Grief Grower

Not sure what to say to someone grieving during the holidays? These 12 simple text messages are a powerful way to show care, even when you're not sure what to say.

You'll learn:

• How to avoid common clichés like "Let me know if you need anything" or "You have so much to be thankful for!"

• How to validate your friend's pain without trying to fix it

• How you can offer presence via text without pressure for your griever to respond

• How to gently remind them grief won't always feel this hard

Pre-order my new book, Of Course I'm Here Right Now: Three Actually Helpful Things to Say to Someone Grieving: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/of-course-im-here-right-now

Join me LIVE in Chicago (October) and LA (November): https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/events

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Get FREE grief workshops, quizzes, and so much more on my website: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/links

Keep Grief Grower ad-free by becoming a Patreon supporter: https://www.patreon.com/shelbyforsythia

Join my online course + community, Life After Loss Academy: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/life-after-loss-academy

Listen to more episodes of Grief Grower and submit a question for the show: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/grief-grower-podcast

Making a major choice after loss can feel impossible. Grief scrambles your brain and makes every option feel like the wrong one. I'll share some grounded tools to help you weigh options, consider best- and worst-case scenarios, and make compassionate choices you can trust.

You'll learn:

• Why "don't make any major decisions for at least a year after loss" isn't always realistic

• Three practical ways to make big decisions while grieving

• How to ease fear of regret and find clarity in the fog of loss

Pre-order my new book, Of Course I'm Here Right Now: Three Actually Helpful Things to Say to Someone Grieving: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/of-course-im-here-right-now

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Get FREE grief workshops, quizzes, and so much more on my website: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/links

Keep Grief Grower ad-free by becoming a Patreon supporter: https://www.patreon.com/shelbyforsythia

Join my online course + community, Life After Loss Academy: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/life-after-loss-academy

Listen to more episodes of Grief Grower, view episode transcripts, and submit a question for the show: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/grief-grower-podcast

What do you do with the dreams that come after loss? In this conversation with grief dreams expert Dr. Joshua Black, we talk about why grief shows up while we're sleeping, what these dreams might be trying to tell us, and how they can offer connection, clarity, and even comfort in the wake of death.

Together we explore:

• The 3 types of grief dreams and how to recognize them

• How to invite a dream of your person (even if it hasn't happened yet)

• Why dream dictionaries can confuse more than clarify

• How to interpret grief dreams in personal, meaningful ways

• Pop culture examples of grief dreams in film, TV, and music

Learn more about grief dreams, listen to the Grief Dreams Podcast, and join Joshua's grief dreams group: griefdreams.ca

Pre-order my new book, Of Course I'm Here Right Now: Three Actually Helpful Things to Say to Someone Grieving: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/of-course-im-here-right-now

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Get FREE grief workshops, quizzes, and so much more on my website: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/links

Keep Grief Grower ad-free by becoming a Patreon supporter: https://www.patreon.com/shelbyforsythia

Join my online course + community, Life After Loss Academy: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/life-after-loss-academy

Listen to more episodes of Grief Grower, view episode transcripts, and submit a question for the show: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/grief-grower-podcast

"I'm sorry for your loss" is one of the most common phrases people say to grievers after a loss—but does it really help? I explore why it often falls flat and share what grieving people actually want to hear.

You'll discover:

• Why we default to "I'm sorry for your loss" in the first place

• How this phrase can unintentionally feel empty or obligatory

• Real examples of how grievers experience these words

• What to say instead that brings comfort, connection, and care

Pre-order my new book, Of Course I'm Here Right Now: Three Actually Helpful Things to Say to Someone Grieving: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/of-course-im-here-right-now

...

Get FREE grief workshops, quizzes, and so much more on my website: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/links

Keep Grief Grower ad-free by becoming a Patreon supporter: https://www.patreon.com/shelbyforsythia

Join my online course + community, Life After Loss Academy: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/life-after-loss-academy

Listen to more episodes of Grief Grower, view episode transcripts, and submit a question for the show: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/grief-grower-podcast

Have you ever felt like you're grieving not just a loss, but grieving grief itself? In this episode, I introduce the term "meta grief"—the invisible sorrow that comes from being tired of grieving, worn down by ongoing tragedy, or overwhelmed by the endlessness of loss. If you've felt grief fatigue or wondered how long this will last, this episode is for you.

You'll learn:

• What meta grief means and why I created the term

• How grief fatigue, burnout, and despair show up in everyday life

• Why it's normal to feel overwhelmed by ongoing personal or global loss

• The hidden grief of knowing there's always more grief to come

• How to cope when you're sick and tired of grieving

Pre-order my new book, Of Course I'm Here Right Now: Three Actually Helpful Things to Say to Someone Grieving:https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/of-course-im-here-right-now

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Get FREE grief workshops, quizzes, and so much more on my website: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/links

Keep Grief Grower ad-free by becoming a Patreon supporter: https://www.patreon.com/shelbyforsythia

Join my online course + community, Life After Loss Academy: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/life-after-loss-academy

Listen to more episodes of Grief Grower, view episode transcripts, and submit a question for the show: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/grief-grower-podcast

Sometimes grief is too big for plain language. I'm sharing six powerful grief metaphors—from the "Ball in the Box" to "grief butter" to my own "dressing room"—that give shape and words to what life after loss feels like. These images can help you explain your grief, validate your experience, and feel a little more understood.

You'll hear:

• Why metaphors help make sense of overwhelming emotions

• 6 powerful metaphors for grief (and where they came from)

• How to use metaphors to share your experience with others

• Ways these images can validate your life after loss

See the six grief metaphors in action on this week's blog: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/blog-archive/6-powerful-grief-metaphors-that-help-you-make-sense-of-life-after-loss

Pre-order my new book, Of Course I'm Here Right Now: Three Actually Helpful Things to Say to Someone Grieving:https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/of-course-im-here-right-now

...

