| Meaning affects everything we do; and equally | | | | intercede to God for them. |
| important it affects the body as attested to by | | | | 4. Meaning derived from the belief that love never |
| the many examples of body-mind relationships, | | | | dies. Many who receive a contact from a |
| such as the placebo effect. Finding meaning in | | | | deceased loved one or a divine being interpret it |
| death is not always easy, and sometimes it is | | | | as an act of love. Their love for the deceased |
| hard to find. | | | | continues on as they reinvest in life and establish |
| However, the search for meaning when a loved | | | | a new, healthy, but different relationship. To feel |
| one dies can make the difference in how you | | | | loved and to give love when hurting is a little |
| cope with your loss and reinvest in life. The Swiss | | | | utilized but highly effective coping tool. |
| psychiatrist, Carl Jung, the founder of analytical | | | | 5. Meaning derived from the belief that there will |
| psychology, put it this way, Meaning makes a | | | | some day be a reunion with the deceased. Those |
| great many things endurableperhaps | | | | who believe in an afterlife, heaven, or receive an |
| everything. | | | | EE, are often convinced they will see their loved |
| Searching for meaning is useless early in your | | | | one again when they die. They have no fear of |
| grief; first give yourself time to express emotion | | | | death, and reinvest their energies in their present |
| and review the relationship. Eventually, make | | | | life. |
| every effort to find meaning in your loss. Here | | | | 6. Meaning derived from the belief that the loved |
| are seven considerations that have provided | | | | one is still giving comfort, caring, and providing |
| meaning for others after the death of a loved | | | | support. Even in death he/she is still giving and |
| one, and that may help you in your own search. | | | | caring, is the thought of many who sense the |
| 1. Meaning derived from the belief that there is a | | | | presence of their loved one when mourning. This |
| spirit world. Many people have reported | | | | is a profound example for them to emulate. |
| experiences that have convinced them there is a | | | | 7. Meaning derived from the belief that the |
| spirit world and an afterlife. The Near-Death | | | | deceased is whole and healthy in a different |
| Experience (NDE) has occurred to over 8 million | | | | existence. Many of the after death contacts that |
| people who report going through a tunnel, seeing | | | | the bereaved experience show the loved one |
| others who have predeceased them, and a | | | | whole and healthy again. They are grateful that |
| beautiful white light. | | | | the beloved is no longer in pain. |
| Others, who were mourning the death of a loved | | | | Obviously, there are many, many more ways |
| one, have experienced dreams, visions, and | | | | that individual mourners find meaning in the death |
| various synchronistic and symbolic events, called | | | | of their loved ones, which helps them integrate |
| Extraordinary Experiences (EEs). These events | | | | their losses into their lives. Much depends on the |
| provided comfort and enough evidence for them | | | | personal beliefs, nature of the relationship with the |
| to believe their loved ones live on in another | | | | deceased, and mode of death. The search for |
| existence. This had great influence on the course | | | | meaning is an important part of grief work for |
| of their grief work. | | | | most, and it frequently becomes a time when we |
| 2. Meaning derived from celebration of the life | | | | are open to revising our world views and beliefs |
| that was lived. This may include dedications, | | | | about life and death. |
| memorializations, carrying on a particular tradition, | | | | Sometimes trying to make sense out of the |
| or doing volunteer work in honor of the deceased. | | | | death seems fruitless. For example, how do you |
| Some survivors have started support groups, or | | | | find meaning in the death of four-month-old child |
| supported the newly bereaved in their community | | | | (this happened to me)? I eventually was able to |
| depending on their needs. | | | | come to terms with it. Still, searching for the |
| 3. Meaning derived from the belief that there is a | | | | cause of the experience and pulling meaning from |
| heaven and a hell. Many people who are grieving | | | | it with a trusted friend or relative is useful. We |
| find solace in their beliefs that their loved ones are | | | | need others at this time to be with us when we |
| in heaven with God. Also, many embrace the | | | | are in pain. Look for the right person as you try |
| doctrine of the Communion of Saints, where they | | | | to make sense of your loss. |
| can pray to their loved ones, and ask them to | | | | |