Seven Choices: Finding Daylight after Loss Shatters Your World

by Elizabeth Harper Neeld

Inspiring, profound, intimate, and moving, this updated edition of the classic self-help book brings solace, hope, and advice to anyone who has suffered loss.Everyone experiences grief, but few books offer real help with the debilitating emotions of bereavement. Now, an internationally respected authority on personal change maps the terrain between life as it was and life as it can be. Readers can move at their own pace through the seven distinct phases of loss and can work towards a stronger, more balanced self. The author's own story of the loss of a young husband, combined with the tales of dozens of individuals, and the most recent research on coping with loss, helps readers to become happier, healthier, and wiser beings.

Genres: Grief, Nonfiction, Self Help, Relationships

482 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[bup · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe not the first book one should read while grieving, but a second or third.

Even though I'm very early in the process of mourning, and am scared of the fact that the next part of my life, however long, will be a process of grieving, the book gives me hope.

The title of the book gives a good sense - to get through your grief, one can't just feel sad until one doesn't. There are choices to be made, and active processes to engage in, to get to 'the other side.' Some of the processes suck, to be sure, but at least one gets a sense of hope of what waits when it's over.

Death of a loved one (and the author, like me, lost a spouse at a fairly young age) is horrible, but I don't see how one can deal with it and not grow. I'll miss Susan forever, of course, but she's coming with me too. Working to make a statement like that a reality is where this book really excels.

[James E. Geis · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a registered nurse with over 35 years experience at the time of my wife's death, I thought that I was going to be ready for this unimaginable event. I was completely and utterly unprepared.
I found this book to be very insightful with the catastrophic loss of a loved one and the journey of recovery.
Recovery is neither pain free or without effort, it requires choices.

[Ariana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helping a little bit.

[Mary Frances · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is the first book on grief I've read that really rings true to me- the work of a person who seems to feel and react as I do. I expect I will return to it again.

[Bob Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before I retired, I had a little lending library, for borrowing by my clients. This included three copies of Seven Choices, because it was appropriate reading to deal with all sources of serious grief, not only that due to death. This book shaped my practice, and my nonfiction writing.

Since I am now writing a book on grief myself, I searched my bookshelves, but all three copies had walked. It is a compliment that three separate clients “forgot” to return them. So, I had to buy another copy, and now have the pleasure of reading it once more.

It is that perfect self-help book: passionate, emotional, reflecting the author’s personal experience, while being completely science-based and authoritative.

If you are suffering grief, as so many people are, or want to offer support to people who have experienced losses, you must read this book. And even in the unlikely event that you don’t, Seven Choices is so well written that it is worth reading as a literary gem.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I have ever read about mourning. Grief can be healing, an opportunity for growth, but only if one is able to do the work. Time does not heal all wounds. It's what we do with time. Dr. Neeld has written an excellent book about what we can do, when we are feeling so lost that it seems there is nothing one can do at all. Death is a gift...because it allows us to make the most use of our precious time. But we need guides, like Dr. Neeld, so we can not just survive loss, but thrive.

[Brooke Folk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book not only helped me mourn death but other types of loss. Loss of friendships, absense of a parent, and many other types if loss I’ve encountered.
When my grandparents passed it was a type of grief that I’ve never experienced before and it brought up to the surface everything else I never dealt with. Things I didn’t know I needed to deal with or even how to sort them out. This book really helped me. I give many thanks to the author. I also give thanks to my Lord and savior Jesus Christ who has been my constant support, my rock, in good times and trials.

[Bryan Neuschwander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uncle Dave recommended this book to me a couple of years ago. I'm glad he did.

He always had the best book recommendations.

I think it's probably good too that I can read the book now without bawling.

Also, this book has at least two typos, something else I couldn't see when he recommended it to me.

[Jo Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good.

[Janet Sutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

An abbreviated copy of this book was given to me after Mark died. I found it so helpful that I bought the full version. It was my companion on the grief journey. I found myself reading a section when I was at that phase of the journey. Not quite sure how that continued to happen but it did. It was helpful to have someone sharing experiences with me at a time when it was hard to put things together in my own life. I'm so grateful for this book!

[Debi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any one who has lost someone close to them needs to read this book.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not a book I'd recommend for casual reading. I found that when I was feeling fine, the book didn't resonate with me. It was only on the days when I was struggling that the material made sense.

[Lee rufenacht · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good book for anyone who has lost a loved one and is coping or trying to move on alone...

[Jinny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compelling story about the author's loss of her young spouse and how she went about beginning to live again. Bracing and thought-provoking.

[Erika Nerdypants · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book helped me recover from a loss during a very difficult time. I hope I never have to go through something like that again, but I'm keeping it close by.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book when you are lost or grieving. I highly recommend it.

[Molly Helm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful in dealing with loss.

[Susan Hamdan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a lifeline. Recommended by another widow when I was widowed.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book for someone dealing with grief.