FAQs About Grief
Will I Ever Enjoy Life and Feel Happy Again? Finding Joy After Loss
I know in the depths of profound grief; it can feel impossible to imagine ever experiencing true joy and happiness again. The sadness, pain and heartache feel so all-consuming that the idea of laughing, finding pleasure in simple joys or feeling light-hearted seems almost offensive.
However, I want to reassure you that you will indeed find your way back to happiness. It won't be in the same way as before this great loss, and it will be hard-earned, but you have the capacity to enjoy life's beautiful moments once more.
Grieving is not a linear process, but a winding road with ups and downs. As unfathomable as it may feel now, you will eventually rediscover meaning, purpose and reasons to experience positive emotions like happiness, pride, amusement and hope.
It may start with brief flashes - a child's laughter that brings an inadvertent smile, or a warm memory that sparks a bittersweet feeling of love and loss intermingled. Slowly, the distressing emotions will share more space with appreciative and contented ones.
With support, self-care and processing the grief over time, you will gradually begin re-engaging with hobbies, people and simple pleasures that once brought you joy. It won't be the same as before, but it can feel genuinely fulfilling in new ways.
The path is different for everyone but be assured that the human spirit is amazingly resilient. By honoring your grief fully, cultivating patience and taking one day at a time, you are allowing your heart to slowly heal. Joy will be possible again.
For now, don't judge the tough days or lack of positive emotions. Simply feel what you need to feel. But also, leave room for hope and possibility. This devastating loss has changed you, but it need not permanently rob you of happiness. It will find its way back to you.
Ida Uzelman is the compassionate heart behind River of Hope Counselling in Kelowna, British Columbia. Originally from Africa, Ida has embraced the warmth of the Okanagan as her home for the past three decades. Her life's passion lies in supporting others through times of grief and loss, fueled by the echoes of her own family's experiences. Ida finds endless inspiration in works like "The Gift," "Grief Journey," and "The Untethered Soul" as she continues her journey as a forever learner.
In her personal life, Ida delights in the simple joys - playing tennis, hiking the local trails, dancing, and sharing laughter over plain rice and salt with dear friends and family. Above all, she lives with profound gratitude for every experience that has shaped her into the caring counsellor she is today. While the past cannot be changed, Ida believes we all have the power to find new meaning in our present moments and the resilience within ourselves.