Suddenly life has a gap. A void. Something that was supposed to be there, but isn’t. Perhaps it’s a hope, a dream, a relationship, a job, a person, an experience. A different type of life.

Like an art form and a journey without a map, there seems to be no clear way to navigate the stormy waters of grief.

It can feel lonely, it can feel tiring, it can feel like no one understands.

In my own grief journey I can recall the kindness that buoyed us through the early days. Flowers, cards, dinners, phone calls, messages. Like a mirror reflection, I felt that the depth of our grief was matched by the depth of love and kindness.

However, it was the days, weeks and months that followed, I found myself falling into a deeper hole. Overwhelm, brain fog, fatigue, self- blame, resentment, loneliness, anxiety and sadness. I truly felt like I was drowning at sea wondering if I would ever surface to find air again, with a hole the size of the universe in my heart that no one else could see or understand.

I tried everything to heal myself. Psychologists, support groups, yoga, meditation, prayer, running, counselling…. Nothing was really helping me move forward.

It felt like my life was a tipped-out jigsaw and I didn’t even know where to begin to piece it back together.

I found myself asking

• How long is this feeling going to last?
• How am I ever going to survive this?
• How can I even begin to rebuild my life?
• What’s happening to my brain?

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It was not until 2014 that I finally hit rock bottom. I had walked the same well worn circular dusty path of sadness, blame and resentment, getting nowhere and I was …. tired.

I knew I had to make a change.

I had reached my crossroads. The pathway I was on was only leading in one direction. It was time. Time to choose a new path. I took the first step and took some time out for me.

It was during this time out I developed a framework to help myself navigate my own way from overwhelm to clarity. It is this exact framework, this step by step process, I have used to navigate my way from the bottom of the ocean, transforming toward vitality, courage and grace.

I realise now I have learnt more about grief, loss and life’s setbacks than I ever thought possible. In addition to being a physiotherapist, I have trained as a mindfulness meditation teacher, yoga teacher, a Demartini facilitator and developed a framework for recovery following life crisis, grief or loss for women incorporating all I have learnt.

Using this clear framework, I have had the opportunity to help many women, just like you, navigate their life setbacks transforming grief, loss and overwhelm into resilience, courage and grace.