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Grieving the Loss of a Love: How to Embrace Grief to Find True Hope and Healing After a Divorce, Breakup, or Death
For those who have experienced the loss of a love, this thoughtful book offers courage and comfort. Some of us face the death of a loved one while others face the end of a relationship or a painful divorce, but everyone who finds themselves in the midst of loss—whether willingly or forced by circumstances—grieves and could use solace, wisdom, and connection. Drawing from her personal and professional experiences with grief and loss, psychologist Eleora Han offers a candid and moving reflection of grief and explains how embracing grief may help us stay rooted in love, and how accepting our lack of control can help us find peace. She offers reassurance that, however, painful the loss, we can make it through.Each chapter guides you in a quest to experience loss as a positive, life-changing journey, one that can help you cultivate connection, love more deeply and wholeheartedly, explore the beauty of forgiveness and spirituality, and find hopeful meaning and purpose toward the future.Weaving in recent research on grief with relatable personal stories and practical insights, this book offers essential wisdom and truth for those intent on making their way forward through grief and loss and, in the process, awaken to deeper love, gratitude, and wholeness. *Free Grief Journal and Grief Resource List for readers. See end of book for details.
- GenresGriefSelf HelpNonfiction
102 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2017
182 people are currently reading
541 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 23, 2021
I recently lost my husband of 44 years and joined a GriefShare group. This book had a lot of information in it that I learned in the class. The information was very helpful and I took many notes. There are 5 stages of grief and I haven’t mastered them all yet. By reading Elenor Han’s book I got a lot of insite into how we grieve and the stages we go through. We are all different in our grief process and the author pointed this out many times. She made many quotes that will stay with me. For instance, when we loss someone we love we fell raw and helpless, grief is very painful but can give rise to hope and grieve at your own pace. These are just a few there were many helpful sayings from the author. I highly recommend reading this as one goes through the grieving process.
One of my favorites from the author:
It is hard to rebuild a life when sometimes all we can think about is our loved one. It is hard when a memory of that person suddenly arises, and we remember all too clearly all we have lost and the life that is to be no more.
I was given a copy of this from amazon and all opinions are my own.
One of my favorites from the author:
It is hard to rebuild a life when sometimes all we can think about is our loved one. It is hard when a memory of that person suddenly arises, and we remember all too clearly all we have lost and the life that is to be no more.
I was given a copy of this from amazon and all opinions are my own.
October 10, 2021
Decent, simple advice
Decent book, simple to read and not too long. It repeat a lot of the same points but I guess if those repeated points were removed it would be an even shorter book.
But the advice is solid and easy and logical to follow. It's good.
Decent book, simple to read and not too long. It repeat a lot of the same points but I guess if those repeated points were removed it would be an even shorter book.
But the advice is solid and easy and logical to follow. It's good.
March 31, 2020
I love it so much....Good written the Book
Contents:
- Introduction
1) what is grief?
2) Embrace grief and vulnerability
3) Cultivate connection
4) love and nourish yourself
5) Explore spirituality
6) love in New Way
7) Learn and grow
8) Find Meaning and purpose
- Attester from Me to you
- Free book resources
- About the Author
- Acknowledgements
- Notes.
Introduction:
- Although grief is painful, we can experience it as a positive, life changing journey, we can heal from our devastation, shock, fear and despair, and return to life again, only this time more fiercely vulnerably, and whole heartedly-more connected to the love that surrounds us.
- Although painful the grief resulting from the loss of a loved one can serve as a catalyst for positive change and inner growth grief, we can:
1) Become stronger and wiser.
2) live with greater presence, intention, and meaning.
3) love more deeply, filled with gratitude and
4) use our loss for a grater, higher purpose.
5) our journey through life, love and loss are unique and personal but it is my hope this book can give you some comfort or companionship along the way.
6) know that the loss of a loved one is not the end, instead, it is an opportunity to pause and reflect on your life, who you are and where you want to be.
what is grief?
- “ grief never ends…but it changes. It’s a passage, not a place to stay. grief is not a sign of weakness, nor a lack of faith …it is the price of love”. Author Unknown.
- love and loss are inevitable parts of life. just as seasons change, the landscapes of our lives change, too.
