The Grief Gurus

Grief is part of your story. But not the whole story.

Many grieving people are surprised to discover that feeling better can bring its own kind of pain.

A moment of laughter…
a sense of relief…
even glimpses of joy…
can suddenly trigger guilt, fear, or the feeling that you’re somehow leaving your loved one behind.

In this conversation, we explore why healing can feel emotionally complicated after loss and how grief and joy can exist together without canceling each other out.

Because loving someone deeply does not require you to suffer forever in order to prove they mattered.

👉 Follow for tools to navigate grief and difficult emotions and visit www.thegriefgurus.com for practical conversations about grief, coping, and living after loss.

#TheGriefGurus #CarolBanens #LisaMcFarland #healing #guilt-after-loss

Show Notes + Resources:

Grief Gurus Healing Community: www.thegriefgurus.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GriefGurus

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegriefgurus

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/griefgurus/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GriefGurus/

Lisa McFarland: https://lisamcfarland.com/

Carol Banens: https://carolbanens.com/

Information on books written and published by Lisa and Carol can be found on their individual websites, social media profiles and Amazon.

Grief is part of your story. But not the whole story.

There’s a profound shift that happens when you move from being a companion to becoming a caregiver.

The relationship changes.
The roles change.
And often, so does the emotional landscape.

In this chat, we talk about what it’s like when someone you love begins to rely on you for care — how it can affect connection, identity, and the way you show up for each other.

This transition can bring love, responsibility, exhaustion, tenderness, and even grief… all at the same time.

Because sometimes you’re not just being with the person you love anymore — you’re also holding so much of what they need.

👉 Follow for tools to navigate grief and difficult emotions and visit www.thegriefgurus.com for practical conversations about grief, coping, and living after loss.

#TheGriefGurus #CarolBanens #LisaMcFarland #healing #caregiver

Show Notes + Resources:

Grief Gurus Healing Community: www.thegriefgurus.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GriefGurus

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegriefgurus

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/griefgurus/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GriefGurus/

Lisa McFarland: https://lisamcfarland.com/

Carol Banens: https://carolbanens.com/

Information on books written and published by Lisa and Carol can be found on their individual websites, social media profiles and Amazon.

Grief is part of your story. But not the whole story.

“Are you over your grief yet?”

It’s a question many grieving people hear — directly or indirectly — and it can carry so much pressure, shame, and misunderstanding.

In this conversation, we explore why grief is not something you simply “get over,” how healing differs from forgetting, and what it can look like to build a meaningful life while still carrying love and loss together.

Because grief is not a finish line.
It’s a relationship, an experience, and often a lifelong integration of what mattered deeply.

👉 Follow for tools to navigate grief and difficult emotions and visit www.thegriefgurus.com for practical conversations about grief, coping, and living after loss.

#TheGriefGurus #CarolBanens #LisaMcFarland #healing

Show Notes + Resources:

Grief Gurus Healing Community: www.thegriefgurus.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GriefGurus

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegriefgurus

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/griefgurus/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GriefGurus/

Lisa McFarland: https://lisamcfarland.com/

Carol Banens: https://carolbanens.com/

Information on books written and published by Lisa and Carol can be found on their individual websites, social media profiles and Amazon.

Grief is part of your story. But not the whole story.

People love to say:
“Just wait until the second year…”

But what if that message creates more fear than comfort?

In this video, we explore why telling grieving people “the second year is harder” can feel discouraging—and why grief is too personal to predict.

Your grief is your own.
Not a script someone else hands you.

👉 Follow for tools to navigate grief and difficult emotions and visit www.thegriefgurus.com for practical conversations about grief, coping, and living after loss.

#TheGriefGurus #CarolBanens #LisaMcFarland #secondyearblues

Show Notes + Resources:

Grief Gurus Healing Community: www.thegriefgurus.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GriefGurus

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegriefgurus

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/griefgurus/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GriefGurus/

Lisa McFarland: https://lisamcfarland.com/

Carol Banens: https://carolbanens.com/

Information on books written and published by Lisa and Carol can be found on their individual websites, social media profiles and Amazon.

This episode contains curse words.

So many of us were taught to ignore, suppress, minimize, or “push through” our feelings. But healing often begins the moment we stop telling our emotions to “F” off and start getting honest about what’s really happening inside us.

In this guided meditation, we gently practice noticing our emotions without judgment, fixing, or forcing them away. This is an invitation to soften the fight with yourself and create space for honesty, compassion, and self-awareness.

Whether you’re grieving, overwhelmed, numb, angry, anxious, or simply exhausted, this meditation offers a grounded place to reconnect with yourself exactly as you are.

Show Notes + Resources:

Grief Gurus Healing Community: www.thegriefgurus.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GriefGurus

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegriefgurus

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/griefgurus/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GriefGurus/

Lisa McFarland: https://lisamcfarland.com/

Carol Banens: https://carolbanens.com/

Information on books written and published by Lisa and Carol can be found on their individual websites, social media profiles and Amazon.

Grief is part of your story, but not the whole story.

When someone you love is seriously ill or nearing the end of life, it’s common to experience anticipatory grief—grieving before the loss has happened.

But many people begin living through imagined future pain now, trying to predict how devastating it will feel. The truth is: you don’t fully know what the experience will be like until it happens.

