Grief + Creating A New Normal

Grief doesn’t just change your life; it reshapes it.

After loss, the life you once knew is gone. You’re left standing in a world that feels unfamiliar and, honestly, pretty overwhelming.

Adjusting to this new normal isn’t easy, and it’s okay to not know where to start. I’ve been there—and I’m here to tell you that while it’s not easy, it is possible to create a life that feels whole again.

Intentional & Effectively Healing helps you get there!

But here's some things to think about...

Acknowledging the Loss

After Eric died, my entire world felt like it had shattered. Nothing looked or felt the same. I wasn’t just grieving him—I was grieving the life we built, the routines we had, and the future we’d planned. And as much as I wanted to, I couldn’t go back to the way things were. I had to start figuring out what life could look like now.

The first step in adjusting to life after loss is acknowledging the reality of the change.

This doesn’t mean you have to accept it all at once—grief is confusing AF, and acceptance is a journey. But acknowledging that life is different now opens the door to figuring out what’s next.

Grieving While Moving Forward

One of the hardest truths about grief is that it doesn’t leave you. You heard me right - grief never actually leaves - BUT - that also doesn't mean you have to grieve forever.

Even as you create a new normal, grief is still a part of your life.

I tell my clients all the time: there’s a difference between actively grieving and living with grief.

Grief will always be part of your life, but you don’t have to stay in the painful, heavy place of grieving forever.

When I remarried Dave (or Mr. Match, as I affectionately call him), I carried Eric with me into that new chapter. Building a life with Dave didn’t erase my grief; it gave me a way to balance love, loss, and moving forward.

Your new normal - whatever you want it to look like - doesn’t have to mean leaving your grief behind. It’s about finding ways to let love and loss coexist, as it always has - but healing so that it's doesn't consume you.

Redefining Yourself

Loss changes you.

It forces you to confront parts of yourself you might not have noticed before.

It makes you dig deep into who you are and what you want.

Creating a new normal means redefining who you are in this season of life. For me, that meant figuring out who I was without Eric and stepping into the role of a widow, a solo mom, and eventually, a remarried woman.

Redefining yourself can feel daunting, but it’s also an opportunity to grow.
What parts of your life still bring you joy?
What values feel most important now?

As you explore these questions, you’ll start to see the pieces of your new identity come together.

Building New Routines and Traditions

After a loss, the routines and traditions can feel like painful reminders of what’s missing.

Part of creating a new normal is building routines and traditions that reflect your current reality - and it can also include some of the old!

When Eric died, even something as simple as having dinner as a family felt different. He wasn’t sitting at the table. We weren't getting a plate out for him. We weren't leaving dinner on the stove for him when he got home.

Over time, I started creating new routines with my girls.

Think about what routines and traditions feel comforting to you now. Maybe it’s a morning walk, a weekly dinner with friends, or creating a new holiday ritual. These small acts can help ground you in your new life.

Remember that you can take some of the old into the new if they serve you and feel good.

Finding Support

Adjusting to life after loss isn’t something you have to do alone.

Finding support—whether it’s through friends, family, a grief group, or working with someone like me—is essential.

Sharing your journey with others who understand can make the process feel less isolating.

When Eric died, I leaned heavily on the people who showed up for me. And as a grief coach, I now get to be that person for others.

My clients often come to me feeling stuck, overwhelmed, and unsure how to move forward. Together, we work on creating their version of a new normal—one that honors their grief and their future.

And for my clients who complete The Heartwork and start to feel better, they often ask, “Now what?” That’s where my ReBeginning Program comes in.

ReBeginning is designed to help you intentionally create your next chapter. It’s a group program with a hub of video trainings and a workbook to guide you through what you really want—and why—in this next chapter, based on what you’ve lived and learned in your last one. We also have a private community, coaching calls, workshops, and an annual retreat. It’s all about moving forward with intention and purpose.

Learn more about it here: REBEGINNING

Hope in the New Normal

Here’s the thing about creating a new normal: it doesn’t mean forgetting the past.

It doesn’t mean you stop loving or missing the person you lost.

It means you’re brave enough to keep living, to find moments of joy, and to build a life that feels good again.

Your new normal won’t look like your old life, and that’s okay. It can still be beautiful, fulfilling, and full of love.

If you’re struggling to find your way, know that you don’t have to do it alone. This is the Heartwork I do with my clients—helping them move from a place of grief to a place of hope and healing.

And when you’re ready for what’s next, the ReBeginning Program is here to guide you into your next chapter.

You can create a life that feels whole again.

It’s not easy, but it’s possible.

And when you’re ready, I’m here to help.