grief-related depression can lead some to the idealization of suicide and suicidal tendencies.
It is the losing side of the grief empowerment fight. People who meet this fate are not losers; they have allowed the grief to overtake them to the point of seeing no other way out. They decide to create long-term solutions to temporary problems. Again, society forces some to believe those alternatives beat staying in the fight.
Grief empowerment takes many things.
- Belief is foremost because one must feel that the darkness will open to light eventually.
- Eating well and finding foods that will help in the fight. Foods like avocado and walnuts help increase endorphins and serotonin levels, major combatants to grief-related feelings.
- Mindfulness practices that range from Journaling, meditation, Yoga, and Tai Chi help address moods and behaviors.
- Exercise helps to enhance mental capacity. Its physical effects help to address self-esteem, which goes hand in hand with its cognitive effects.
- Therapy and medication can also help address some of the feelings. Used correctly and in conjunction with other practices, it can provide balance and help people achieve better coping skills.
One piece of advice is to attempt to do this with others. Having support is a vital part of grief empowerment. On November 9, 2023, at 1:00 PM ET, a LinkedIn Live event will be held, detailing the processes, effects, and possible outcomes of empowering self through grief. The hosts are experts in grief empowerment and wellness and will share insights.
Understand that grief is energy, which is manifested in our brains. According to the laws of physics, it can never be created or destroyed but can be transferred and transformed. Given proper perspective, one has the ability and the capability to do so. It is a choice of will.
The battles with your mind will be challenging, but success comes with winning the war. Individual battles will culminate in an overall win, and empowering yourself against your grief is the ammunition needed to fight and win the war successfully.
The November 9, 2023, LinkedIn Live event that is taking place at 1:00 PM ET is an opportunity to understand better how to use grief to your advantage, manage robust wellness techniques that will address dealing with the emotions related to grief, and one will have the opportunity to speak with experts who can help navigate the many pitfalls of the grief experience.