In this video, we talk about the danger of borrowing pain from the future, while also honoring the importance of practical preparation.

We cover:
• What anticipatory grief really is
• Why imagining worst-case outcomes can increase suffering
• The difference between emotional fear and practical planning
• Important preparations like legal, financial, healthcare directives, and DNR decisions
• Why getting grief support before the loss can be incredibly helpful

If you’re caring for someone or facing an expected loss, this conversation is for you.

👉 Follow for more tools to navigate grief and difficult emotions and visit www.thegriefgurus.com for practical conversations about grief, coping, and living after loss.

#TheGriefGurus #CarolBanens #LisaMcFarland #healing

Show Notes + Resources:

Grief Gurus Healing Community: www.thegriefgurus.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GriefGurus

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegriefgurus

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/griefgurus/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GriefGurus/

Lisa McFarland: https://lisamcfarland.com/

Carol Banens: https://carolbanens.com/

Information on books written and published by Lisa and Carol can be found on their individual websites, social media profiles and Amazon.

Grief is part of your story. But not the whole story.

In this conversation, Lisa and Carol share what the Grief Gurus community is all about — a supportive space for women navigating grief, loss, and life after profound change.

We talk about the heart behind the community, the kinds of conversations and support we offer, and why feeling seen, understood, and less alone can make such a difference in grief.

Whether you’re newly grieving or years into your journey, we hope this gives you a sense of the warmth, connection, and compassion we aim to create together.

👉 Follow for tools to navigate grief and difficult emotions and visit www.thegriefgurus.com for practical conversations about grief, coping, and living after loss.

#TheGriefGurus #CarolBanens #LisaMcFarland #healing

Show Notes + Resources:

Grief Gurus Healing Community: www.thegriefgurus.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GriefGurus

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegriefgurus

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/griefgurus/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GriefGurus/

Lisa McFarland: https://lisamcfarland.com/

Carol Banens: https://carolbanens.com/

Information on books written and published by Lisa and Carol can be found on their individual websites, social media profiles and Amazon.

Grief is part of your story, but not the whole story.

Is asking for help in grief a sign of weakness?
It can feel that way sometimes.

Grief often comes with an unspoken pressure to “be strong,” to handle things on your own, or to not burden others. You might find yourself wondering if you should be doing better by now—or if needing support means something is wrong.

In this episode, we explore why asking for help can feel so difficult when you’re grieving, and what’s really underneath that hesitation.

We talk about:
• The pressure to appear strong
• The fear of being a burden
• Why vulnerability can feel uncomfortable in grief
• How to begin opening the door to support in a way that feels manageable

If you’ve been carrying grief on your own, this conversation is for you.

Practical conversations about grief, coping, and living after loss.

👉 Follow for more tools to navigate grief and difficult emotions and visit www.thegriefgurus.com for more support.

#TheGriefGurus #CarolBanens #LisaMcFarland #healing

Show Notes + Resources:

Grief Gurus Healing Community: www.thegriefgurus.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GriefGurus

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegriefgurus

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/griefgurus/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GriefGurus/

Lisa McFarland: https://lisamcfarland.com/

Carol Banens: https://carolbanens.com/

Information on books written and published by Lisa and Carol can be found on their individual websites, social media profiles and Amazon.

Sadness can feel heavy — and our instinct is often to brace against it, push it away, or try to “fix” it.

But what if allowing sadness, instead of resisting it, actually softens its intensity?

In this 15-minute guided meditation, you’ll be gently invited to notice, allow, and make space for sadness as it arises — without judgment, without urgency, and without needing it to go away.

This practice offers a supportive way to be with your emotions, helping you relate to sadness with more openness, compassion, and ease.

Find a quiet space, get comfortable, and take this time just for you.

Show Notes + Resources:

Grief Gurus Healing Community: www.thegriefgurus.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GriefGurus

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegriefgurus

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/griefgurus/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GriefGurus/

Lisa McFarland: https://lisamcfarland.com/

Carol Banens: https://carolbanens.com/

Information on books written and published by Lisa and Carol can be found on their individual websites, social media profiles and Amazon.

In this episode, we explore one of the most common questions people ask after loss: “Am I grieving the right way?”

The short answer is no—because there isn’t one right way to grieve.

Grief doesn’t follow a timeline, a checklist, or a set of rules. And comparing your experience to someone else’s can quietly add pressure, self-doubt, and even shame to an already difficult process.

In this conversation, we talk about:
• Why there is no “correct” way to grieve
• How comparison can interfere with your healing
• What it means to trust your own grief process

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re doing it “right,” this is for you.

Practical conversations about grief, coping, and living after loss.

👉 Follow for more tools to navigate grief and difficult emotions and visit www.thegriefgurus.com for more support.
#TheGriefGurus #CarolBanens #LisaMcFarland #healing

Show Notes + Resources:

Grief Gurus Healing Community: www.thegriefgurus.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GriefGurus

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegriefgurus

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/griefgurus/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GriefGurus/

Lisa McFarland: https://lisamcfarland.com/

Carol Banens: https://carolbanens.com/

Information on books written and published by Lisa and Carol can be found on their individual websites, social media profiles and Amazon.