11 Grief Affirmations: Positive Affirmations To Promote Healing & Mental Health

The American Psychological Association defines grief as “the anguish experienced after significant loss, usually the death of a beloved person,” though an individual can also experience grief as a result of the end of a relationship, the death of a beloved pet, or another type of loss. Grief can have a profound impact on a person’s mental health, sometimes in unexpected ways. 

After a major loss, some people may benefit from seeking support from a mental health professional. It may also help to explore some positive affirmations related to grief. Keep reading to learn more about grief and to discover some affirmations that may be comforting to a person experiencing it.

You don’t have to navigate grief alone

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Affirmations for grief: 11 comforting and positive affirmations to try

That's why many people write affirmations on sticky notes and put them on their desk or mirror to remind them to repeat the statements often. Doing so may help bring comfort and peace.

Affirmations can sometimes be a helpful tool as a person navigates the grieving process. The following are 11 grief affirmations that may provide comfort after a loss:

1. The healing process is not linear; I practice self-compassion as I navigate this experience. 
2. I have inner strength as well as people to rely on during this time.
3. I honor my loved one’s memory/the memory of who or what I have lost.
4. I allow myself to express the emotions associated with my grief.
5. I accept support and comforting words from others during this time. 
6. I remind myself that no two people experience grief the same way, and that I forge my own path toward healing. 
7. I grant myself permission to engage in a healthy activity that feels healing for me today. 
8. Healing takes time, and I am moving forward—even on the days when it doesn’t feel like it. 
9. The emotions I'm feeling are valid.
10. I will find peace without forgetting the memory of my loved one/what I have lost. 
11. I understand that grief is a process. 

Emotions often associated with the grieving process

Swiss-American psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross famously broke down the grieving process into the following five stages:

• Denial
• Anger
• Bargaining
• Depression
• Acceptance

That said, people don’t always experience these stages in a linear way, if they experience them at all. They may go back and forth between stages as they process the loss of someone or something dear to them, or spend most of their grieving in one or two particular stages—including some that may not be listed here. Accepting the non-linear nature of the grief experience may help people navigate the healing process with patience, self-compassion, and in a way that makes sense for them. 

How to cope aside from using grief affirmations

Grief affirmations can provide comforting words after a loss, but most people also benefit from seeking support from others. Many find that support groups can be helpful during the grieving process. Sometimes, only other people who have recently experienced a similar loss can truly understand how it feels, and a support group can connect a person with such individuals. Working with an individual grief counselor or therapist can also be useful, which we will discuss more below.

Self-care strategies for grief

At times, grief can affect a person so completely that it can be difficult to follow a daily routine. However, implementing small actions to practice self-care can make a difference. For example, research indicates that finding gentle ways to move your body—such as taking a walk or doing calm stretching—may be especially helpful to bereaved individuals. Another way to practice self-care during the grieving process is to prioritize sleep and rest as best you can. This may involve not over-committing yourself but instead allotting more time than normal to rest.

Self-care can also involve specific practices designed to improve mental health and promote healing and new life for one’s emotions. One such practice is journaling, which may help grieving individuals express their thoughts and emotions instead of keeping them in. Journaling doesn’t have to involve lengthy writing sessions, either; some people may benefit from just 10 minutes of writing each day, or whenever they feel the need to express themselves. If you don't find writing to be beneficial to you, you might explore other mediums for expressing your emotions, such as working with clay, creating a collage, or making music. 

How a mental health professional can help with the grieving process

In addition to attending support groups and implementing self-care strategies, some people who are grieving may benefit from speaking with a mental health professional one on one. Individuals who are grieving don’t have to reach a breaking point to benefit from therapy, either; a therapist or grief counselor can help people navigate their grief regardless of its severity or what form it may take.

You don’t have to navigate grief alone

Speak with a counselor online

Online therapy for grief

Some people who are grieving may feel hesitant to speak with a therapist in a traditional office setting, or leaving the house to attend appointments may feel difficult for them. In such cases, online therapy could be a more approachable and convenient alternative.

Online therapy allows individuals to connect with a therapist remotely in a way that feels comfortable for them and their life style: either via phone, video call, or live chat. With BetterHelp, those who are grieving can also reach out to their therapist between sessions through in-app messaging, and their therapist will respond as soon as they can. This option may be especially helpful on days when the sense of loss feels overwhelming.

In addition to providing various modes of communication, online therapy has strong support in the literature. For instance, one review of clinical trials suggests that online cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) can often be even more effective than in-person therapy for treating symptoms of depression, which is not uncommon among grieving individuals.