"Griefmas" & Griefy Holidays: Your Survival Guide for When Life Doesn't Feel Merry or Bright

12/18/24 • 33 min

In this episode of the Grief and Light podcast, host Nina Rodriguez discusses the complexities of experiencing grief during the holiday season. She emphasizes the normalization of grief, especially during times that are typically associated with joy and celebration. Nina shares various coping strategies, the importance of acknowledging one's feelings, and the healing power of creating new traditions, reclaiming a sense of agency, communicating our needs, and setting boundaries.
She encourages listeners to lean into their grief and joy, and to give themselves permission to pivot, as needed. The episode serves as a resource for those navigating the difficult emotions that arise during the holidays.
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Click here to watch on YouTube•••
Takeaways

Grief can feel heavier during the holidays.
It's normal to feel a contrast between grief and holiday joy.
Acknowledge and honor your grief; don't push it down.
You have the power to create new traditions.
Setting boundaries is crucial for emotional well-being.
It's okay to not feel merry and bright during the holidays.
Lean into moments of joy when they arise.
Grief needs to be witnessed, not fixed.
Give yourself permission to pivot and change plans.
Self-care practices are essential during this time.

Referenced in Episode:
Holiday Scripts for Grievers: What to say when the season doesn't feel merry or bright
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Join THE COMMUNITY | A virtual home for grievers. Access support anytime, anywhere.
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Connect with Nina Rodriguez:

IG: @griefandlight
Website: griefandlight.com
Hire Nina as a guest speaker
1:1 Grief Support (Use code GRIEFMAS25 for a 25% discount on any 1:1 grief support service. Valid until January 30th, 2025.)
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View upcoming events
Join Grief and Light: The Community

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Support the show

Thank you for listening! Please share with someone who may need to hear this.
Interested in Sponsoring our Podcast?
Please message us at [email protected].

Grief can feel heavier during the holidays.
It's normal to feel a contrast between grief and holiday joy.
Acknowledge and honor your grief; don't push it down.
You have the power to create new traditions.
Setting boundaries is crucial for emotional well-being.
It's okay to not feel merry and bright during the holidays.
Lean into moments of joy when they arise.
Grief needs to be witnessed, not fixed.
Give yourself permission to pivot and change plans.
Self-care practices are essential during this time.

Connect with Nina Rodriguez:

IG: @griefandlight
Website: griefandlight.com
Hire Nina as a guest speaker
1:1 Grief Support (Use code GRIEFMAS25 for a 25% discount on any 1:1 grief support service. Valid until January 30th, 2025.)
Subscribe to my newsletter
View upcoming events
Join Grief and Light: The Community

Disclaimer: griefandlight.com/safetyanddisclaimers
Buy me a Coffee

Support the show

Thank you for listening! Please share with someone who may need to hear this.
Interested in Sponsoring our Podcast?
Please message us at [email protected].

Previous Episode

'Grief 2 Growth': Brian D. Smith on Signs, Synchronicities, and Making Meaning after Child Loss

In this episode, host Nina Rodriguez engages in a heartfelt conversation with Brian D. Smith, a certified grief educator, life purpose coach, author, speaker, and host of the Grief2Growth Podcast. They explore the profound themes of grief, loss, and the journey towards healing. Brian shares his personal experience of losing his daughter Shayna and how it transformed his understanding of life, death, and the afterlife. The discussion delves into the significance of signs and synchronicities in the grieving process, the concept of lucid dreaming as a means of connecting with loved ones, and the reconciliation of scientific and spiritual perspectives on grief.
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Click here to watch on YouTube
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Through their dialogue, they aim to provide comfort and insight to those navigating their own journeys of loss. In this conversation, the speaker explores the profound themes of grief, healing, and the interconnectedness of our journeys through life. They discuss the concept of viewing life as a 'team effort', where experiences and challenges are shared among your spiritual 'team'. Brian shares his GEMS framework, which provides four practical steps for healing. The conversation also touches on the significance of gratitude and the ongoing connection with loved ones who have passed, highlighting that they remain a part of our lives in spirit.
Takeaways:

