Bren Bell Life Coach

You are the author of your own story, not defined by the grief that you carry.

📕 While grief is a chapter in your life, it doesn’t encompass the whole narrative.

📗 The story you tell yourself has immense influence on your perspective in life.

📘 By re-authoring your story, you can honor your grief without letting it dictate who you are.

📙 Remember, you have the power to write new chapters filled with hope, strength, and resilience.

📖 On your own timeline, in your own way, you will find yourself in the next chapter of your life - influence by, stronger because of, and humbly honoring your grief.

Consider these ways of finding meaning amidst the pain of grief.

Finding meaning through loss can feel daunting, overwhelming, and unfair.

But it can also be incredibly healing.

Meaning making is an adaptive process used in times of adversity and grief (DOI: 10.1080/20008198.2020.1776563).

Finding meaning gives us a pathway to step outside of ourselves - seeing the greater picture of the world.

Have any of these helped you? Are there others that should be added to the list?

Tell me in the comments!

Embracing grief can lead to profound personal growth and a renewed sense of purpose. 🤍

🤍🕊️

Our summer newsletter just went out!

Inside it, you’ll find…

🤍🤍 Compassionate Stories: We share personal stories of loss, resilience, and healing to let you know that you’re not alone on this path.

ℹ️ℹ️ Practical Guidance: Our newsletter offers articles, tips, and advice from grief experts to help you cope with grief’s many facets.

📚📚 Exclusive Resources: Access to exclusive resources such as grief worksheets, recommended reading lists, and guided meditations.

💌 We send the newsletter out to new subscribers every Sunday, so make sure to sign up before then.

💬 If you haven’t subscribed yet, comment ‘NEWSLETTER’ to receive the link to sign up!

🔗 Or sign up using the link in bio! https://mailchi.mp/5987c9ce559a/subscribe

📨 If you’ve already subscribed, you should have received our winter newsletter!

•
•
•

🕊️ In times of grief and stress, it’s crucial to give yourself the space to breathe and reset. 🕊️

🔌 Taking a moment to unplug, whether it’s a walk in nature, a quiet meditation, or simply resting, can be a powerful act of self-care.

Remember, it’s okay to step back and take care of your own heart. 🕊️💙 🕊️

•
•

When grieving someone who is still alive, the loss can feel unclear and the uncertainty about the loved one’s presence or absence can bring about feelings of lack of control. 🌀

⛈️ You might experience a mix of conflicting emotions, such as love, anger, guilt, sadness, and frustration.

🤍 These emotions, albeit confusing, are normal.

⭐️ Know that detaching is neither kind nor unkind, and that separating yourself allows you to be more realistic and objective.

🫂 You can love someone and be supportive while still setting boundaries or being doubtful based on past experiences.

📝 If detaching becomes too difficult, it may still be necessary to revise your attachment with the individual.

🤲 Gradually accept the prospect of recovery while also recognizing the loss may be permanent.

🧘‍♀️ By focusing on yourself, your attitude and well-being will improve and may lessen unknown pressures on your loved one.

🚧 Set boundaries and adhere to them.

➡️ Remember that seeking help is a sign of strength. Book your ✨Free✨ Breakthrough Consult at https://calendly.com/bren-9lk to work with Bren on more coping strategies.

•
•
•

I know from experience the fear of forgetting.

🕊️ Forgetting her special laugh, they way she turned her head, her intentional fast walk, they way she hugged and was the last to let go.

❣️ While I still love sharing memories of her, I found a way to take her out of my head and into my ‘self’.

🤍 Have you found ways to keep your loved one close?

DM me - I would love to hear about yours and share mine with you, too. 🤍🕊️

•
•
•

Grieving a family member who has an addiction can be a challenging situation.

While it is important to offer empathy, patience and focus on their well-being, it is equally important to focus on your own mental and emotional well-being.

Things to consider:

🤍 Their journey to recovery is their own

🕊️ Your role is to offer support, understanding and encouragement

🤚 Determine your boundaries, be specific and consistently enforce them. Remember that setting them is a sign of love and concern, not rejection.

🕊️ Be open and honest about your needs and concerns

🤍 Invoke self care daily, remind yourself that you did not cause it, cannot control it, and cannot cure it.

You can support them with your love even if it is from afar for a while.

You deserve support, too.

Book your ✨Free✨ Breakthrough Consult to take your first step in supporting yourself while supporting others. Link (https://calendly.com/bren-9lk) is in bio!

•
•
•

While we cannot always control the external events or circumstances that occur in our lives, we do have control over our responses to them.

When faced with the difficult situation of losing a loved one either physically or emotionally, it is essential to acknowledge your emotions and find ways to cope while moving forward in a positive way.

By doing so we:
🤍 Are not defined by our circumstance
🤍 Find resilience and the capacity to shape our own lives
🤍 Embrace a new meaning and purpose

Remember that seeking help is a sign of strength. Book your ✨Free✨ Breakthrough Consult to take your first step in healing. Link (https://calendly.com/bren-9lk) in bio!

•
•
•

I remember when I was in the heart of grief, hearing stories and memories were some of the most comforting comments.

Others that were painful to hear typically were underlined with the encouragement of moving on.

These were comments like “you’re going to get through this” or “i know exactly how you feel”.

While they meant well 🤍…

The notion of moving on was not something I was ready to face.

And hearing that my grief was no different than others made me feel like mine didn’t matter.

But remembering the good times brought comfort because those were the times I ached for.

It was just what I needed to be reminded of.

🤍 Does this resonate with you?

❣️ What are some others that you’ve heard that have been helpful or hurtful?

•
•
•

If you are experiencing sadness, uncertainty, lack of drive and purpose, or isolation after loss… my grief counseling and coaching can help. 🤍🕊️

Some people find comfort in seeking help soon after a loss, while others might take more time to feel ready.❣️

But 🙅‍♀️avoiding🙅‍♀️ the grieving process only •prolongs• the journey and adds •resistance• to the process.

Remember that seeking help is a sign of •strength•. Book your ✨Free✨ Breakthrough Consult at https://calendly.com/bren-9lk to find out if the timing is •right• for you. 🫵

•
•
•

Which of these resonates with you most? 🤍🕊️🤍

•
•
•

When losing someone, one can be assured to experience the 12 months of “Firsts” that follow.

The first birthday, first religious celebrations, first mother’s day, father’s day … and most certainly the first year anniversary of the loss.

There is no right and wrong in how these difficult days are maneuvered. You get a free pass.

A few things to consider:
🤍 Check in with your emotions: Realize you can feel both happy and sad while grieving. Be kind to yourself and know that it is OK for all of your feelings to coexist.

🩵 Set boundaries: You can partake or not partake in activities. Do what feels right for you.

💙 Identify your readiness: Find a balance between participating and not pushing yourself.

If and when you’re ready, you can start to think of how to best honor them on these special days. What are some things that come to mind?

•
•
•

Grief is an emotional response to loss that includes, yet extends past, the loss of a loved one. Grieving can occur from unfulfilled dreams such as:

❤️‍🩹 loss of an opportunity
❤️‍🩹 loss of the dream of what was or what could have been
❤️‍🩹 loss of a relationship no longer available due to mental illness, addiction, or death

✨ DM for my top 3️⃣ ways to cope with grief & get unstuck this week. ✨