- we all grieve and experience intense emotional pain and heartbreak, whether due to death, divorce or the loss of significant relationship. Although seemingly different, grief, love and loss unite these common experiences.
Recognizing Grief:
- “It can be difficult to realize that what we are experiencing is grief, in its most intense form, grief is most often associated with the death of a loved one. however, any love can cause grief the loss of a lover, a partner, time with children, friends, family, plans and dreams for the future-even if the loss was anticipated, or in the cases of some divorces and breakups, wanted.
- Grief and loss are very real, no matter what the cause, unfortunately, grief can often go unacknowledged, with many people overlooking the grief central to losing a loved one.
- Indeed, grief is messy, particularly when we have lost a significant parson from our lives, as this often comes with much uncertainly. wisdoms face an unknown future alone. Divorces may hold out hope for reconciliation until the papers are final.
- when we are faced with the loss of a loved one can delay, interrupt, intensify, or prolong our feelings of grief.
The Emotional Terrain of grief:
- This roller coaster of emotion is normal. as such, it is natural to experience the following emotions when grieving:
Shock: when we are sad, life feels empty. Ti is as if we are existing in avoid …we feel broken and it is all we can do to breathe.
Anger: anger may arise abruptly and without warning, we may feel angry with the person we lost or at well-intentioned family members, friends or strangers who try to comfort is. the force of our anger may surprise us.
Guilt: Guilt is a strong emotion that occurs when we consider different actions we could have taken or not taken to prevent the loss of our love.
Fear: Facing a strange, new world, we feel terrified we have lost our identity and our central understanding of the world.
Yearning: there is a deep longing for our loved one to be with us. we want to see their smile, healthier laugh, and feel their arms around us again, we continue to look them in our lives, hoping to be in their presence once more.
Loneliness: Loneliness brings its own kind of pain. we miss the person we have lost. we ache for their companionship and the feeling of belonging we had when we were with them. We feel alone in the world. It feels as if no one understands or knows what to say to us.
Physical and cognitive symptoms of grief:
- As emotions are connected to the body and mind, when we are faced with loss, we may also experience physical symptoms, such as fatigue, nausea, aches and pain, difficulty, nightmares, a weakened immune system, increased blood pressure and risk of heart attack, and changes in appetite.
- Changes in our thought patterns may also occur, such as increased negative thinking, inability to concentrate, indecisiveness, slower mental processing and rumination on the past.
The Nature of grief and loss:
- Emotion is not simply just an emotion; it is also the intensity and the frequency with which it is experienced and the way in which it affects our daily lives.
- Like a painting with beautiful subtle shifts and gradations, emotion colors our lives. There are few times. in life when this is truer than after losing someone you love .
Relentlessness:
- The emotions of grief are relentless- Although the ache may dull with time, the pain of loss is always there.
- John Irving illustrates this feeling in his novel a prayer for Owen Meany:
1. When some you love dies, and you are not expecting it, you don’t lose her all at once; you lose her in pieces over a longtime- the way the mail stops coming and her scent fades from the pillows and even from the closet and drawers.
2. When there’s a particular missing part that over whelms you with the feeling that she’s gone, forever _ there comes another’s day, and another specifically missing part.
Contents:
- Introduction
1) what is grief?
2) Embrace grief and vulnerability
3) Cultivate connection
4) love and nourish yourself
5) Explore spirituality
6) love in New Way
7) Learn and grow
8) Find Meaning and purpose
- Attester from Me to you
- Free book resources
- About the Author
- Acknowledgements
- Notes.
Introduction:
- Although grief is painful, we can experience it as a positive, life changing journey, we can heal from our devastation, shock, fear and despair, and return to life again, only this time more fiercely vulnerably, and whole heartedly-more connected to the love that surrounds us.
- Although painful the grief resulting from the loss of a loved one can serve as a catalyst for positive change and inner growth grief, we can:
1) Become stronger and wiser.
2) live with greater presence, intention, and meaning.
3) love more deeply, filled with gratitude and
4) use our loss for a grater, higher purpose.
5) our journey through life, love and loss are unique and personal but it is my hope this book can give you some comfort or companionship along the way.
