Grief and Loss: It’s Not Just About Death

When we hear the word “grief,” most of us immediately think of the loss of a loved one. While that kind of grief is very real and deeply significant, it’s not the only kind of loss that hurts.

Grief can touch many parts of our lives, often in ways we don’t expect or don’t even recognise at first.

Grief Comes in Many Forms

Grief can arise when something meaningful changes, ends, or is taken away. It might come after the end of a relationship, the loss of a job, or a friendship that slowly faded. Sometimes it’s tied to a major life transition like becoming a parent, receiving a diagnosis, or moving away from community.

Even positive or chosen changes can carry grief. Even the times when we understand that something has ended and it was necessary. You might find yourself grieving:

• A version of yourself you no longer recognise

• A future that didn’t unfold the way you imagined

• The slow loss of connection with someone you once loved

• A shift in identity or sense of belonging

This kind of grief isn’t always dramatic or visible. Sometimes, it’s quiet and complicated. Sometimes it lingers long after the moment of change has passed.

Grief, like this tree, stands quietly in the open. Rooted in something deep and unseen, reaching toward healing in its own time

 “But I Should Be Grateful…”

One of the hardest parts of grief is the internal dialogue (and sometimes other people) that tells us we shouldn’t feel this way. You might think or hear:

• Other people have it worse

• I chose this, why am I struggling?

• I should just get on with life

But grief doesn’t operate on logic or permission. It shows up because something meaningful has been lost, and that loss deserves to be honoured.

A Wider Lens on Grief

Grief is the natural response to any kind of loss. It’s how we process change, how we make space for what mattered, and how we move forward when the world around us has shifted.

When we begin to view grief through a wider, more compassionate lens, we stop limiting it to death alone. We begin to understand how normal and human it really is, and how healing it can be to let ourselves feel it.

A Gentle Reminder

If you're grieving something that feels invisible or hard to explain, it’s okay.

Your experience matters.

Your feelings are valid.

Grief doesn’t need to be justified or compared. It doesn’t need to be seen by others to be real. You are not alone in what you’re carrying.

Sometimes just being heard, even by yourself, can be the beginning of healing.