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Tiempo de Mirar
Mindfulness & the Journey of Bereavement: Restoring Hope after a Death
The emotional responses to death are unpredictable and individual, with denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance all natural stages of the grief cycle. Mindfulness & The Journey of Bereavement explores the universal, life-changing journey of grief and offers insight into how we can understand our feelings, nourish our needs, and face the future positively, with hope.
Bereavement volunteer Peter Bridgewater shares therapeutic tools into how the practice of mindfulness can develop a conscious awareness of life and death. With frank personal and professional anecdotes, he helps us to navigate the trauma of loss with clarity and wisdom.
Bereavement volunteer Peter Bridgewater shares therapeutic tools into how the practice of mindfulness can develop a conscious awareness of life and death. With frank personal and professional anecdotes, he helps us to navigate the trauma of loss with clarity and wisdom.
144 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 13, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 27, 2019
I experienced the loss of my father a few years ago and I am still struggling with daily episodes of grieving. I was so pleased to read this book which helped me realize grief like snowflakes is an individual experience with no two people feeling the same emotions in the same order nor identical lengths of time.
July 2, 2022
El único libro que realmente me ha ayudado en mi viaje particular. Quizás por la experiencia del autor con grupos de apoyo sabe muy bien los sentimientos y las emociones que aparecen tras una pérdida y sabe muy cómo responder a las preguntas que se plantean. Ojalá que nunca tengáis que leerlo.
June 3, 2024
A bit repetitive, but strongly emotional. I cried a ton. It feels good to have all those feelings acknowledged.
For me, it was about losing a romantic connection, not the death of someone close, but surprisingly the book still applied really well.
Some ideas from the book:
- "The antidote to anger is loving kindness and compassion." I agree -everybody has trauma which might cause them to act violently sometimes. But the only way to heal it is through understanding.
- "Life can only be found in the present moment. The past is gone, future is not yet here" (a quote from Peace Is Every Step) - indeed. The here and now is all that we ever see. That is not to say that we shouldn't plan for the future, but often we have delusions about what it will be, and it is useful to ground ourselves in the present and take things one step at a time.
- Why are we here? What is the point? - my belief is we are here as an accident, we are molecules that tricked themselves into being aware, and we should be grateful for whatever we get in life.
- Why must we be parted from those we love? - Entropy. Nothing is forever. Even if some organism lives for a really long time, it's usually sacrificing something to do so.
- "If we cannot appreciate sorrow, the appreciation of joy will be limited by anxiety with regard to the fear of its brevity." - indeed. The brain neurochemically balances itself. By exposing yourself only to pleasant stimuli, you become accustomed to them. Focus on unpleasantness now and then, and you will see that the "normal" day to day life you live is something kings a few centuries ago couldn't even dream of. (see? here I'm focusing on their sorrow).
After reading it, I feel like we should take nothing and nobody for granted. Appreciate what you have with the people around you, and don't be quick to judge. Be patient, listen, accept, and forgive. While you can.
For me, it was about losing a romantic connection, not the death of someone close, but surprisingly the book still applied really well.
Some ideas from the book:
- "The antidote to anger is loving kindness and compassion." I agree -everybody has trauma which might cause them to act violently sometimes. But the only way to heal it is through understanding.
- "Life can only be found in the present moment. The past is gone, future is not yet here" (a quote from Peace Is Every Step) - indeed. The here and now is all that we ever see. That is not to say that we shouldn't plan for the future, but often we have delusions about what it will be, and it is useful to ground ourselves in the present and take things one step at a time.
- Why are we here? What is the point? - my belief is we are here as an accident, we are molecules that tricked themselves into being aware, and we should be grateful for whatever we get in life.
- Why must we be parted from those we love? - Entropy. Nothing is forever. Even if some organism lives for a really long time, it's usually sacrificing something to do so.
- "If we cannot appreciate sorrow, the appreciation of joy will be limited by anxiety with regard to the fear of its brevity." - indeed. The brain neurochemically balances itself. By exposing yourself only to pleasant stimuli, you become accustomed to them. Focus on unpleasantness now and then, and you will see that the "normal" day to day life you live is something kings a few centuries ago couldn't even dream of. (see? here I'm focusing on their sorrow).
After reading it, I feel like we should take nothing and nobody for granted. Appreciate what you have with the people around you, and don't be quick to judge. Be patient, listen, accept, and forgive. While you can.
November 19, 2018
I think this an excellent book both for the bereaved person & a bereavement supporter.
It is clear & comprehensive in its accounts. He examines Elisabeth Kubler-Ross’ five stages of grief & carefully discusses them, including a few case studies for each of the five stages of grief.
Peter Bridgewater also discusses how Mindfulness can help in the Beravement process.
It is clear & comprehensive in its accounts. He examines Elisabeth Kubler-Ross’ five stages of grief & carefully discusses them, including a few case studies for each of the five stages of grief.
Peter Bridgewater also discusses how Mindfulness can help in the Beravement process.
December 7, 2019
Mindfulness & the Journey of Bereavement is a good book with some interesting information. The book is well written.
May 13, 2022
Good reading for anyone who has had a bereavement
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews