Ep. 137 - Bracing for Loss: Navigating Anticipatory Grief

Barb Knows Best

Grief is a universal human experience—no one escapes it. However, there is a form of grief that begins before the actual loss takes place: anticipatory grief.

This week, Barb and Michelle talk about navigating loss before it happens. Anticipatory grief is when someone is expecting or preparing for an impending loss, such as the death of a loved one, the decline of health, or significant life changes. During their conversation, they share their personal experiences, challenges, and the insights they’ve learned navigating their own grief. They also discuss how to manage the feelings of guilt, fear, anger, sadness, helplessness, and the other difficult emotions that arise from this form of grief.

In this episode, they talk about:

• Grief is a natural, yet challenging, part of life.

• Release yourself from any timeline: stay present, take things one step at a time, and remember it’s okay not to have everything figured out.

• Acceptance is key to grieving—it allows us to acknowledge that life has changed and embrace the uncertainty that comes with it.

• Even in grief, there can be moments of joy, especially when being fully present with a loved one in their final moments.

• As Mary Oliver’s poem The Uses of Sorrow reminds us, even the darkest times can eventually reveal themselves as gifts. Grief isn’t linear, and healing takes time, but with patience, we can discover strength and beauty in our most difficult seasons.

Books on grief:

• It’s Ok That You’re Not Ok by Megan Devine

• I’m Not a Mourning Person: Braving Loss, Grief, and the Big Messy Emotions That Happen When Life Falls Apart by Kris Carr

Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at Michellemaros.com/podcast.

You can also find us on Substack at Love Notes by Michelle Maros and Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life.

Click here for Barb’s book, The Practice.

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