Download or read book When Your Soulmate Dies written by Dr. Alan Wolfelt and published by Companion Press. This book was released on 2016-07-01 with total page 164 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: You were one of the lucky ones. You found a partner or friend with whom you shared a deeply profound connection. You understood, opened fully to, served, and challenged one another. You were the heroes of each other's lives. You lived a grand adventure together. But now that your partner has died, what felt like luck may have turned to wretched despair. How do you go on? How do you live without your champion and other half? The answer is that you mourn as you loved: heroically, grandly, and fully. In this compassionate guide by one of the world's most beloved grief counselors, you'll find empathetic affirmation and advice intermingled with real-life stories from other halved soulmates. Learn to honor your loved one and your grief even as you find a path to a renewed life of purpose and joy.

Download or read book Grieving a Soulmate written by Robert Orfali and published by Publish Green. This book was released on 2011-01-17 with total page 356 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The book every lover should read. "Orfali writes in a straightforward, often bullet-pointed style, but infuses it with intellectual seriousness and emotional depth. The result is both a useful guide to end-of-life issues and a profound reflection on their meaning. A heartening testament to the ability of love to transcend loss." --Kirkus Discoveries

Download or read book Heart Dog written by Roxanne Hawn and published by Champion of My Heart. This book was released on 2015-06 with total page 112 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The death of any dog is hard. The death of a Heart Dog - a canine soul mate - is much, much worse ... Even if you've experienced pet loss before, losing your canine soul mate is different. Typical grief advice isn't nearly enough. Heart Dog answers all the big questions about canine soul mates, offers practical ideas for coping with each day's dose of grief, and provides inspiration for finding your place in the world after such a profound loss. Others have survived the grief. You can too. Let Heart Dog be your guide.

Download or read book Modern Loss written by Rebecca Soffer and published by HarperCollins. This book was released on 2018-01-23 with total page 312 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Inspired by the website that the New York Times hailed as "redefining mourning," this book is a fresh and irreverent examination into navigating grief and resilience in the age of social media, offering comfort and community for coping with the mess of loss through candid original essays from a variety of voices, accompanied by gorgeous two-color illustrations and wry infographics. At a time when we mourn public figures and national tragedies with hashtags, where intimate posts about loss go viral and we receive automated birthday reminders for dead friends, it’s clear we are navigating new terrain without a road map. Let’s face it: most of us have always had a difficult time talking about death and sharing our grief. We’re awkward and uncertain; we avoid, ignore, or even deny feelings of sadness; we offer platitudes; we send sympathy bouquets whittled out of fruit. Enter Rebecca Soffer and Gabrielle Birkner, who can help us do better. Each having lost parents as young adults, they co-founded Modern Loss, responding to a need to change the dialogue around the messy experience of grief. Now, in this wise and often funny book, they offer the insights of the Modern Loss community to help us cry, laugh, grieve, identify, and—above all—empathize. Soffer and Birkner, along with forty guest contributors including Lucy Kalanithi, singer Amanda Palmer, and CNN’s Brian Stelter, reveal their own stories on a wide range of topics including triggers, sex, secrets, and inheritance. Accompanied by beautiful hand-drawn illustrations and witty "how to" cartoons, each contribution provides a unique perspective on loss as well as a remarkable life-affirming message. Brutally honest and inspiring, Modern Loss invites us to talk intimately and humorously about grief, helping us confront the humanity (and mortality) we all share. Beginners welcome.

Download or read book Continuing Bonds written by Dennis Klass and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2014-05-12 with total page 388 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: First published in 1996. This new book gives voice to an emerging consensus among bereavement scholars that our understanding of the grief process needs to be expanded. The dominant 20th century model holds that the function of grief and mourning is to cut bonds with the deceased, thereby freeing the survivor to reinvest in new relationships in the present. Pathological grief has been defined in terms of holding on to the deceased. Close examination reveals that this model is based more on the cultural values of modernity than on any substantial data of what people actually do. Presenting data from several populations, 22 authors - among the most respected in their fields - demonstrate that the health resolution of grief enables one to maintain a continuing bond with the deceased. Despite cultural disapproval and lack of validation by professionals, survivors find places for the dead in their on-going lives and even in their communities. Such bonds are not denial: the deceased can provide resources for enriched functioning in the present. Chapters examine widows and widowers, bereaved children, parents and siblings, and a population previously excluded from bereavement research: adoptees and their birth parents. Bereavement in Japanese culture is also discussed, as are meanings and implications of this new model of grief. Opening new areas of research and scholarly dialogue, this work provides the basis for significant developments in clinical practice in the field.