Get FREE grief workshops, quizzes, and so much more on my website: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/links

Keep Grief Grower ad-free by becoming a Patreon supporter: https://www.patreon.com/shelbyforsythia

Join my online course + community, Life After Loss Academy: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/life-after-loss-academy

Listen to more episodes of Grief Grower, view episode transcripts, and submit a question for the show: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/grief-grower-podcast

You don't need to be a therapist to support someone grieving. In this episode, discover why presence matters more than credentials and how to show up with confidence, even when you feel unqualified.

You'll hear:

• Why "comforter imposter syndrome" is so common

• How grievers often find the deepest support outside therapy

• Three questions to ask to boost your comforter confidence

• Practical ways to offer care without overthinking it

Pre-order my new book, Of Course I'm Here Right Now: Three Actually Helpful Things to Say to Someone Grieving: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/of-course-im-here-right-now

Join Life After Loss Academy FREE for one month with code GRIEFGROWER: https://life-after-loss-academy.circle.so/checkout/life-after-loss-academy-membership?coupon_code=Griefgrower

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Get FREE grief workshops, quizzes, and so much more on my website: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/links

Keep Grief Grower ad-free by becoming a Patreon supporter: https://www.patreon.com/shelbyforsythia

Join my online course + community, Life After Loss Academy: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/life-after-loss-academy

Listen to more episodes of Grief Grower, view episode transcripts, and submit a question for the show: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/grief-grower-podcast

What makes a "good death" for a beloved pet—and how do you grieve when society says, "It was just an animal"? Jana DeCristofaro of The Dougy Center joins me to explore pet grief, creating meaningful end-of-life rituals, and how to keep honoring your animal companion after they die.

You'll hear:

• What a "good death" for a pet might look like

• Why pet grief can feel even bigger or more profound than human loss

• How to break the stigma of memorializing pets on social media

Explore grief support and resources from Dougy Center: The National Grief Center for Grieving Children & Families: https://www.dougy.org/

Download Dougy Center's FREE 4-page guide for pet loss: https://www.dougy.org/assets/uploads/DoveLewis-Dougy-Center_After-the-death-of-a-companion-animal.pdf

Pre-order my new book, Of Course I'm Here Right Now: Three Actually Helpful Things to Say to Someone Grieving: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/of-course-im-here-right-now

Join Life After Loss Academy FREE for one month with code GRIEFGROWER: https://life-after-loss-academy.circle.so/checkout/life-after-loss-academy-membership?coupon_code=Griefgrower

...

Get FREE grief workshops, quizzes, and so much more on my website: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/links

Keep Grief Grower ad-free by becoming a Patreon supporter: https://www.patreon.com/shelbyforsythia

Join my online course + community, Life After Loss Academy: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/life-after-loss-academy

Listen to more episodes of Grief Grower, view episode transcripts, and submit a question for the show: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/grief-grower-podcast

Discover how Life After Loss Academy has transformed the lives of grieving people facing death, divorce, diagnosis, and other major life changes. I share five real student stories and the healing they experienced through live coaching, supportive community, and the GRIEF Method program.

You'll hear:

• How Lori honored her daughter's memory while setting healthy boundaries

• Why Chris, a therapist, gained new tools to support both herself and her clients

• How Julia found stability and a grief-friendly workplace during the COVID-19 pandemic

• How Tammy embraced grief as a companion after divorce and empty nest

• How Kim rebuilt her identity after years of back-to-back loss

Whether you're wondering if Life After Loss Academy is right for you or curious about whether this grief support program can truly work for you, these stories show what's possible when you have practical tools and a compassionate community.

Pre-order my new book, Of Course I'm Here Right Now: Three Actually Helpful Things to Say to Someone Grieving: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/of-course-im-here-right-now

Join Life After Loss Academy FREE for one month with code GRIEFGROWER: https://life-after-loss-academy.circle.so/checkout/life-after-loss-academy-membership?coupon_code=Griefgrower

...

Get FREE grief workshops, quizzes, and so much more on my website: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/links

Keep Grief Grower ad-free by becoming a Patreon supporter: https://www.patreon.com/shelbyforsythia

Join my online course + community, Life After Loss Academy: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/life-after-loss-academy

Listen to more episodes of Grief Grower, view episode transcripts, and submit a question for the show: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/grief-grower-podcast

When loss shatters your life, "rebuilding" can feel impossible—especially if it means leaving your person behind. But what if you don't have to "get over" your grief to move forward? I'll cover what rebuilding after loss really means, and how to carry your grief with you into a life that still holds peace, purpose, and joy.

You'll learn:

• What rebuilding after loss actually looks and feels like

• Why the phrase "get over it" often causes more harm than healing

• A new way to think about grief as a lifelong companion

• How to rebuild your life without erasing the past

Pre-order my new book, Of Course I'm Here Right Now: Three Actually Helpful Things to Say to Someone Grieving: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/of-course-im-here-right-now

Join Life After Loss Academy FREE for one month with code GRIEFGROWER: https://life-after-loss-academy.circle.so/checkout/life-after-loss-academy-membership?coupon_code=Griefgrower

...

Get FREE grief workshops, quizzes, and so much more on my website: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/links

Keep Grief Grower ad-free by becoming a Patreon supporter: https://www.patreon.com/shelbyforsythia

Join my online course + community, Life After Loss Academy: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/life-after-loss-academy

Listen to more episodes of Grief Grower, view episode transcripts, and submit a question for the show: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/grief-grower-podcast