As humans on this planet, the one thing that we all have in common is that we will experience loss.

The experiences of loss can look like:

• Loss of a loved one or one close to you and the grief that is associated with that
• Perceived loss of our purpose
• Loss of a relationship
• Loss of shelter
• Loss of something within ourselves: physical, emotional, spiritual

Any of these bring change to your state of equilibrium.

Maybe as you read this, something is buzzing inside of you as you are reminded of some experiences of loss in your life, how you felt, how it changed the very landscape of daily life around you and inside of you physically, mentally and emotionally.

Most of us have experienced that first one- loss of a loved one. Perspective is a big part of the key to learning how to manage our equilibrium in the face of loss, so I feel it would be helpful to take a minute to explore this. Loss is not really the word I like to use when referring to death. Loss of the physical apparatus does not mean loss of the energy of a person, the soul, the God-light, the divine source of a being. This has been my belief for as long as I can remember in varying stages of understanding, but really solidified during the times I faced great loss or the possibility of loss in my own life.

My physical and emotional stability was rocked to it's core during my journey to motherhood, having experienced many challenges and heartbreaks, then again when facing my husband's cancer diagnosis and most recently with my amazing father's passing on after a battle with a rare leukemia. This perspective that I embedded within my heart and circuitry was so vital in shedding light and hope during those dark experiences and allowed me to process the trauma rather than it getting in and harboring in the deep places within my body. It is a process and like any process, it does take practice.

When faced with any of life's big losses, we get thrown off balance and this is where our emotional state becomes our physical and physiological state. Each of us has a threshold of how much trauma and drama our brain can handle and the overspill trickles into our bodies, into our tissues and the spaces in between.

How can we navigate these quakes in life to restore physical and mental balance and well-being?

Gaining sovereignty over our reactions is incredibly powerful.

Our reactions form the responses that our nervous system produces in any given moment. What if we could reframe our reaction to these big changes that come into our life that are beyond our control?

Your reactions are something within your control!

Awareness of how you are feeling is also incredibly powerful. Instead of shunning, burying, ignoring, and running from difficult feelings, what if you recognize those feelings, name those feelings and allow the processing of those feelings, however that might look or feel like?

The truth is, when we do everything we can to NOT experience difficult feelings, we invite those feelings in to be absorbed and to harbor within our tissues and fascia and they get stored as energy. Over time, this is what creates blockages, restrictions, pain and dysfunction and often grows into chronic disease.

So, given all that we ALL will experience the feelings that come out of the experiences of loss in our lives, let us shed light on the incredible need to support ourselves and others in awareness, recognition, and safely processing so that we may heal.

Destigmatizing difficult feelings and emotions is essential in our own lives as well as in our shared existence.

Emotions are valuable information.

Emotions are simply energy.

Yes, this energy can feel overwhelming at times, and needs care to process.

When we increase our awareness to recognize emotions, we increase our ability for wholeness and well-being.

When we build a toolbox of simple practices that help us navigate and process these difficult emotions, we arm ourselves with an opportunity to heal, evolve and grow.

I think every day should be mental health awareness day. It is intricately and directly tied to our physical health.

Increasing mental health awareness around the world starts within our own selves AND it requires ongoing self-evaluation. Then using the tools to help our physical, mental and emotional self process the trauma of loss within us becomes the way through.

Find the essential tools and practices that can increase awareness of your emotional and physical state, and tools for managing your physical reactions in this related article:

Rebalancing Your Nervous System In Difficult Times: Bouncing, Vibration and Breathwork for Resilience And Healing

Read here