Download or read book Ambiguous Loss written by Pauline BOSS and published by Harvard University Press. This book was released on 2009-06-30 with total page 166 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When a loved one dies we mourn our loss. We take comfort in the rituals that mark the passing, and we turn to those around us for support. But what happens when there is no closure, when a family member or a friend who may be still alive is lost to us nonetheless? How, for example, does the mother whose soldier son is missing in action, or the family of an Alzheimer's patient who is suffering from severe dementia, deal with the uncertainty surrounding this kind of loss? In this sensitive and lucid account, Pauline Boss explains that, all too often, those confronted with such ambiguous loss fluctuate between hope and hopelessness. Suffered too long, these emotions can deaden feeling and make it impossible for people to move on with their lives. Yet the central message of this book is that they can move on. Drawing on her research and clinical experience, Boss suggests strategies that can cushion the pain and help families come to terms with their grief. Her work features the heartening narratives of those who cope with ambiguous loss and manage to leave their sadness behind, including those who have lost family members to divorce, immigration, adoption, chronic mental illness, and brain injury. With its message of hope, this eloquent book offers guidance and understanding to those struggling to regain their lives. Table of Contents: 1. Frozen Grief 2. Leaving without Goodbye 3. Goodbye without Leaving 4. Mixed Emotions 5. Ups and Downs 6. The Family Gamble 7. The Turning Point 8. Making Sense out of Ambiguity 9. The Benefit of a Doubt Notes Acknowledgments Reviews of this book: You will find yourself thinking about the issues discussed in this book long after you put it down and perhaps wishing you had extra copies for friends and family members who might benefit from knowing that their sorrows are not unique...This book's value lies in its giving a name to a force many of us will confront--sadly, more than once--and providing personal stories based on 20 years of interviews and research. --Pamela Gerhardt, Washington Post Reviews of this book: A compassionate exploration of the effects of ambiguous loss and how those experiencing it handle this most devastating of losses ... Boss's approach is to encourage families to talk together, to reach a consensus about how to mourn that which has been lost and how to celebrate that which remains. Her simple stories of families doing just that contain lessons for all. Insightful, practical, and refreshingly free of psychobabble. --Kirkus Review Reviews of this book: Engagingly written and richly rewarding, this title presents what Boss has learned from many years of treating individuals and families suffering from uncertain or incomplete loss...The obvious depth of the author's understanding of sufferers of ambiguous loss and the facility with which she communicates that understanding make this a book to be recommended. --R. R. Cornellius, Choice Reviews of this book: Written for a wide readership, the concepts of ambiguous loss take immediate form through the many provocative examples and stories Boss includes, All readers will find stories with which they will relate...Sensitive, grounded and practical, this book should, in my estimation, be required reading for family practitioners. --Ted Bowman, Family Forum Reviews of this book: Dr. Boss describes [the] all-too-common phenomenon [of unresolved grief] as resulting from either of two circumstances: when the lost person is still physically present but emotionally absent or when the lost person is physically absent but still emotionally present. In addition to senility, physical presence but psychological absence may result, for example, when a person is suffering from a serious mental disorder like schizophrenia or depression or debilitating neurological damage from an accident or severe stroke, when a person abuses drugs or alcohol, when a child is autistic or when a spouse is a workaholic who is not really 'there' even when he or she is at home...Cases of physical absence with continuing psychological presence typically occur when a soldier is missing in action, when a child disappears and is not found, when a former lover or spouse is still very much missed, when a child 'loses' a parent to divorce or when people are separated from their loved ones by immigration...Professionals familiar with Dr. Boss's work emphasised that people suffering from ambiguous loss were not mentally ill, but were just stuck and needed help getting past the barrier or unresolved grief so that they could get on with their lives. --Asian Age Combining her talents as a compassionate family therapist and a creative researcher, Pauline Boss eloquently shows the many and complex ways that people can cope with the inevitable losses in contemporary family life. A wise book, and certain to become a classic. --Constance R. Ahrons, author of The Good Divorce A powerful and healing book. Families experiencing ambiguous loss will find strategies for seeing what aspects of their loved ones remain, and for understanding and grieving what they have lost. Pauline Boss offers us both insight and clarity. --Kathy Weingarten, Ph.D, The Family Institute of Cambridge, Harvard Medical School

