Quotes by Elizabeth Berrien

A feeling of pleasure or solace can be so hard to find when you are in the depths of your grief. Sometimes its the little things that help get you through the day. You may think your comforts sound ridiculous to others, but there is nothing ridiculous about finding one little thing to help you feel good in the midst of pain and sorrow!

There is nothing like feeling truly awake and aware of my life and what it means to me. So I look ahead and think, There is still so much to be done, and I will continue to make the most of it.

I would still rather feel things and live life to the fullest rather than hide in a cave and attempt to protect myself from the uncertainties of the world.

We never truly get over a loss, but we can move forward and evolve from it.

I believe I gather strength from the generations of women who came before me - that together we all hold the suffering of the world.

It is true that the grief journey is very lonely, but it is also up to you to decide just how lonely you will make it.

Its my own deep-rooted feeling that our souls never truly die and that life continues in some way. I know I need to have patience as my beliefs continue to evolve with my personal growth. As Ive looked around at the things I do have in my life, Ive gradually started to trust in life again, little by little. I think, How could all of these other amazing things come into my life if there was not something larger than me?

I used to feel afraid of the future, always assuming the worst. But now Ive realized that my worst fears have already happened, and Ive survived them! Ive walked into the fire and made it out alive. Only the loss of a close loved one could have woken me up to reality in the same way.

The truth is, we never know what life will bring us and we dont have as much control as we might think we have. But we CAN choose how we walk through life and how we spend our time.

It is okay to release your feelings when you feel the waves coming. Its all part of the process of having to let go of your relationship with your loved one as you once knew it. And remember, letting go is not the same thing as forgetting!

The intense roller coaster of emotions will gradually lesson over time. But there is no timeframe for the grieving process, and it will not be rushed, no matter how fast youd like to get over it. The reality is that there is no getting over it; you can only walk through it.

You have to do what feels right for you. Do not let anyone influence you otherwise. It is your mind, your heart, and your own internal wisdom that will lead you in the direction you need to go.

I began to recognize that there was a part of me that was stronger than I ever could have imagined. I didnt know how I was still standing. I surprised myself. I was waking up to the fact that I was in charge of my own life and it was my choice whether to sink or float.

Once you have walked down the grief path, what you have gained on your journey may turn into invaluable advice for someone else.

I began to feel that nature itself was nurturing me, reminding me that life still offered beauty and calm, and that I was also made out of these elements.

Mothering while grieving should involve being understanding and keeping a gentle attitude toward yourself as you work to balance your own needs and your childs. You become stronger by remaining aware of your own well-being, which in turn makes you a stronger person for your child or children.

Each loss brings growth with it, and learning to handle new experiences and taking charge of your needs is part of the transformative process.

Everything assumes a different intensity when you are feeling the pain of loss. Be prepared. A minor annoyance that you might once have managed with a shrug now becomes a nuclear crisis! You are no doubt going to do things perfectly imperfectly. That is part of our path as humans. Forget about striving for perfection while dealing with grief! If you beat yourself up every time you forget something, have a breakdown, or dont do something correctly then youre going to end up very black and blue. I guarantee you wont want to look in the mirror! So be kinder and more patient with yourself.

Remember to view yourself and your humanness with a kind heart.

Learning to live again wholeheartedly includes letting love flow freely in and out of your heart.