Give yourself a pat on the back! You're dealing with grief.
Woman sitting by a sunlit window, wearing a light sweater and relaxing with eyes closed.

Dealing with grief doesn’t feel like much of an accomplishment. You feel out of balance and unlike yourself. The routine you’re used to has been changed and you’re just trying to survive every day. However, working through all of this is an accomplishment!

Every day that you wake up and work through everything you’re dealing with is an accomplishment. Surviving grief is no easy task. It requires taking things one step at a time.

Often times, we compare ourselves to other people and even ourselves before the tragedy hit us. When we compare ourselves in any capacity, we feel unaccomplished. This makes dealing with grief even harder when we put too many expectations on ourselves.

After we’ve lost someone, we expect to be okay and back to normal so soon afterwards. We expect to follow some made up “five-step process” and then be back to the person we were before.

Instead of being hard on ourselves, we need to remember to congratulate ourselves. Congratulate ourselves on surviving another day, another week and another month! We were willing to get through this and were willing to take another step. This is a major accomplishment.

Remember that comparison is the greatest thief of joy. So today, pat yourself on the back for surviving it all and continuing to push through. You have grown through this experience and it only can get easier from here!

Share this article

Recent Posts

Two people at a desk signing paperwork during a meeting
July 1, 2026
Pre-Planning Suggestions
Two people holding hands across a table in a warm indoor setting
July 1, 2026
Grief Support Resources
Businessperson adjusting tie in a dark suit on an indoor staircase.
July 1, 2026
Funeral Etiquette
Lobby seating area with two chairs, small table, wooden door, and patterned carpet.
July 1, 2026
Witnessed Cremation
Person in a dark suit holding a paper labeled “FUNERAL PLAN”
June 30, 2026
Understanding Preplanning Arrangements for All Funeral Services
Blue water droplet splashing into calm ripples on a light aqua background
June 30, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Heart-shaped wicker decoration on green grass with scattered white flowers and petals
June 30, 2026
Rationalizing Away Grief
Wooden coffin on dry grassland with a small flower arrangement on top
June 30, 2026
Digging Deeper into Green Burial in Colorado
GOES Funeral Care logo in green and brown with stylized bird graphic
June 30, 2026
About Our Crematory
Silver urn surrounded by colorful flowers on a table in a softly blurred room
June 24, 2026
Cremation Services You Can Trust
Show More