Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief Workbook

It’s very difficult to write a book about grief since it is such a personal and subjective topic. The author did a good job providing education in a way that doesn’t feel shameful for those struggling to move through the grieving process.

Let me start by saying I am a big fan of David Kessler's work both as a therapist and a human. His books work on both levels as well; a tool you can use with your therapist or on your own. Finding Meaning is his sixth stage of grief, basically how you can let go of the worst parts of grief and live after loss. What did this death teach you? Are you stronger than you thought? More compassionate? What about this death is holding you back? Your guilt? A magical thought or unwaranted sense of responsibility? This book.will take you slowly and gently through exercises to help you heal after loss. The workbook is thorough. It would help with healing from death or even the break up of a long relationship. A must read!

I plan on spending more time with this workbook later, but I already feel like I got a lot out of it. Kessler starts by talking about expectations, and how everyone has different expectations on how individuals should experience grief. Unfortunately, people will let other people know that they are experiencing grief "wrong," making a bad situation so much worse.
There are a lot of exercises in this, leading up to the acceptance stage of grief and then on to the future. The way the exercises are designed, I think I could do them multiple times to dig deeper into some of my feelings. Grief is an ongoing process, and it is taking me a long time.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this.

I really liked this book's message to readers. I think this book can benefit anyone, it's therapy for a lot of people. Finding Meaning talks about how grief and loss can shape us but it also speaks about finding meaning in the small steps you take to enjoy the present. It delves into our past as humans and into what our future can look like. I found some of the exercises really helpful in my experience with therapy. I've personally done a lot of therapy and it has connected me with myself and others around me. Emotions are okay, you have to feel them, to process them in order to become the person you are today. I like that this author has included a lot of examples when writing this book, every story is different. Everyone has different experiences especially with grief and loss. It's important to acknowledge that and to acknowledge your own grief and loss in the process. The specific examples that I really liked from the book was Rick Hanson's meaning on finding meaning. That it's everywhere you go, you can look at someone on the street and not know what they're dealing with. You can look at a family member or friend and still not know what they are going through. I connected a lot in this book with my own grief too.

Overall I'd say this book is a 4.5 or 5 stars. I liked it.