Sometimes in grief, you feel like you're doing better.

You're getting through the day. You're sleeping more. Maybe you've started to reconnect with parts of your life again.

And then, out of nowhere, a wave hits.

It can feel like you're right back where you started.

In this episode of the Mindfulness & Grief Podcast, Heather Stang and Amanda Palermo explore Step 5 of the Mindfulness & Grief System: Getting Unstuck.

This step speaks to that common experience of feeling stuck in grief, and gently reframes it. Because most of the time, you're not actually stuck. You're moving through a process that is not linear, predictable, or easy.

Heather and Amanda talk about the "boomerang" nature of grief, why waves come back even when you thought you were doing better, and how the belief that you should be progressing can add another layer of suffering.

They also share practical ways to shift your perspective, including working with the five mental hindrances, expressive arts, and journaling practices that help create movement when things feel heavy or stuck.

You will learn:

• Why grief can feel like it's going backward • What "being stuck" in grief really means • How to shift your perspective when nothing seems to change • The five mental hindrances and how they show up in grief • How expressive arts can help release what feels stuck • A powerful journaling practice using different points of view • Why "appreciation" may feel more supportive than gratitude in grief

This episode is not about fixing your grief or forcing progress.

It is about understanding your experience in a new way, and creating space for movement, even when things feel stuck.

If you've ever thought, "I was doing so well, why does this feel so hard again?" this conversation is for you.

🧘 Timestamps:

00:00 Feeling "stuck" in grief 01:30 The boomerang metaphor 03:15 "But I was doing so well" 05:00 Why grief isn't linear 07:30 The myth of progress in grief 10:00 Acceptance vs fighting the process 13:00 Tasks of mourning vs stages of grief 16:00 What it really means to get unstuck 18:30 The five mental hindrances 22:00 Longing, resistance, and anxiety 26:00 Exhaustion and doubt in grief 30:00 The yoga philosophy perspective 33:00 Grief as energy that needs to move 36:30 Seasons of grief 40:00 Expressive arts and grief landscapes 45:00 Amanda's canvas practice 52:00 Releasing what feels stuck 56:00 Journaling from different perspectives 1:02:00 Writing from a compassionate voice 1:06:00 Appreciation vs gratitude 1:10:00 Closing reflections

Resources and links:

🌿 Full show notes: https://heatherstang.com/podcast/

💜 Join Awaken Grief Support (Free 14-day trial): https://heatherstang.com/grief-group/

🎓 Mindfulness & Grief Coach Certification: https://heatherstang.com/mindfulness-grief-coach-certification/

🎥 Free Living With Grief Workshop: https://heatherstang.com/living-with-grief-workshop/