Grief and grieving is a big part of what the society is going through right now with the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode, I'm looking at the work of David Kessler and a past interview with Julia Samuel for thoughts on how you can name and process the emotions and grief you're feeling.
In this episode:
- I share the article in Harvard Business Review where David Kessler names the discomfort we're feeling: grief.
- Her first love of swinging on her garden swing as a child Starting Child Bereavement UK, and her work as a patron
- Her early influences, including the bereavement of her parents
- Her love of personal connection, and how that led her from a role in publishing to becoming a grief and bereavement counselor
- The roots and starting point for her book, Grief Works: Stories of Life, Death, and Surviving
- Why people shut down and isolate when they grieve, and why they judge themselves on a right or wrong way of grieving
- Why allowing yourself to feel the emotions of grief is important
- How to feel the emotions of grief and loss without being overcome by it
- The impacts of losing important figures like Princess Diana to society, and why so many people are deeply stirred by these tragic losses
- How a country processes the loss of children in tragedies like school shootings, as it raises the questions of “the existential cruelty of life”
- How Julia reacts to resistance, by continuing on her path
- How to jump start your joy: by enjoying her grandchildren’s giggles, getting in touch with nature, and watching romantic comedies and The Amazing Miss Maizel
ResourcesJulia Samuel’s Website
Harvard Business Review : That Discomfort You're Feeling is Grief (an interview with David Kessler)
David Kessler on Dr. Brene Brown's Podcast, Unlocking Us
Julia Samuel’s book, Grief Works: Stories of Life, Death, and Surviving on Amazon
If you are grieving: Julia’s 8 pillars of strength (a free download)
On Grief and Grieving: Finding the Meaning of Grief Through the Five Stages of Loss by Elizabeth Kubla-Ross
Waking the Tiger, by Peter Levine (a book on healing trauma)
The Marvelous Mrs Maisel on Amazon Prime
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