Download or read book Soul Comfort for Cat Lovers written by Liz Eastwood and published by . This book was released on 2012-12-19 with total page 132 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "...more than just another book on pet loss. Reading this book is like talking to a friend who knows you almost better than you know yourself...it doesn't stop at just helping you through the grief...it will help you find an even deeper connection to your lost loved ones." - Ingrid King, ConsciousCat.net, author of Buckley's Story and Purrs of Wisdom If the loss of a feline friend has hit you particularly hard, know you are not alone. In Soul Comfort for Cat Lovers, you will find validation, coping insights, and practical wisdom conveyed with spiritual warmth. Liz Eastwood, CNC weaves her own experiences with advice from grief experts and stories from cat lovers to help you: process your feelings and recognize them as normal create something positive out of the energy of grief cultivate a continued sense of connection to your cat deal with inconvenient grief strengthen your natural coping chemistry This book also explores evidence of the most soulful of soul comforts: the possibility of the continuation of your loved one's spirit-and your connection to that spirit-after death. This topic is discussed from a perspective of open-minded curiosity, without bringing in any particular dogma or religion. Asserting that you can live wholeheartedly after loss, and that your feline friend would want nothing less for you, Soul Comfort for Cat Lovers is a compassionate handbook for your grief-healing journey. CONTENTS PART 1 Coping with the Loss of Your Feline Friend: Wisdom for mind, body, and spirit How Long Should This Be Taking? Learning to Ignore Everyone Who Doesn't Get It Understanding What Feelings Are Normal at This Time Giving Sorrow the Space to Transform Replenishing Your Coping Reserves Using Ritual to Honor Your Cat, Heal, and Feel Connected Creating Something Positive Out of Grief Energy: The Tribute Saving Memories You Don't Want to Forget Choosing Continued Connection Instead of "Closure" Asking a Magic Question Considering the Right Time to Adopt Another Cat Knowing When and How to Get More Support PART 2 Finding Comfort in Wonder: Allowing the possibility that death is not the end Choosing Wonder Looking at Experiences of Connection After Death Exploring Science That Suggests More to Life and Death PART 3 Conclusion: Emerging Whole After Loss Emerging Whole After Loss Appendix: Soul Comfort Poems for Ceremonies Acknowledgements About the Author

Download or read book Second Firsts written by Christina Rasmussen and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 217 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Presents a guide for dealing with grief and loss, detailing five steps of healing that can lead to a lifestyle alignment with personal values and new possibilities for a re-engaged life. --Publisher's description.

Download or read book Finding Meaning written by David Kessler and published by Scribner. This book was released on 2019-11-05 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this groundbreaking new work, David Kessler—an expert on grief and the coauthor with Elisabeth Kübler-Ross of the iconic On Grief and Grieving—journeys beyond the classic five stages to discover a sixth stage: meaning. In 1969, Elisabeth Kübler Ross first identified the stages of dying in her transformative book On Death and Dying. Decades later, she and David Kessler wrote the classic On Grief and Grieving, introducing the stages of grief with the same transformative pragmatism and compassion. Now, based on hard-earned personal experiences, as well as knowledge and wisdom earned through decades of work with the grieving, Kessler introduces a critical sixth stage. Many people look for “closure” after a loss. Kessler argues that it’s finding meaning beyond the stages of grief most of us are familiar with—denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance—that can transform grief into a more peaceful and hopeful experience. In this book, Kessler gives readers a roadmap to remembering those who have died with more love than pain; he shows us how to move forward in a way that honors our loved ones. Kessler’s insight is both professional and intensely personal. His journey with grief began when, as a child, he witnessed a mass shooting at the same time his mother was dying. For most of his life, Kessler taught physicians, nurses, counselors, police, and first responders about end of life, trauma, and grief, as well as leading talks and retreats for those experiencing grief. Despite his knowledge, his life was upended by the sudden death of his twenty-one-year-old son. How does the grief expert handle such a tragic loss? He knew he had to find a way through this unexpected, devastating loss, a way that would honor his son. That, ultimately, was the sixth state of grief—meaning. In Finding Meaning, Kessler shares the insights, collective wisdom, and powerful tools that will help those experiencing loss. Finding Meaning is a necessary addition to grief literature and a vital guide to healing from tremendous loss. This is an inspiring, deeply intelligent must-read for anyone looking to journey away from suffering, through loss, and towards meaning.

