Caregiving and Grieving Archives

Companioning Tenet Nine: Companioning is about respecting disorder and confusion…

…it is not about imposing order and logic. by Alan D. Wolfelt, PhD “Instead of struggling against the force of confusion, we could meet it and relax.” — Pema Chodron The death of someone loved brings about significant change in the life of the mourner. Change of any kind starts with disorder and confusion. Companioning […]

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Companioning Tenet Eight: Being Still

Companioning the bereaved is about being still; it is not about frantic movement forward. “Things come suitable to their time.” Enid Bagnold Many of the messages that people in grief are given are in opposition to stillness… “carry on;” “keep your chin up;” “keep busy;” “I have someone for you to meet.” Yet, the paradox

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Companioning Tenet Seven: the gifts of sacred silence

Leave a Comment / Caregiving and Grieving, Companioning the Grieving / By Alan Wolfelt

Companioning the bereaved means discovering the gifts of sacred silence; it does not mean filling up every moment with words. “Do not speak unless you can improve upon silence.” Buddhist teaching In discovering the gifts of sacred silence, you cultivate what becomes an avenue for the mourner to open his heart up to wisdom surrounding

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Companioning Tenet Six: Walking Alongside

Leave a Comment / Caregiving and Grieving, Companioning the Grieving / By Alan Wolfelt

Companioning is about walking alongside; it is not about leading or being led. “The most familiar models of who we are—doctor and patient, ‘helper’ and ‘helped’—often turn out to be major obstacles to the expression of our caring instincts; they limit the full measure of what we have to offer one another… True compassion arises

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Companioning Tenet Five: Bearing Witness

Leave a Comment / Caregiving and Grieving, Companioning the Grieving / By Alan Wolfelt

Companioning is about bearing witness to the struggle of others; it is not about judging or directing these struggles. by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act caring, all of which have the potential to turn

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