Sangha of Auspicious Companions

What I Learned After 3 Bereavements in a Row

After losing her husband of 35 years, then her sister and father within months, Lisa Jackson felt stripped of identity, plagued by “What’s the point?” thoughts. She tried everything — gong baths, cold-water swimming, junk food, intermittent crying — searching for a way back to her old happy self. Then she discovered something unexpected: tuning into her body’s wisdom rather than her mind’s “shoulds.” When faced with any decision, she began asking not what made logical sense, but what gave her goosebumps, what made her compass shine. This simple practice of trusting bodily knowing over mental reasoning became her guide through grief’s wilderness. It led her to fire a predatory financial adviser, hire a trustworthy tiler, leave draining friendships, and ultimately run a marathon carrying a pouch of her husband’s ashes. Grief remains a solid circle at the center of her life, but around it, something wider and brighter keeps growing.

Be The Change

The next time you face a choice today, even a small one, pause before your mind lists reasons. Close your eyes, take a breath, and notice what your body says. Does your chest open or contract? Does energy rise or drain away?