Grief is a personal journey that varies for everyone.
Understanding that loved ones continue to exist can provide comfort.
Signs and synchronicities can be powerful indicators of connection with our loved ones in Spirit.
Lucid dreaming can facilitate connection and communication.
It's important to remain open to different perspectives on grief.
Grief can lead to personal growth and rediscovery of purpose.
The mind and consciousness can affect the physical world.
Reconciliation of science and spirituality is possible.
Setting specific signs can help in recognizing connections.
Grief can open us to new realities and understandings.
We come into life with a team, not just for ourselves.
Grief can lead to personal growth and understanding.
Finding meaning in loss is a personal journey.
Gratitude can shift our perspective during grief.
Healing is not about getting over loss, but moving through it.
The GEMS framework offers practical steps for healing.
Our loved ones want us to thrive, not remain sad.
Every experience, even painful ones, can lead to growth.
We can choose the meaning we assign to our experiences.
The connection with those we've lost continues in spirit.

Connect with Brian D. Smith:

Connect with Nina Rodriguez:

Disclaimer: griefandlight.com/safetyanddisclaimers

Support the show

Thank you for listening! Please share with someone who may need to hear this.
Interested in Sponsoring our Podcast?
Please message us at [email protected].

Next Episode

Embracing the "New You" After Loss: Reflections of 2024 and Hope for 2025

In this reflective episode of Grief and Light, Nina Rodriguez delves into the process of embracing a new sense of self after experiencing loss and life-altering change, offering insights and encouragement as we transition into 2025. As the new year approaches, she reflects on the ways grief reshapes our identity and forces us to confront changes we may not have chosen, emphasizing how it shapes identity, perspective, and priorities. Drawing from her own experiences and those of her clients, Nina offers insights on how to honor who you were before the loss while making space for growth and self-discovery. She shares practical tips for navigating change with compassion and highlights the importance of hope, curiosity, and hope as guiding forces in the healing process. This episode serves as both a comforting companion and an empowering reminder to invite harmonious change amidst life's most difficult transitions.
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Click here to watch on YouTube
***
Takeaways:

When we experience life altering loss, a new version of ourselves is born.
Show yourself grace as you learn who you are becoming.
Grief can be confusing to navigate; honesty is essential.
The pain of loss is unchangeable, but suffering can be adjusted.
Community support is vital in the grief journey.
The Forever a Sister program provided a safe space for sharing.
Grief is not limited to physical loss; it's everywhere.
Life is change, and with loss, it's accelerated change.
It's important to honor your own timeline in grief.
Resources are crucial for those in early grief.

***
Join THE COMMUNITY | A virtual home for grievers. Access support anytime, anywhere.
***

Connect with Nina Rodriguez:

IG: @griefandlight
Website: griefandlight.com
Hire Nina as a guest speaker
1:1 Grief Support (Use code GRIEFMAS25 for a 25% discount on any 1:1 grief support service. Valid until January 30th, 2025.)
Subscribe to my newsletter
View upcoming events
Join Grief and Light: The Community

Disclaimer: griefandlight.com/safetyanddisclaimers
Buy me a Coffee

Support the show

Thank you for listening! Please share with someone who may need to hear this.
Interested in Sponsoring our Podcast?
Please message us at [email protected].

GRIEF AND LIGHT - "Griefmas" & Griefy Holidays: Your Survival Guide for When Life Doesn't Feel Merry or Bright

Transcript

griefandlight (00:00.148)
lean into that. Those moments of joy, don't fight them either. Don't fight your grief and don't fight your joy. Whenever you feel joyful, lean into that fully because that joy will carry you through the hard times. And whenever you feel griefy, lean into that because that is an honest answer and an honest embodiment of the lived experience of loss. You just lost your loved one. Now what?
Welcome to the grief and life podcast where we explore this new reality thr