Facing End of Life

We all will die some day. Facing death directly (live well, explore passions, plan for passing, adopt rituals, explore the afterlife, read about death) enables us to transcend anxiety, insecurities and experience its transformative powers. Research tells us that when you embrace death you reap gifts of gratitude, freedom, beauty, worry-free, letting go, and euphoria/joy. Source: Psychology Today

Ouch: Growing from Grief.

 This past year has been full of loss. Living losses through appointments and relationships. Dying losses through the physical death of loved ones. These experiences have changed our reality. This became a season to re-examine how we look and function in the world. We are on another healing journey. Researchers Tedesi and Calhoun (2004) have given this experience the name “post-traumatic growth” that goes beyond resilience to improvement in our ability to function and adapt.

Rising Above Loss to Life

Throughout history human have been concerned with their mortality.   We are fascinated with death.  Death aroused anxiety, hope, clarity and inspiration. The deeper message to consider today – we have all experienced physical and spiritual losses of friends, dreams, health, children, spouses, homes, jobs.  These losses can make us feel close to death.  The good news is that we can rise above our losses and choose life.

We choose life when we grieve.  We grieve when we

1.search,

2. run,

3. embrace despair,

4. weep,

5. reorganize,

6. let go and

7. visit.

Source: Grief, Dying and Death;  John 20:1-18