"Allow yourself to release the emotions you have struggled all your life to contain." ~ Ellen Bass

If you checked out parts 1 and 2, you know I have experienced significant loss in my life. What I have learned over time is that with any loss, comes the opportunity to grieve and release. In this season of losses stretching over the years, I realized somewhere along the way, that I became really good at avoiding the grief I was experiencing. I would throw myself into projects, work, cleaning; really anything that would give me distraction. 

However, the grief I was avoiding never failed to find a time to present itself. I was afraid and overwhelmed by it all. I did not want to let the floodgates give way. And honestly, the longer I held it in, the larger the flood became. What if I cannot shut it off? What if I fall apart completely and nothing can put me back together? What if… 

Honestly, I can say that of all people I should know exactly how to process grief. For over 12 years I have been immersed in the grief community, serving and volunteering those who are grieving. I have walked alongside so many people and supported them. And a few years ago, there I was, unable to offer the same opportunity to myself I have offered to so many others. I think the word you could be thinking of is - Hypocrite.

When I finally agreed to allow the floodgates to open and to allow myself to grieve, a practice of releasing started to form. If you have read part 1 - suffering in silence and part 2 - breaking the silence, you already know one of those releasing practices 😊.

Check out part 4 - A practice of releasing to identify other ways to release! ~ Jenna