Navigating Grief and Loss: 25 Buddhist Practices to Keep Your Heart Open to Yourself and Others

by Kimberly Brown

NAVIGATING GRIEF AND LOSS is designed to support all of us through difficult and upsetting times. It's a relatable and useful guide with practical applications to help navigate the profound experience of loss, be it an elderly parent, succumbing to a lingering illness, the shock of an accidental death, a small business shuttered, a divorce after years of conflict, or euthanasia of a beloved pet. Each short chapter honestly describes a personal experience dealing with death or grief--staying at a hospice facility at my mother's bedside, feeling frustrated by the options for a terminally ill friend, navigating changed relationships after someone dies, the shock and shame of an unwanted divorce, managing the overwhelming pain of bereavement--and is followed by a brief practice--a meditation, exercise, or contemplation that readers can use to discover insights and truths and find some solace for their own struggles and sorrow.

Genres: Grief, Nonfiction, Buddhism, Audiobook, Spirituality, Self Help

208 pages, Paperback

Published November 1, 2022

Reviews

[Jen Oddo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is truly a book for all of us. Kim Brown captures the emotions and grief involved in loss by death, rejection by a job or person, a devastating breakup, losing one’s sense of self and happiness— any profound loss in the human experience. Kim provides a relatable and useful guide with holistic skills, tools, and anecdotes to move through the sticky parts of life filled with struggle and sorrow, and helps direct you into the light. Kim’s use of mindfulness and meta meditation throughout the book helps the reader to radically let go and find peace within themselves through practice. I highly recommend this book.

[Heather K Veitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book and its wisdom, its practices, has saved me several times over after 2023 started with deaths. Thank you, thank you, thank you. One I will return to over and over throughout my life.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good to listen to at night before bed to calm anxiety and feelings of despair. Exercises at end of each chapter are helpful. I borrowed this from the library, but might end up buying it.

[Mary-Margaret Kerns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kimberly Brown’s writing style and word choice make the content of ‘Navigating Grief and Loss’ exceptionally accessible. Each chapter narrative with following meditation practice provides an insightful pathway allowing personalization to the life circumstances of the reader. The chapter topics cover a wide range of content, but even what may be perceived as a less applicable chapter, the reader will find wisdom contributing to a greater understanding of grief and loss. A reader does not need to have practiced meditation nor be a Buddhist. The practices and teaching are accessible and applicable to all.

[Mhughessc · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost everyone these days is dealing with grief and loss, which encouraged me to pick up this book so I know best how to navigate these emotions. "Navigating Grief and Loss", by Kimberly Brown, gives 25 practices to deal with these feelings. I didn't realize that this book would be so deeply rooted in Buddhism when I requested it, but did find some helpful advice in this book. The book ends with some meditations and mantras, which some might find helpful.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Downloaded this to my Kindle last night and could not put it down. There is so much I can relate to in Kim's book, especially the chapter on grieving the loss of a pet is OKAY. I'm a hospice volunteer and sat with many dying people, including my husband and father. This book opened many wounds but it was good pain. I can use it going forward and will share the Buddhist practices when dealing with the bereaved. As I've said to many widows, grieve on your own schedule. Its okay if it takes years to get to acceptance. Thank you Kimberly.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great help in dealing with the most difficult challenge we face as human beings. Loss comes in many forms from the loss of possessions to the loss of life itself. Kimberly Brown's book provides very beautiful reflection on our reaction to loss and how Buddhist philosophy can help reduce the suffering we feel when we grieve. The meditations included in the book are very helpful in finding peace in midst of suffering.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book with practices to help deal with all kinds of grief and loss. I would highly recommend this as it is a kind, generous way to look at and manage all the feelings and overwhelm that come, and we all have gone through some kind of loss over the last few years. I am looking forward to continuing the practices as I do find them soothing. As one of the reviewers mentioned it is based in Buddhism and I still gave it to a friend of mine who isn't Buddhist and she loved it too!

[Mike Fazio · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciate the practices in this book. I will be returning to this again and again during my life. It is a very humble way to navigate loss. It is filled with practices and self love. Extremely grateful that this exists.

[Joe · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lot of vignettes, many personal, each followed by a meditation. Can’t remember which meditation goes with a specific type of grief. Even with a specific grief, the feelings change quickly.

Not what I was hoping for and not helpful.

[Barbara Schutt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful Buddhist view on how to navigate grief of all kinds, loss of loved ones, loss of a job, disappointments, etc. I lean towards Buddhism so I can relate to all of her teachings here. Well worth your time!

[Britt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good reads giveaway: absolutely loved this book. I recently lost someone and this just really helped put things into perspective

[Kathy Simas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I agree this book is a keeper. It touches on all types of grief and pain. I would highly recommend this book or give it to someone who is dealing with grief.