Welcome to a new year and with it, a fresh opportunity for renewal and growth. As we step into 2025, many of us find ourselves reflecting on our lives, our losses, and the paths forward. If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure about how to move forward, this conversation is for you. Let’s explore motivation, especially in the context of grief and loss, and how we can find our way through the challenges that weigh us down.
Understanding Your Current Situation
We all come to this moment with different experiences. For some, caregiving responsibilities and the daily challenges of life may feel like a heavy burden. If you’re caring for a loved one, like a brother with dementia, it’s essential to acknowledge the weight of that responsibility. You might find yourself wondering how to create more ease for yourself while being present for those you care for.
Many of us are grappling with grief from significant losses. Grief can make it difficult to envision a future, especially when a loved one is no longer with us. It’s vital to recognize that your feelings are valid and deserve your attention. When we’re entrenched in grief, it can feel as though we lack the entitlement to pursue our desires or to envision a better future. That makes motivation difficult.
The Role of Motivation
Motivation often stems from two primary sources: fear and desire. Interestingly, people tend to react more strongly to fear, using it as a catalyst to take action. Fear of loss or failure can propel us forward, while desire may sometimes feel out of reach, especially when we’re grieving. Have you ever felt that your desires were too extravagant or that pursuing them would lead to disappointment? It’s time to challenge that mindset.
Feeling Entitled to Your Desires
Understanding that you are entitled to your desires is crucial. If you’re feeling responsible for others, like a caregiver who prioritizes their loved ones’ needs over their own, it can lead to resentment and burnout. Transforming your experience into a personal journey—your own hero’s journey—can help you regain perspective and energy.
Ask yourself: What do you truly want? What is your vision for the year ahead? This vision doesn’t have to be grand or unattainable; it simply needs to resonate with your heart and soul. That will give you the motivation to take action.
Addressing Grief and Moving Forward
Grief is not a linear process. It’s complex and often cyclical, with emotions resurfacing unexpectedly. To move forward, it’s essential to engage with your feelings actively. If emotions are repressed, they can manifest in unhealthy ways, like avoidance or emotional numbness. Allowing yourself to grieve is an active process that requires intentionality.
Releasing Emotions
Many people are unaware of how to effectively release their emotions. It’s not just about feeling sad or overwhelmed; it’s about allowing those feelings to pass through you. Techniques exist to help you process your emotions, and they can be surprisingly quick—sometimes taking just a few minutes. Engaging in journaling, meditative practices, or even artistic expression can facilitate this release.
Creating a Vision for the Future
Once you’ve begun to address your grief, you can start to clarify your vision for the future. Where do you want to be by the end of this year? How do you want to feel? Instead of framing your desires in negative terms—like not feeling sad—reframe them positively. What would you like to feel instead? This shift in perspective is crucial for setting a constructive path forward.
Practical Steps to Take
- Identify Your Vision: Write down where you want to be emotionally and physically by the end of the year.
- Explore Your Emotions: Accept and process your feelings without judgment. Journaling can be an excellent way to explore what you’re experiencing.
- Take Action: Once you’ve released some emotions, begin to take small steps towards your vision. Every little action counts.
- Seek Support: Don’t hesitate to reach out for help, whether it’s from friends, family, or a professional. Accepting help is a strength, not a weakness.
Finding Peace in the Journey
As you navigate this year, remember that healing is not a race. It’s a process that requires patience and compassion towards yourself. You may encounter challenges, but each step you take toward understanding and processing your grief is a step toward reclaiming your life.
Let this year be about embracing both your grief and your desires. Allow yourself the space to feel, to heal, and to grow. You are worthy of a fulfilling life, and it is possible to find joy again.
Want to know more about how to activate your motivation, read my blog Would You Like a Second Chance at Life?
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, the journey through grief is deeply personal. It’s essential to honor your unique process and timeline. If you’re struggling, consider reaching out for support. You may be dealing with Complex Grief, which is when current grief is magnified by unresolved losses in your past. The good new is that this can be an opportunity to heal all your grief and reclaim you you are and what you really want.
Remember, You don’t have to navigate this path alone. I offer a free Grief and Loss Breakthrough session to help you identify your next step and how to motivate action. Go to meetwithdrmichelle.com
As we move into 2024, let’s commit to being gentle with ourselves, recognizing our needs, and embracing the journey ahead. Here’s to a year of healing, growth, and renewed motivation!
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