6) know that the loss of a loved one is not the end, instead, it is an opportunity to pause and reflect on your life, who you are and where you want to be.
what is grief?
- “ grief never ends…but it changes. It’s a passage, not a place to stay. grief is not a sign of weakness, nor a lack of faith …it is the price of love”. Author Unknown.
- love and loss are inevitable parts of life. just as seasons change, the landscapes of our lives change, too.
- we all grieve and experience intense emotional pain and heartbreak, whether due to death, divorce or the loss of significant relationship. Although seemingly different, grief, love and loss unite these common experiences.
Recognizing Grief:
- “It can be difficult to realize that what we are experiencing is grief, in its most intense form, grief is most often associated with the death of a loved one. however, any love can cause grief the loss of a lover, a partner, time with children, friends, family, plans and dreams for the future-even if the loss was anticipated, or in the cases of some divorces and breakups, wanted.
- Grief and loss are very real, no matter what the cause, unfortunately, grief can often go unacknowledged, with many people overlooking the grief central to losing a loved one.
- Indeed, grief is messy, particularly when we have lost a significant parson from our lives, as this often comes with much uncertainly. wisdoms face an unknown future alone. Divorces may hold out hope for reconciliation until the papers are final.
- when we are faced with the loss of a loved one can delay, interrupt, intensify, or prolong our feelings of grief.
The Emotional Terrain of grief:
- This roller coaster of emotion is normal. as such, it is natural to experience the following emotions when grieving:
Shock: when we are sad, life feels empty. Ti is as if we are existing in avoid …we feel broken and it is all we can do to breathe.
Anger: anger may arise abruptly and without warning, we may feel angry with the person we lost or at well-intentioned family members, friends or strangers who try to comfort is. the force of our anger may surprise us.
Guilt: Guilt is a strong emotion that occurs when we consider different actions we could have taken or not taken to prevent the loss of our love.
Fear: Facing a strange, new world, we feel terrified we have lost our identity and our central understanding of the world.
Yearning: there is a deep longing for our loved one to be with us. we want to see their smile, healthier laugh, and feel their arms around us again, we continue to look them in our lives, hoping to be in their presence once more.
Loneliness: Loneliness brings its own kind of pain. we miss the person we have lost. we ache for their companionship and the feeling of belonging we had when we were with them. We feel alone in the world. It feels as if no one understands or knows what to say to us.
Physical and cognitive symptoms of grief:
- As emotions are connected to the body and mind, when we are faced with loss, we may also experience physical symptoms, such as fatigue, nausea, aches and pain, difficulty, nightmares, a weakened immune system, increased blood pressure and risk of heart attack, and changes in appetite.
- Changes in our thought patterns may also occur, such as increased negative thinking, inability to concentrate, indecisiveness, slower mental processing and rumination on the past.
The Nature of grief and loss:
- Emotion is not simply just an emotion; it is also the intensity and the frequency with which it is experienced and the way in which it affects our daily lives.
- Like a painting with beautiful subtle shifts and gradations, emotion colors our lives. There are few times. in life when this is truer than after losing someone you love .
Relentlessness:
- The emotions of grief are relentless- Although the ache may dull with time, the pain of loss is always there.
- John Irving illustrates this feeling in his novel a prayer for Owen Meany:
1. When some you love dies, and you are not expecting it, you don’t lose her all at once; you lose her in pieces over a longtime- the way the mail stops coming and her scent fades from the pillows and even from the closet and drawers.
2. When there’s a particular missing part that over whelms you with the feeling that she’s gone, forever _ there comes another’s day, and another specifically missing part.
August 4, 2018
Self-help is not a genre I'd normally gravitate toward. Not that I feel I'm above it or anything - and I've had enough experiences in my life to convince me to ask for help when I need it - I'm just not sure how much of it relates to me directly. However, about two years ago (though it seems much more recent), my romantic partner of six years broke off our relationship without any warning or explanation and refuses to speak to me; since then I've felt lost and floundering. So when this book popped up in the Goodreads giveaways, I decided to enter the contest and won a copy. However, nothing in this book really helped me. I read it slowly, a chapter at a time, and then put it aside for days afterwards. Rather than helping me to grieve, most of what I read merely brought back (more intense) feelings of loss and despair. Most of the advice provided here struck me as very "common sense" and not terribly in depth or unique; I felt like I'd heard it all before. I couldn't find anything to help my situation, which is what I hoped I'd get from this book. I'm sure others will find something of value to take away from the book; it just didn't work for me.
