Grief Isn’t Just About Death
7 Life Changes You Might Be Grieving
Grief Is More Than Losing Someone—It’s Losing a Piece of Yourself
We’ve been taught that grief only happens when someone dies. But grief is so much bigger than that.
Grief is any moment where life changes in a way you didn’t expect, and you have to let go of what once was. It’s the space between who you were and who you’re becoming. The discomfort of change. The longing for what felt safe.
And here’s the part no one talks about: You can grieve something even if no one else thinks it’s a big deal. You can grieve something even if it was your choice to let it go.
So if you’ve been feeling heavy, lost, or disconnected—but can’t quite explain why—I want you to know: You might be grieving. And it’s okay.
Here are seven life changes that can trigger grief (even when no one else sees it).
1. The End of a Relationship (Even If It Wasn’t Right for You)
Breakups, divorces, friendships fading… even if you know it needed to end, your body still registers it as loss.
💡 Why It Feels Like Grief:
You’re letting go of shared dreams and future plans.
Your nervous system is adjusting to a new sense of safety without them.
You might feel loneliness, even if you don’t miss the person.
🌬 How to Move Through It:
Breathe into the space where they used to be. Inhale deeply for 4 counts, hold for 4, and exhale for 6, imagining your breath filling that emptiness with self-love.
2. Losing a Version of Yourself
Maybe you’ve outgrown old patterns. Maybe you’re stepping into a new season of life, and suddenly… you don’t recognize yourself.
💡 Why It Feels Like Grief:
You’re shedding an identity that once felt safe.
You may feel ungrounded, wondering: Who am I now?
Nostalgia for the "simpler" past version of you.
🌬 How to Move Through It:
Place a hand on your heart and whisper, "I honor who I was. I embrace who I’m becoming." Let your breath bridge the gap between past and present.
3. Moving Away from a Place That Felt Like Home
Whether it’s a childhood home, a city, or just a familiar space—leaving a place can feel like leaving a piece of yourself behind.
💡 Why It Feels Like Grief:
Your nervous system associates places with safety and belonging.
You’re grieving the routines, sights, and sounds that once grounded you.
Even if the move is exciting, there’s still loss in change.
🌬 How to Move Through It:
Breathe in the essence of home—the smells, the memories, the energy. Exhale the belief that home is only in one place. You carry it with you.
4. Career Shifts or Losing a Job
Even if you hated that job, even if you chose to leave, you might still grieve the structure, routine, or sense of purpose it gave you.
💡 Why It Feels Like Grief:
Your identity may have been tied to your role.
You’re stepping into the unknown, which can trigger fear.
Even positive career changes bring a loss of the familiar.
🌬 How to Move Through It:
Breathe deeply, saying “I release what no longer serves me. I trust what’s unfolding.” Let your breath guide you into new possibilities.
5. Friendships Fading or Changing
Losing a friendship—whether through distance, life changes, or misalignment—is its own kind of heartbreak.
💡 Why It Feels Like Grief:
You’ve lost someone who once witnessed your life.
The shift may feel sudden or out of your control.
It can bring up feelings of rejection, loneliness, or nostalgia.
🌬 How to Move Through It:
Place both hands over your heart. Inhale, sending love to the memories you shared. Exhale, releasing attachment to what no longer aligns.
6. Health Changes or Aging
Whether it’s an injury, illness, or simply realizing your body isn’t what it used to be, this kind of grief is deeply personal.
💡 Why It Feels Like Grief:
You might feel disconnected from the body you once trusted.
There’s grief in adjusting to new limitations.
It brings up existential feelings about time, change, and mortality.
🌬 How to Move Through It:
Breathe into the parts of your body that feel different—not with frustration, but with love. Whisper, "I honor you. I listen to you. I am grateful for you."
7. Losing a Sense of Safety in the World
Sometimes, it’s not just personal loss—it’s collective grief. Watching the world change, experiencing uncertainty, or witnessing tragedy can create a deep sense of heaviness.
💡 Why It Feels Like Grief:
The world may feel less stable or predictable.
You may carry ancestral grief or trauma in your body.
You’re longing for a sense of belonging and safety.
🌬 How to Move Through It:
Breathe in "I am safe in this moment." Exhale "I send love to the world and to myself."
You Are Allowed to Grieve ANY Change
Grief isn’t just about death—it’s about life, change, and transitions.
If you’ve been feeling heavy and didn’t know why, let this be your permission:
💛 You are allowed to grieve what no longer is.
💛 You are allowed to miss something and still move forward.
💛 You are allowed to heal, one breath at a time.
If you’re grieving a life transition, my Growing with Grief course can support you with:
✅ Guided breathwork sessions for emotional release
✅ Somatic healing tools for nervous system regulation
✅ A step-by-step path to embracing change with more ease
