Katie Rössler has been working as a licensed counselor and grief healer for over 12 years. Currently based in Germany, she helps people from all over live healthier and happier lives. In today's episode, she shares strategies you can adopt during the holidays when things feel very tough, especially if you feel like you have this external (or internal) pressure to look like you have it all together.

Key Takeaways:

• Katie is not new to grief. She shares her grief story.
• When you go through grief, it touches you in a different way. Beyond what the books can teach you.
• Most of us have a grief story that we're still stuck on and haven't worked through.
• We often try to avoid our problems and not face them. We go into an escape to help soothe us.
• Katie identified that food was one of her coping mechanisms. When she was able to clean them up, she felt better and could focus more on what was inside of her that she was trying to avoid.
• The holidays provide us an easy out for us to escape.
• What kind of signs should you look out for?
• People don't really know how to respond to your grief.
• Katie's grief about her mother didn't take a toll on her until after the holidays and it took the family by surprise.
• How would Katie help someone struggling with family dynamics?
• Don't let emotional manipulation from your family stop you from doing what's best for you.
• Find visuals that work for you so that you can protect yourself and your own boundaries.
• Forgiveness doesn't mean you're just letting things go and having it go back to normal, it means you're learning.
• How do you honor your loved one around the holiday season?
• How do you also get through the holiday season as a parent and show up a certain way for your kids?
• You're creating new memories for your kids. It's important to show up, but also take space for you and your emotional needs.
• Katie shares how someone can get through their first holiday, or first year, without their loved one.
• Allow yourself to break down. Reach out for help if you need it. Really make space for your grief.
• If it's been a couple of years without your loved one, give yourself grace.
• Crying is not a weakness.
• Your loved ones really do want you to live your best life.
• Katie shares her final thoughts on how you can best manage your grief during the holidays.

Resources:

Katierossler.com