March 21, 2019
One of the Best books on Grief and Loss
This book is one of the best books for dealing with grief and loss. I have read a lot of books dealing with loss and this book helped me a lot with life. A lot of helpful resources and advice! When I'm feeling low in life I come back and read thru the pages. Thank you to the Author and Doctor for writing this book!!! Highly recommend this book!!
This book is one of the best books for dealing with grief and loss. I have read a lot of books dealing with loss and this book helped me a lot with life. A lot of helpful resources and advice! When I'm feeling low in life I come back and read thru the pages. Thank you to the Author and Doctor for writing this book!!! Highly recommend this book!!
May 2, 2025
One of the best books on grief I have read. This book not only addresses the grief of losing a loved one through death, but also through divorce or a breakup. The author is able to reframe and allow individuals to feel validated instead of crazy for the grief of losing a significant other through divorce or break up. Allows the reader to acknowledge the love they felt was real and to allow them to grieve that love as a someone who was meaningful in their life.
December 20, 2017
There are so many good quotes, explanations, tips and other books mentioned in this book, that it is impossible to sum them up for a review!
I received a copy and this is my honest and voluntary review
I received a copy and this is my honest and voluntary review
December 27, 2017
Electronic copy received from NetGalley in exchange for review
Easy-to-read brief resource for personal use or for students of counselling or such. Plenty of quotes inserted which relate well to the text. Offers valid information and strategies to aid through the grief process.
Easy-to-read brief resource for personal use or for students of counselling or such. Plenty of quotes inserted which relate well to the text. Offers valid information and strategies to aid through the grief process.
January 24, 2021
Thoughtful
Nothing truly new but cogently put together to help the grieving figure out what will best show them a way forward. You only grieve what you have loved, and love is a gift.
Nothing truly new but cogently put together to help the grieving figure out what will best show them a way forward. You only grieve what you have loved, and love is a gift.
May 21, 2022
It's about A death
As I read this book, I lost my inner child to abuse. He parished and I never acknowledged him when he died. Eddie was lost in hate and loneliness. Thank you for opening my eyes and heart to seeing that Eddie was extremely special.💝💝
As I read this book, I lost my inner child to abuse. He parished and I never acknowledged him when he died. Eddie was lost in hate and loneliness. Thank you for opening my eyes and heart to seeing that Eddie was extremely special.💝💝
December 1, 2022
Excellent perspective
This was a very easy read, understandable, a fresh perspective on grief, insightful, with solid options to try, as well as contemplative questions to make you stop and think. Thank you it was very helpful.
This was a very easy read, understandable, a fresh perspective on grief, insightful, with solid options to try, as well as contemplative questions to make you stop and think. Thank you it was very helpful.
January 1, 2018
Great book. Highly recommend this book.
December 26, 2017
Timely read for the holidays!
Very insightful information written in a very understandable way. Some suggestions I already have in place; others I will consider.
Very insightful information written in a very understandable way. Some suggestions I already have in place; others I will consider.
May 10, 2018
Easy to read, great quotes, thoughtful recommendations. If you have lost a loved one, I recommend reading this.
January 7, 2020
A good start
I started reading this book on a plane, finished it within 2 days, it’s a great start for those of us starting a new journey of healing
I started reading this book on a plane, finished it within 2 days, it’s a great start for those of us starting a new journey of healing
January 28, 2023
Great read
What a great read, everything mentioned was spot on and true. Definitely worth reading. It helped me for sure. Bless you all.
What a great read, everything mentioned was spot on and true. Definitely worth reading. It helped me for sure. Bless you all.
February 17, 2023
Quick and easy read with a lot of takeaways.
Quick and easy - lots of takeaways. Provided different ways to process grief while also ensuring you there is no right or wrong way.
Quick and easy - lots of takeaways. Provided different ways to process grief while also ensuring you there is no right or wrong way.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews