Grief after loss is a trying time for everyone, and only those who have experienced it truly understand the weight within your body and soul that is left after a loved one has passed on. Grief journals are a common tool used by grieving individuals to explore their feelings, release them, connect with their loved one and find peace throughout the process. As such, Loving Ashes put together a number of grief journal tips and writing prompts to help inspire your healing.

Be Fearless in Your Writing

Grief journaling is about expressing yourself fully and completely, not about perfect phrased and laid-out paragraphs. You want to keep your hand moving as soon as you put pen to paper to ensure that your truest feelings are emerging – pausing to reread your words means you subconsciously want to edit and control what you are saying, which is not the point of the exercise.
Remember not to cross out anything you write, even if you think you didn’t mean it. There is value in the things we say accidentally, and you should examine where those feelings arose from at a later stage. Allow yourself to be thoughtless, illogical and totally free of expectation: this is your page to pore over. Let yourself be ruthless in your writing, and don’t shy away from ugly or scary thoughts.

Set Times to Write

It can be helpful to set time aside each day, or certain days a week, to dedicate to your journal writing. There is nothing wrong with writing as and when you feel like it, but scheduling it in can help motivate you to keep up your healing process.
Seat yourself somewhere calm and comfortable and get started with your grief journal – do not dwell on trying to say profound things, rather write whatever comes to mind. With regular writing, your grief journal will soon help you heal wounds, old and new.

Use ‘Jumping Off’ Sentences

We want to help prompt your grief journal writing. These ‘jumping off’ sentences are greater starting points for you to try:

  •  “I remember when…”
  • “The first time I…”
  • “My happiest memory of you is…”
  • “You taught me…”

Get Introspective

A helpful tip for those who are a little afraid of writing is to talk about your life – in words – as if you are talking to your loved one. Write down what is happening in your life, contemplate your future goals, describe your thoughts on death and fears you may have. This helps you to not only grieve, but to explore your innermost feelings in a safe and tranquil space.

Extra Writing Prompts for Non-Writers

There is no need to be intimidated by the writing process. Grief journals are all about your healing and self-expression. Here are some tips to get you started if you feel weary…

  • Use two words only. For example, “Feeling blue” or “Remembering her”.
  • Choose a favourite song and doodle words and images you associate with it.
  • Take a quote you love and write it in your grief journal.
  • List ten special memories you have.

All in all, we hope that these grief journal tips and writing prompts have helped to inspire your healing and get you moving in the right direction, emotionally. Contact us should you be interested in our memorial art pieces and we will be sure to contact you. Stay locked on our blog for more interesting and helpful articles for bereaved individuals and their supporters.