How Does Grief Affect Our Lives?

Many of us have experienced the death of a loved one or the ending of a relationship. We are taught that the "natural" response to such a life event is grief-a deep sadness about the loss.

While grief is certainly a typical response in the grieving process, to say that it is natural is to speak as if we are somehow biologically programmed to experience it.

And, indeed, that is what most of us are taught. We are told that there are natural stages of grief that we must pass through when experiencing a loss.

In fact, in 1974 The Handbook of Psychiatry defined grief as ". . . the normal response to the loss of a loved one by death."

We, however, believe that grief is optional, not inevitable.

How The Option Institute Can Help

We would never advocate the suppression of the grieving process for those who feel that they need to grieve. At the same time, if you are looking for a way to move beyond your grief, we can offer you concrete assistance.

We can help you examine the learned beliefs and perspectives you hold which continue to support your grief and sadness.

Then, you will have the opportunity to make key decisions about whether to retain or jettison these beliefs.

The teachers of our programs will help you in the most nonjudgmental way, not pushing you, but rather opening doors for your understanding and change.

Many of us, particularly those of us who have lost a loved one, fear letting go of our grief. We are afraid that in letting go of our grief, we will be somehow letting go of our love and caring of the one we have lost.

We can show you how to treasure the one you have lost and deepen your caring for this person -with your gratitude, rather than your sadness.

We can help you to move on with your life-not as a dismissal of the one you loved, but as a celebration of them.