Download or read book Love After Life written by William Murray and published by . This book was released on 2019-12 with total page 42 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Love After Life first describes their relationship and the situation William found himself in after Irene passed away, then goes directly into what he calls "the process," a short list of easy affirmation-style techniques. He credits this process - along with Irene's help from the other side and a few supportive books on the afterlife - with moving him through a rather dramatic transformation from broken and despairing to a having that real sense, once again, of being whole and fulfilled with his soul-mate."For those of us who cannot move on from a relationship but rather must move forward with them, somehow, after they die, perhaps this book can help," Murray says. "Letting go of pain in this situation can be very scary when you feel it's your only connection to the person that matters the most to you, the person that makes you feel whole and complete. Even while it was destroying me, I felt like that pain was my connection to her, my tribute to our love, and the idea of letting it go felt worse than having it."The only way I was able to gradually move past the grief was to also gradually become aware of her presence and her efforts to reconnect with me. As this connection grew, my grief and my reasons for wanting to hold on to that pain slowly dissipated. What has now actually come to pass from the process I describe in Love After Life, just seven months after she crossed over, is something I could not believe possible in my time of grief."At best, I had hoped to maybe achieve a manageable pain I could live through for the rest of my life. I never expected to achieve a state of joy, happiness and, in some ways, an even better, more intimate relationship with my wife. We accomplished this without the use of any mediums or any daunting activities like out-of-body or near death experiences - just reading, keeping a journal, and faithfully employing the affirmation and intention techniques described in the book."This is not a 'fake it until you make it' system," Murray explains. "This is a process of tuning out of your grief frequency/vibration and tuning in to the frequency/vibration of your loved one on the other side. It is my view that this process moves you away from the pain state and back into the loving and joyful state you share with your loved one, making real contact and communication between the two of you easier, more natural and more frequent."

Download or read book Death with Dignity written by Robert Orfali and published by Hillcrest Publishing Group. This book was released on 2011 with total page 254 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this book the author makes a case for legalized physician-assisted dying. Using the latest data from Oregon and the Netherlands, he puts a new slant on perennial debate topics such as "slippery slopes," "the integrity of medicine," and "sanctity of life." This book provides an in-depth look at how we die in America today. It examines the shortcomings of our end-of-life system. You will learn about terminal torture in hospital ICUs and about the alternatives: hospice and palliative care. The author scrutinizes the good, the bad, and the ugly. He provides a critique of the practice of palliative sedation. The book makes a strong case that assisted dying complements hospice. By providing both, Oregon now has the best palliative-care system in America. This book, above all, may help you or someone you care about navigate this strange landscape we call "end of life." It can be an informed guide to "a good death" in the age of hospice and high-tech medical intervention.

Download or read book Healing a Spouse s Grieving Heart written by Alan D Wolfelt and published by Companion Press. This book was released on 2003-11-01 with total page 130 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Helping widows and widowers learn how to cope with the grief of losing their helpmate, their lover, and perhaps their financial provider, this guide shows them how to find continued meaning in life when doing so seems difficult. Bereaved spouses will find advice on when and how to dispose of their mate's belongings, dealing with their children, and redefining their role with friends and family. Suggestions are provided for elderly mourners, young widows and widowers, unmarried lovers, and same-sex partners. The information and comfort offered apply to individuals whose spouse died recently or long ago.

Download or read book Finding Love After Loss written by Marti Benedetti and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2021-10-11 with total page 169 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Guides readers through the emotions and practical concerns of finding love after the death of a partner. Romantic love, in all its permutations, forms one of the most fascinating of human interactions. It also can be one of life’s thorniest challenges, especially in a world where relationships often unfold online and, recently, where a pandemic barred face-to-face contact with people outside one’s immediate household. Among those seeking romance in increasing numbers is a group that stands apart: the women who, slammed by the death of a spouse, bravely pursue new love. Finding Love After Loss: A Relationship Roadmap for Widows goes to the trenches to interview widows who have embarked, nervously but with hope, on this quest. Their frank and revealing interviews, along with wisdom from relationship experts, provide guidance to other women trying to navigate the relationship scene when their last date might have been decades ago. Where do widows find new partners? How much should they share in their online profile? What do they tell their friends and family? What about getting naked for the first time with a new man? Who pays when the bill appears at a restaurant? More than any time in U.S. history, the country’s widows are seeking another chance at romance. The sheer number of widows—11 million, with an average age in the fifties—makes them a formidable force. They are living longer and have broader views on sex and money. Yet it is difficult for them to find their footing. Many of them have been away from the courtship arena for decades. They may make their return to dating with children and in-laws in tow. They are confused by the new rules and unclear on the expectations but convinced that they are capable of loving again. This book, written by a widow and a co-author who dated a widower, details just how powerful, sometimes daunting, and exhilarating the journey to new love can be. It also unveils the extraordinary ways that widows are reshaping the romance landscape: by tossing traditional marriage vows by the roadside, by skipping marriage entirely, or even by committing to a new partner but living apart. This isn’t your grandmother’s widowhood scene, not by a long shot. Finding Love After Loss examines the crazy, sad, and even zany contributions that people left behind by the death of a partner bring to new relationships. At the same time, it reveals both the amazing resilience of women who have lived through great loss and the irresistible pull of human connection.

