Gentle Ways to Ride a Wave of Grief (Even Years Later)
- carleytaylorcoach
- Oct 17, 2025
- 2 min read
Grief doesn’t follow a timeline. You can be years down the road, feeling steady, peaceful - when suddenly a memory, a scent, or a song knocks the wind out of you.
These moments can feel like being swept under by a wave you didn’t see coming.
But the truth is, the waves are part of love, reminders that your loss still lives tenderly within you.
Here are five gentle ways to steady yourself when a wave hits:
1. Pause and Acknowledge the Wave
Instead of pushing it down or judging it, name what’s happening.
"I’m feeling a wave of grief right now.”
Sometimes, that simple acknowledgment helps your nervous system settle, you’re no longer fighting it; you’re allowing it.
2. Ground in the Present Moment
Anchor your body before your mind spirals.
Try placing a hand on your heart or chest and taking three deep breaths.
Look around the room and name five things you can see, four you can touch, three you can hear. Remind your body: I’m okay.
3. Lean Into Comfort, Not Avoidance
Comfort isn’t about numbing out. It’s about gentle care.
Wrap yourself in a blanket. Light a candle. Step outside into sunlight. Listen to music that meets you where you are.
Avoidance keeps grief stuck; comfort helps it move through.
4. Let the Emotion Move
Tears, shaking, sighing, writing, or movement - they’re all release.
Don’t apologise for crying or needing quiet time.
The wave passes faster when it’s allowed to move freely.
5. Return to What Grounds You in Life
After the intensity fades, reconnect with something steady - a cup of tea, a pet, a walk, a trusted friend.
Let life hold you again. This is how you rebuild your sense of peace, one gentle moment at a time.
Remember
Grief waves aren’t signs of weakness or regression, they’re proof of love’s endurance.When they come, meet them with kindness. You’ve met these waves before, and each time, you’ve risen, a little softer, a little wiser, and a little stronger.
