When Grief Speaks, Values Answer 🕯️
"We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us." — Joseph Campbell
“What does your grief reveal to you? Beneath the ache I mean, about what you truly value? How might this understanding guide you toward a life more aligned with those values?”
Not long ago, I lost a job opportunity I’d been hoping for.
The disappointment stung. I felt it in my throat, in the jittery beat of my heart, and in how the mornings seemed slightly darker.
But that sadness did more than torment me.
It pointed to my deeper aspirations for genuine growth, meaningful work, and a desire to leave my mark on the chaos around me.
My reaction wasn’t just random misery.
It was a warning shot from within: “Pay attention to what matters most!”
And so I did.
The grief became a reminder that my values—commitment, curiosity, and service—had to guide my path forward. In that insight, there was a quiet sense of hope.
Take five minutes tonight.
Reflect on a recent experience of sadness or heartbreak.
Write down what that pain says about your hierarchy of values. Is it family? Achievement? Authenticity?
Then pick one small, incremental action that honors those values tomorrow. If you miss someone, send them a candid note. If you crave a healthier body, walk around the block after dinner.
That single act can be a powerful pivot toward living in harmony with the truths your grief reveals.
"We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us." — Joseph Campbell
Tell me—when has pain pulled back the curtain on what actually matters?
Did it shove you toward something real? A goal you kept dodging? A truth you finally stopped running from? Or maybe it made you pick up the phone, stitch something back together before it was too late.
Say it out loud. Write it down. Spill it. Someone out there is stuck in the same storm, looking for a way through. Your story might be the map.
Grief can feel like an unwelcome visitor. But there’s guidance in its message.
When pain shows up, it might be reminding you of something you hold dear.
Keep listening. Keep stepping forward, even if it’s shaky.
Pain isn’t just pain. It’s the map.
— Ryan Puusaari