Christmas, for so many, is a time for celebration, giving and receiving – and sharing time with those we love. But, for so many others an inevitable fact of life is that most of us will at some stage face Christmas with sadness – and an almost overwhelming sense of grief! 

 This so very poignant time occurs when we take time to reflect on what may have been a lifetime of moments as we stopped, even briefly, to appreciate each other. Memories of ‘good times’ and the images associated are played, uninvited at times via the projector of our minds on to the screens of our memories – our cognitions.

Learned patterns of experiences are triggered by the sights and sounds, the smells and tastes associated most specifically at this time of year.

They’re not always fond memories of course! Relationships may have been abusive or toxic, fuelled by legacies from parents and generations of neglect or abuse; intentional or otherwise.

It’s not always a sense of loss associated with the death of a loved one either. Loss and grief can be just as powerful when family separation and divorce occurs, particularly when acrimonious in nature. Then, a multitude of emotions around the sense of loss can present around the relationships and how they once were with the partner – and the loss or reduction of contact with any children, and the sense of belonging from our perceived place in society as a family unit.

So how can we move through this period without re-living the loss?

It is highly dependent on the individual circumstances of course.

Where a loss brings pain as a result of the yearning for a loved one no longer available, honouring their presence via our memories can be helpful.

Perhaps invite them to be in the room for a while, sitting with the memories and raising a glass, having a cry – a laugh, expressing anger, or whatever emotion arises. This can be incredibly cathartic. Better still, this can provide permission to allow future Christmases to be filled with less dread, because the memories are also invited to be unwrapped in whichever way the recipient wishes.

Words for the grieving

The key to continuing with life after loss is often found within acceptance, and letting go of that over which we have no control; the only choices remaining being whether to empower ourselves and give permission to honour, acknowledge, appreciate and then move through those most challenging times, remembering that life is still available to those who remain. The beautiful poem below can be useful in many circumstances, perhaps it will be so for whatever hurts you.

It is also perhaps even more crucial at this time of year to remain ‘connected’, embracing some contact with others so that some focus can be on the present moment and living on.

She Let Go

She let go. Without a thought or a word, she let go.

She let go of the fear.  She let go of the judgments.  She let go of the confluence of opinions swarming around her head.  She let go of the committee of indecision within her.  She let go of all the ‘right’ reasons. Wholly and completely, without hesitation or worry, she just let go.

She didn’t ask anyone for advice. She didn’t read a book on how to let go.  She didn’t search the scriptures. She just let go.  She let go of all of the memories that held her back.  She let go of all of the anxiety that kept her from moving forward.  She let go of the planning and all of the calculations about how to do it just right.

She didn’t promise to let go. She didn’t journal about it. She didn’t write the projected date in her Day-Timer. She made no public announcement and put no ad in the paper. She didn’t check the weather report or read her daily horoscope. She just let go.

She didn’t analyze whether she should let go. She didn’t call her friends to discuss the matter. She didn’t do a five-step Spiritual Mind Treatment. She didn’t call the prayer line. She didn’t utter one word. She just let go.

No one was around when it happened. There was no applause or congratulations. No one thanked her or praised her. No one noticed a thing. Like a leaf falling from a tree, she just let go.

There was no effort. There was no struggle. It wasn’t good and it wasn’t bad. It was what it was, and it is just that.

In the space of letting go, she let it all be. A small smile came over her face. A light breeze blew through her. And the sun and the moon shone forever more.

 Wishing you all every peace, now and forever.

  

Bob Brotchie

Bob Brotchie is a successful counsellor in his private practice seeing individuals aged 8 and up from his office near Newmarket, Suffolk. Twice-married, and a father of three sons he attributes his ‘later-life’ inner-peace way of being practising mindfulness for everyday anxieties, past life trauma’s and the complexities of life. This he shares where appropriate with his clients - along with other psychotherapeutic models, including cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) A regular blogger of mental health matters - and particularly ‘mindful approaches’ to life, Bob also enjoys engaging via social-media, where he can be found on many of the popular platforms.

5 Responses to Managing Xmas Emotions after Loss

  1. Sad to read this..

    on February 25, 2016 at 6:29 am Alicia D. Goods

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