The most important thing I do to cope with the emotional impact of a loss is to be present and truly listen.
This means:
- Truly listening: I try to understand the person's feelings, perspectives, and experiences. This involves actively seeking their words, body language, and nonverbal cues.
- Empathy: I try to see through their pain and recognize their emotions. I try to understand their perspective and try to find some kind of connection or understanding.
- Self-compassion: I treat myself with kindness and understanding, acknowledging that I have a lot to learn and that I will likely have setbacks.
- Practice mindfulness: I try to stay present in the moment, focusing on the sensory details of the loss, such as the physical sensations, sounds, and smells.
Without this ability to truly listen and empathize, I'm more likely to feel overwhelmed, invalidated, and unable to cope eff