“Grief is a strong, sometimes overwhelming emotion for people, regardless of whether their sadness stems from the loss of a loved one or from a terminal diagnosis they or someone they love have received.”

The Mayo Clinic

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Today's Heartlift with Janell

227. Becoming Acquainted with Grief

July 19, 2023

Janell Rardon

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"Grief is a strong, sometimes overwhelming emotion for people, regardless of whether their sadness stems from the loss of a loved one or from a terminal diagnosis they or someone they love have received."
-The Mayo Clinic

Sometimes we have to hit the pause button in order to process really difficult emotional states. Grief is one of those emotions that needs time to breathe. Natasha Smith, author of "Can You Just Sit With Me? Healthy Grieving for the Losses of Life" (IVP), comes to the show today to help us understand this deep emotion a little bit more. Her own life is filled with unthinkable losses and therefore, unimaginable grief. She speaks candidly about delaying her process of grieving for thirty years. As her life took her from engineer to homeschooling mom to author, Natasha finally realized it was time to face her grief.  May Natasha's story inform your story and help you move through your own difficult "ALOT" stories with greater ease.

Pre-order Natasha's new book: CAN YOU JUST SIT WITH ME?
Visit Natasha's site: Natasha Smith
Meet Natasha on IG: @iamnatashasmith
Meet Janell on IG: @janellrardon
Revisit S4E4: Strength Has Many Faces
Revisit S4E3: Writing Your Moment of Gratitude
Revisit S4E5: A Grateful Perspective
Revisit S5: Grounded in Grace: A Meditative Exercise

Let's create an event together. Invite Janell and the podcast to your LIVE event. Together, we will HEARTLIFT your group and make great things happen! Contact Janell here: www.janellrardon.com/contact

Meet Janell over on her Insta, @janellrardon, and be sure to subscribe to her biweekly newsletter, filled with additional resources: www.janellrardon.com/free-content-for-subscribers.

Support the show

Begin Your Heartlifter's Journey:

  1. Visit and subscribe to Heartlift Central on Substack. This is our new online coaching center and meeting place for Heartlifters worldwide.
  2. Download the "Overcoming Hurtful Words" Study Guide PDF: BECOMING EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY
  3. Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon
  4. Leave a review and rate the podcast: WRITE A REVIEW
  5. Learn more about my books and work: Janell Rardon
  6. Make a tax-deductible donation through Heartlift International
Today's Heartlift with Janell

228. Grief Wears Many Faces

July 21, 2023

Janell Rardon

Send us a text

Grief comes in all shapes, sizes, and forms. At the beginning of her upcoming book, "Can You Just Sit With Me?" author Natasha Smith shares 10 brief vignettes of grief stories she has lived through in her short lifetime. She writes, "Friends, these stories represent part of my story of grief. This grief took me on a journey to understand how to process my emotions. Understanding my own emotions proved to be a huge learning curve. I battled anger, confusion, shock, and disbelief. I began to understand that grief could be expressed in these different forms."

In this bonus episode, Natasha guides us through a Biblical Model for Grief. Having this wise counsel in our emotional and mental health toolbox will serve us well when Grief knocks at our door.

Visit Natasha's site: https://imnatashasmith.com/
Listen to Part 1 of our interview: Becoming Acquainted with Grief
Take a look at this great Bible Study: A Widow's Workbook
Pre-order Natasha's new book: Can You Just Sit With Me?
Visit the ongoing Instagram Conversation: @janellrardon and @iamnatashasmith

Support the show

Begin Your Heartlifter's Journey:

  1. Visit and subscribe to Heartlift Central on Substack. This is our new online coaching center and meeting place for Heartlifters worldwide.
  2. Download the "Overcoming Hurtful Words" Study Guide PDF: BECOMING EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY
  3. Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon
  4. Leave a review and rate the podcast: WRITE A REVIEW
  5. Learn more about my books and work: Janell Rardon
  6. Make a tax-deductible donation through Heartlift International

Watch Our Remarkable Conversation on YouTube: Natasha & Janell


This week’s podcast prompts:

Here you go:

  • Consider Tasha’s beautiful thought on tears: “Tears are important to God. They tell stories we could never imagine.” How does that speak to you?
  • Tasha shares how Jesus worked through his own grief process. Does that help you?
  • Has anyone ever “just sat with you?” How did that help you?

Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon and comment on my posts concerning our conversation.

Fill out the info below, and I'll send you a link to download the PDF interactive guide, "Why Am I So Angry?" I believe that if you put in the hard work + intentional application of these principles + spiritual fortitude into this healing practice, you will move into a far more meaningful life.

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