A new year can be a great time to embrace new thoughts, new perspectives.
Our perspectives and narratives that we tell ourselves greatly impact how we respond to a situation. Reframing our thoughts can be particularly helpful when coping with losing a child.
Below are three examples of perspective shifts for thought patterns related to losing a child:
Example 1
Instead of: I want to go back in time and undo what happened to my child.
Try: I can’t change what happened in the past, but I can choose how to move forward in the present and future.
Example 2
Instead of: I blame myself for my child’s death.
Try: I recognize that life and death are out of my control.
Example 3
Instead of: I will never be happy again since my child died.
Try: I acknowledge my sadness and recognize that I can experience happiness and joy amidst deep sorrow.
What thought patterns about losing your child do you need to reframe as you move forward this year?