Focus on the good and count your blessings to get over a loss

Janis arrived at work in tears, plonked herself down and sobbed “Sometimes I just feel like giving up! My car would not start, and I just can’t afford another repair bill, so Mandy was late for school, I did not have an umbrella and got soaked, and since my husband died I feel I have no support in hard times. It’s just too much!”

Everyone in the office rallied around, poured her a coffee, brought a towel to dry her hair and fussed and pampered her, and soon she was brighter and more cheerful.

The truth is the world can be harsh, and grief and loss like the death of a loved one or pet, a break up, losing a job or just daily stress are difficult to cope with. But this is life, and sadness will touch us all at some stage or other.

In severe circumstances, seeing a professional grief councillor is never a bad idea, and grief does follow a pattern which demands a period of coming to terms with and sufficient recovery time. The worst thing we can do is suppress our emotions, and invariably the sun will come out again and we find the strength and confidence to resume our place in the world.

Psychologists tells us there are various stages accompanying grief and loss, and if we recognise them we can eventually work through them.

I have always found in times where the world seems unkind, if we count our blessings and focus on the good in our lives, and note the severe suffering we witness daily, we can find that extra strength to soldier on. But best we seek a professional who will guide us through sad times. – Michael Hook, Beyond Wellness Group.