Archive notice: This is a historical post from Mary’s years of blogging. Some older posts may mention products, courses or shop items that are no longer available, as Mary now focuses her time and energy on supporting widows inside her private Facebook community. The guidance and stories remain here as a free resource for widows.
For current ways to connect with Mary’s work, you can:
Bits of joy are hard to come by, and not what widows are expecting in their lives. But, there will come a time when bits of joy will break through into the darkness of your life.
When was the last time you felt real joy – that pure tingle of pure delight? Joy is more than contentment, it’s a feeling so vast it almost overwhelms us with gee.
I know you may be fighting against “joy” as it doesn’t feel right to you when you are grieving. But “joy” is the ultimate expression of gratitude and appreciation for what you still have.
Joy is what will heal your broken heart, connecting you to something larger than yourself and leaving you free to delight in whatever blessings you still have.
Widows who have an abundance of joy are those who make a priority of finding bits of it within their own lives.
- Volunteer because you are much more likely to feel joy when giving to others.
- Choose not to worry about the things you have no control over.
- Money can’t buy joy, so spend it on things that really delight you.
- Joy comes from feeling deeply, to enjoy simply, to risk living and to love what you do.
- Get some sleep – your joy depends on it. For every hour of sleep lost, studies show 8% less happiness.
Joy and hope go together. I have never met a hopeful widow who was depressed or a joyful widow who has lost hope. Hope is more than wishes and joy is more than happiness. You can be unhappy and grieving, but joy can still be in your life. It is important to become aware that at every moment of our lives we have an opportunity to choose joy. It is this choice, that gives us the freedom we still have.
- Are there things in your life that you are passionate about?
- Can you become very still inside and reach a point of peace?
- Are there parts of your life that bring you a sense of pride?
- Do you believe you are worth it?
- Starting now, how can you start incorporating bits of joy into your daily life?
You must come to understand that it is not a betrayal of those you have loved and lost if you heal your broken heart, move forward with your life, and find peace, and Yes, bits of joy.
Mary Francis, The Sisterhood of Widows
#thesisterhoodofwidows, #widow, #grief, #griefsupport, #widowsupport, #howtogrieve
