These 18 comforting quotes may help you cope after a loved one’s death

“Grief is really just love. It’s all the love you want to give and cannot. All that unspent love gathers up in the corners of your eyes, the lump in your throat, and the hollow part in your chest. Grief is just love with no place to go.” —Jamie Anderson, professional snowboarder

It’s not unusual to feel grief physically, inside your body, like a bruised heart or a choked-up throat. We mourn with our whole selves, so find ways to comfort yourself physically as well as emotionally. Seek out a warm hug or take a long walk.

“Sometimes I just look up, smile, and say ‘I know that was you!’” —Anonymous

Many people find comfort in speaking out loud or writing a letter to a loved one who has passed on. It helps you to articulate your feelings and work through them.

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“Depression is a feeling without a cause. Mourning has a cause.” —Edward Hirsch, poet

Grief and mourning are so much more than feeling sad. In fact, you can feel grief and joy and humour and anger – and a myriad of other feelings all at the same time. Feeling bad about your negative feelings will only make you feel worse. Identifying your feelings and the cause can help you work through them.

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“You will not get over a loss; you will learn to live with it. You will be whole again, but you will never be the same. Nor should you. Nor would you want to.” —Elizabeth Kubler Ross, author of On Grief and Grieving

People who tell you to “get over it” or “move on” may think they’re helping, but that’s not how mourning works. Continuing to feel pain or sadness doesn’t mean you’re broken.

“Death is not the opposite of life but a part of it.” —Haruki Murakami, author

Every society has birth and death rituals, and that’s because everyone on Earth has to come in and go out at some point. Recognising death as a fact of life can help it feel less frightening.

“We bereaved are not alone. We belong to the largest company in the world – those who have known suffering.” —Helen Keller, author and advocate

There are few things as healing as talking to someone else who has been through what you’re going through – and those people may not be your closest loved ones. Find a support group, in person or online, of people who understand your particular type of loss.

“Death gives us a challenge, to never waste our time. It reminds us to share our love with each other as much as possible.” —Leo Buscaglia, author

Suffering has a unique way of making us grateful for our blessings, big and small.

“Death is no more than passing from one room into another. But there’s a difference for me, you know. Because in that other room I shall be able to see.” —Helen Keller, author and advocate

You may find comfort in thinking about what your loved one may be doing or how they may be feeling now. Even if you don’t believe in an afterlife, it may be comforting to think they are no longer in pain.

“It’s an honour to be in grief. It’s an honour to feel that much, to have loved that much.” —Elizabeth Gilbert, author

Mourning someone’s loss is a testament to how loved and treasured they were in your life. It’s an honour to have been a part of their life, however briefly.

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Source: RD.com