Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself, and know that everything in life has purpose. There are no mistakes, no coincidences; all eve… - Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

Jennifer was told to be strong for her children when her husband died. Today she wonders about the message her dry eyes implied. Did her children think she didn’t care? “What if I did cry in front of the kids? What if I modeled grief for them in that way? I could have said, ‘Mommy is sad and crying because Daddy has died.’ I could have reassured them that I was still strong enough to be there for them and take care of them.” Children need to know that strong people cry when loved ones die and that does not hamper their ability to go on with life.

We have to look at our relationships and ask, “Is the love I give and receive based on how love was defined for me when I was a child? Is this the kind of love I wish to give and receive? Is it the kind of relationship I really want?

We usually know more about suppressing anger than feeling it. Tell a counselor how angry you are. Share it with friends and family. Scream into a pillow. Find ways to get it out without hurting yourself or someone else. Try walking, swimming, gardening — any type of exercise helps you externalize your anger. Do not bottle up anger inside. Instead, explore it. The anger is just another indication of the intensity of your love.