The Grief Wheel Where we live in the world, our race, nationality, ethnic background, religion, wealth or lack of it, all have nothing to do with the Grief Wheel. If you are alive, you have already traveled the Wheel, and you will again. Can you avoid it? No. What is it? How does it happen? The Grief Wheel is a name given to those events which bring us great sadness, strife and emotional turmoil. We cannot avoid it. Those events which set our feet on the Wheel happen TO us. It's true that we may have set forces into motion that brought about the actual happening by our fears, attitudes and actions. If we did play a part in life's turn of events, and if we're honest with ourselves, we say "OK. I did this. I'll deal with it." However, this is usually not the case. The Wheel is set into motion by events over which we have no control. Death of a loved one. The sudden loss of valued things due to fire, flood or other such calamities. The unexpected loss of a job. A move to a new location. Any upheavel in the normal course of our lives which is not expected or planned for is enough to cause emotional trauma. This sets the Grief Wheel into motion. The emotions connected to the Wheel are severe. If we do not learn to deal with them, they can make us sick and even kill us. How? Bottled up stress and anger lead to digestive disorders, heart disease, strokes and all manner of physical illness. Sadness and grief which are not allowed to surface can lead to depression, drug abuse, alcoholism — even mental and emotional breakdowns. The Wheel will turn. Will you survive it? There are many facets to the Grief Wheel, but only a few major categories: Denial — This did not happen to me. Guilt — What did I do wrong? How could I have stopped this? Anger — How dare "they" do this to me! Acceptance — This did happen to me. It cannot be undone. Moving On — I must continue to live the best I can. There's a bottom line in each of these 5 phases of the Wheel. Do you see it? Each of those emotions is turned inward; taken personally; it is viewed as an attack on the individual self; a blow to our ego. This is tough, but it is true. The last time you went to a funeral, how many times did you hear "What am I going to do?" "How am I going to go on?" "I don't know how to_______ (fill in the blank)!" Every comment was concern for those left behind. How many were for the deceased? The BIG "I" was in full force. We must each learn to travel through these times in our life intact and holding our balance. It's not easy. It can be done. Next time we'll begin our journey around the Wheel by examining denial — the greatest con job we pull on ourselves. 'Til then, walk in peace and balance. Re-Creating You Main Page Innerspace Main Page Modifications and Maintenance by Wicked Imaging E-Mail to Julia
The Grief Wheel is a name given to those events which bring us great sadness, strife and emotional turmoil. We cannot avoid it. Those events which set our feet on the Wheel happen TO us. It's true that we may have set forces into motion that brought about the actual happening by our fears, attitudes and actions. If we did play a part in life's turn of events, and if we're honest with ourselves, we say "OK. I did this. I'll deal with it."
However, this is usually not the case. The Wheel is set into motion by events over which we have no control. Death of a loved one. The sudden loss of valued things due to fire, flood or other such calamities. The unexpected loss of a job. A move to a new location. Any upheavel in the normal course of our lives which is not expected or planned for is enough to cause emotional trauma. This sets the Grief Wheel into motion.
The emotions connected to the Wheel are severe. If we do not learn to deal with them, they can make us sick and even kill us. How? Bottled up stress and anger lead to digestive disorders, heart disease, strokes and all manner of physical illness. Sadness and grief which are not allowed to surface can lead to depression, drug abuse, alcoholism — even mental and emotional breakdowns. The Wheel will turn. Will you survive it?
There are many facets to the Grief Wheel, but only a few major categories:
We must each learn to travel through these times in our life intact and holding our balance. It's not easy. It can be done. Next time we'll begin our journey around the Wheel by examining denial — the greatest con job we pull on ourselves.
'Til then, walk in peace and balance.