Download or read book Understanding Your Grief written by Alan D. Wolfelt and published by Companion Press. This book was released on 2004-02-01 with total page 194 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Explaining the important difference between grief and mourning, this book explores every mourner's need to acknowledge death and embrace the pain of loss. Also explored are the many factors that make each person's grief unique and the many normal thoughts and feelings mourners might have. Questions of spirituality and religion are addressed as well. The rights of mourners to be compassionate with themselves, to lean on others for help, and to trust in their ability to heal are upheld. Journaling sections encourage mourners to articulate their unique thoughts and feelings.

Download or read book The Sacred Path of the Soulmate written by Gerald Sze and published by LifeTree Media. This book was released on 2017-05-16 with total page 176 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Romantic relationships can bring both great joy and deep anguish. At any moment, millions of men and women are seeking relationships, while millions more are ending them. Why are we so fervently drawn to romantic relationships if it’s so hard to find lasting fulfillment in them? The answer, according to existential spiritual philosopher Gerald Sze, is that we misunderstand the spiritual purpose of True Romantic Love, and so we create far less satisfying experiences in our relationships than what’s possible. As Sze explains in The Sacred Path of the Soulmate: Embracing the Spiritual Purpose of True Romantic Love, romantic relationships are our primary vehicle for spiritual growth. We should not think of a soulmate, Sze says, as someone with whom we are supposed to experience nonstop bliss, but as a beloved mate with whom we reconnect again and again over many lifetimes to learn, grow and evolve spiritually. Only by understanding the spiritual purpose of True Romantic Love can we follow the sacred path of the soulmate toward enlightenment. The Sacred Path of the Soulmate draws on Buddhist principles and Western philosophy, while also incorporating Sze’s findings from more than a decade of interviews with ordinary women and men about their romantic relationships. Frank and often funny, the book uses well known scenes from popular Hollywood romance movies to illustrate its messages, bolstered by wide ranging philosophical inquiry. The Sacred Path of the Soulmate is not a how-to book, but a “why-to” book, inviting readers on a courageous journey of healing, growth and spiritual evolution through True Romantic Love. On this journey, readers will learn: The spiritual reason behind “love at first sight”; How True Romantic Love differs from “phantom romantic love”; Fresh insights that can transform the pain of heartbreak into humanistic growth and self-awareness; And how to transform limited, conditional relationships into True Romantic Love through humility, courage and compassion. The Sacred Path of the Soulmate will appeal to readers interested in the New Age and new thought movements, those who view spirituality beyond a religious framework, and those who wish to cultivate more meaning and opportunities for growth in their most intimate love relationships.

Download or read book Grieving a Soulmate written by Robert Orfali and published by Hillcrest Publishing Group. This book was released on 2011 with total page 280 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The book every lover should read. Grieving a Soulmate is unlike any book you've ever read, even though the story is universal. It's about the death of a lover. The book takes on this difficult and very personal topic with courage, out-of-the box thinking, and deep love. Ranging from the practical to the emotional--and frequently blending the two--Orfali's style of writing makes a difficult topic easier to manage. He writes in an easy style that is analytical, yet speaks from the heart. The content is thoughtprovoking, unique and original. It's your gentle and informed guide to the deep grieving that accompanies the death of a soulmate. This book should help you quickly overcome the red-hot pain of grief. It also tells you how to reconstruct your life, find meaning, and deal with the big existential issues from a secular perspective. It's a survival guide for the last stages in a soulmate relationship. Above all, however, Grieving a Soulmate is a love story. Robert Orfali and his soulmate of thirty years, Jeri, were both in the computer software field in the early days of Silicon Valley. They co-authored three best-selling software books and together went on several world tours to promote their technology. Jeri was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, in 1999, shortly after they moved to Hawaii. Jeri and Robert spent the next ten years fighting Jeri's cancer and learning how to live with it. Jeri even learned how to surf during her chemo years. She went from "Silicon Valley Executive Woman of the Year" to "Waikiki Surfer Chick." Jeri received one of the most moving surfer funerals ever. Her ashes are in the ocean at Waikiki.

Download or read book Getting Back to Life When Grief Won t Heal written by Phyllis Kosminsky and published by Amazon.com. This book was released on 2007-01-08 with total page 246 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Presents a practical guide to dealing with grief; and offers personal case studies and advice that help individuals find peace, acceptance, and strength to move on.