T.I.M.E to Grieve: Grab Hold of Some Grit
Welcome to my weekly update I’m calling T.I.M.E. to Grieve.
Each week, I pick a theme, share an idea on that theme, reflect on the deeper meaning, and give an exercise to help put it into practice. I trust you find it helpful for yourself or for a grieving person you are walking beside.
THEME
It takes grit to get through loss, persevere in suffering, and get through the set-backs of life.
IDEA
“…resolve, strength of character; unyielding courage in the face of hardship or danger.” — Dictionary definition of GRIT
“Living in the present will make your stress go down and your happiness go up. Even if the present is sad, to embrace those feelings is part of having them pass. Feelings we avoid, get stuck in our system and will return until we face them, so whether in good times or bad, the lesson is to be ‘in time.’ Be there, in the now.” — Henry Cloud
“Grit is put into practice one baby step at a time — not in one giant leap from where you are to where you hope to be.”
MEANING
Grit is what you see in the marathon runner who at the 20 mile mark (with 6.2 more to go), where they will themselves to take one stride at a time until the finish.
Grit is the decision you make to get up each morning and do the next right thing after the loss of a beloved family member.
Grit is a decision you make to live in the present and not get stuck in the past or grow increasingly anxious by fixating on a future of “what ifs.”
Grit is what I tapped into when I faced my ninth surgery in 1004 days after my life altering motorcycle accident.
Grit is what you call it when you keep learning and find gratitude even when there is much to cry about and grieve the loss of.
Grit is:
Being fully present where you are.
Being grateful even on the darkest days.
Being a curious learner.
Taking one baby step at a time.
Believing things will not always be as difficult as they are today.
EXERCISE
Where have you seen grit lived out in someone else’s life?
Where in your life do you need to practice grit right now?
What your thankful for?
What’s one thing you can do today to keep moving in the face of a set back?
