Spiritual Needs

For the purpose of providing you with support and strength, we are going to talk about our spiritual needs as “faith”.

Being positive is not possible without faith in something other than our self.  We can’t do it on our own because the negative pull is strong and it’s like swimming against the current.

We will tire and weaken from our spiritual needs, but faith gives us the strength to believe that our lives will get better and we will find joy again.  Positive emotions will start to rise up and we will be able to hold on to them when we don’t try to do it all on our own.

As you go through your grief process you may notice that churches can be very family oriented. It’s hard to watch others with their spouses and so you may stop going. But this can cause even more separation and loneliness in your life.

Take time to adjust to this new life because it’s also a spiritual journey which reflects our faith.  Have faith in yourself as well as in a Higher Power.

It doesn’t have to be a religious thing, but when you’re all alone you need something to hold onto. Because you don’t see God, you have to believe by faith.

Sometimes when life kicks you to the curb, faith can be hard to come by. I know God is real because He answers my prayers, although not always the way I thought He would.

I think that surviving is a journey where you grow stronger and more independent.  You really have no choice because grief wants to take over your life.

Do more than “survive” – get to know yourself and come out swinging.  Stand up and fight for a life that is full of friends and family.  Join groups, volunteer, find your passion and just go do it.

Don’t feel bad that you are the one that’s alive – instead be even more alive by seeking out positive people.  Be a survivor in more than body – be a survivor in heart and soul.

• There is no greater relationship than what you have with God.
• Talk to God as you would your best friend – share your blessing and worries.
• God is at your side so tell Him what is in your heart.
• Make your prayers simple and not stilted, rehearsed or formal.
• Practice talking to God as you go about your day –have a word or two with God.
• Affirm the fact that God is with you.
• Pray thinking positive, not negative thoughts.
• Always pray that you are willing to accept God’s will, whatever it is.
• Ask for what you want but be willing to accept otherwise.
• Pray for strength to do your best.
• Have confidence in God to take care of the rest.
• Say a prayer for those who do not like you or have done you harm.
• This will release you from those stressful relationships.
• Be open to praying for your family, friends and country.
• Take time to pray for peace so that you can enjoy your relationships.
• Lastly, believe that your prayers will be answered, even if not as expected.

When you are committed to taking extremely good care of yourself, you are saying that you have value. I believe that God helps us in spite of our fears but we must be willing to make the choice to honor ourselves.

Take an honest assessment of your present life and see where you may be out of balance. Awareness has to come first before you can make any changes that are needed to move forward on this new path.

Take ten minutes at the end of your day to write out and give thanks for every blessing you had that day. Even if it was only one thing, celebrate that one thing.

Be thankful in prayer for all that you have and stop comparing yourself to others.  Your sense of gratitude will set a serene tone for your night’s sleep and reduce your stress hormones.

To Our Shared Journey,                                                                                      

Mary Francis is a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist®,  Certified Law of Attraction Facilitator,  Early Intervention Field Traumatology (EIFT) and Author/Founder of “The Sisterhood of Widows”