Journaling prompts for grief
I know, I know, a therapist who suggests journaling. How unique! Journaling is not for everyone — no intervention is one sized fits all — but these questions can be a beautiful place to start exploring your grief. I suggest setting the scene: get comfortable physically, open a new document and/or crack open a notebook, light a candle or a stick of incense, and see what comes out on the page. There is something special and important about externalizing your experience, getting it out of your head.
What do griefbursts (or grief attacks) look like for me? When and where did I last notice one showing up?
What secondary losses am I carrying alongside my grief? (Loss of self—identity, confidence, health; loss of security — emotional, physical, financial; loss of meaning — dreams, goals, joy, faith.) Which one or two feel most alive right now, and what do I want to write about them?
How do I feel about the idea of reconciling with grief, rather than “getting over” it?
What mantra or phrase can I return to when I feel overwhelmed by grief? Where might I place it so I can easily reach for it when I need it?
Does my gender identity shape the way I experience grief? In what ways, or not?
If I could tell my deceased person about my day, what would I share with them?
If I could forgive them for something, what would it be?
I feel closest to my loved one when…
How has grief shifted or reshaped my sense of God, spirituality, or the sacred?
In what ways am I noticing transformation through grief?
