when life feels hard

I was talking with a friend yesterday.

She’s going through an incredibly difficult grieving period.

Just deeply, deeply difficult.

We were talking about how navigating all the other relationships in life can feel extra hard when you’re grieving.

Grief is such a demanding emotion.

It can feel like it wants our attention every hour of every day.

It doesn’t leave room for much else sometimes.

When life gets hard, it can harden us.

We’re hurting and we want to feel safe, so build up a shell around us for protection.

But…

I’ve found that what we need when we’re deeply suffering is the opposite.

We need more softness.

More compassion. More acceptance. More grace.

First for ourselves and then for others as well.

This is next level work.

We naturally may want to harden in the face of vulnerability.

But instead, try softening.

Let someone else off the hook.

Let yourself off the hook.

Be easy. Be soft. Have more grace.

Let the love pour out of you even when you want to shut down.

This softening can be the pathway to your greatest healing.

Rebecca*