As we step into the seventh day of the A2Z Blogchatter Challenge, today’s post brings with it emotions that are as heavy as they are healing—GRIEF, GRATITUDE, and GOAL SETTING.
If you’ve made it this far in the series, thank you for walking beside me. Writing about mental health every day is not just about awareness; it’s about vulnerability, truth, and hope. And today, more than any other, I feel all three.
Let’s begin with what often feels the hardest.
GRIEF: A Silent Companion
Grief is one of those emotions that doesn’t play by the rules. It shows up uninvited, stays longer than you’d expect, and just when you think it’s gone—it returns quietly, with a memory, a scent, a date, or a song.
As a psychologist, I’ve learned that grief isn’t just about death. It’s about any loss—a broken relationship, a missed opportunity, a version of yourself you’ve outgrown. We grieve what could have been, what should have been, and what will never be.
And grief isn’t linear. It doesn’t look the same for everyone. Some people cry, some withdraw, some get angry. Some stay busy. Some break. And some rebuild.
The important thing? Allow yourself to feel.
Too often we hear, “Be strong,” or “Move on.” But healing doesn’t come from denial. It comes from sitting with your pain, naming it, understanding it—and then slowly, at your pace, learning to carry it differently.
If you’re grieving right now, I see you. And I want you to know that it’s okay if you’re not okay. Healing takes time, and time doesn’t heal everything—but it does soften the edges.
GRATITUDE: The Gentle Shift
It may feel strange to place GRATITUDE next to grief. But I’ve often found they coexist more than we think.
When someone is grieving, people sometimes try to push gratitude on them—“At least you still have…”—but gratitude isn’t meant to dismiss pain. It’s meant to help you hold both pain and peace in the same breath.
Gratitude doesn’t mean pretending everything is fine. It simply means acknowledging what is still good, even in the midst of struggle.
Start small. One thing a day.
- The smile of a stranger.
- A warm cup of chai
- A friend who checked in.
- Your breath, steady and present.
Gratitude trains our brain to notice beauty again—not as an escape, but as a way back to ourselves. In therapy, I often recommend gratitude journaling not to erase sadness, but to create space for hope to return.
GOAL SETTING: Moving With Intention
Once grief has been acknowledged and gratitude has been planted, the third step is something we rarely associate with emotional recovery: GOAL SETTING.
No, I’m not talking about those overwhelming five-year plans. I mean gentle, meaningful goals—the kind that anchor you in the present while offering a path forward.
When we set even small goals during a difficult phase, we tell ourselves: “I may not have control over everything, but I still have some agency.”
Your goals could be as simple as: • Drinking enough water each day.
• Going for a short walk.
• Starting therapy.
• Reaching out to a loved one.
• Reading a page of a book.
And yes, your goals can change as you change. They don’t have to be perfect. They just have to be yours.
When we set goals from a place of self-compassion, not pressure, they help us feel capable again. They give us a reason to keep going.
Let’s Bring It Together
So how do these three—GRIEF, GRATITUDE, and GOAL SETTING—tie in together?
Here’s what I’ve learned:
- Grief teaches us what mattered.
- Gratitude reminds us what still does.
- Goal setting helps us move toward what could be.
Healing is not about erasing the past or pretending to be okay. It’s about growing through what you go through, and learning to walk with the pain while still making room for joy.
So if you’re carrying grief today, I invite you to start small: • Name one thing you’re grateful for.
• Set one goal for the week ahead.
• And most importantly, be kind to yourself in the process.
Your pain is valid. Your healing is possible. Your growth is yours.
We meet again tomorrow with the letter H. Until then, take care of your mind, your heart, and your soul.
You’re doing better than you think.
Great insights.