How the power of gratitude can help you heal after pet loss

When we have lost a beloved pet, the grief of the loss makes it almost impossible for us to see anything else. All the good times we spent with our pet as well as the other blessings we have in our lives, seem to fade into the background, while the overwhelming emotions of grief after the loss take control of us.

And while it is important to let yourself grieve, the feelings of sadness, emptiness, guilt and pain can sometimes be so strong, that it is difficult to cope with or move through the grief. The bond many of us have with our pet is very strong, and the grief after the loss therefore equally deep.

“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” ~ Melody Beattie

Gratitude as a tool for healing

The value of practicing gratitude has long been known, and studies have shown that gratitude – having a positive, appreciative attitude – contributes to better health, a higher sense of well-being, and a faster rate of recovery from illness.

But while we may acknowledge gratitude’s many benefits, it can still be difficult to sustain, especially in the midst of grieving the death of a beloved pet.

That’s why practicing gratitude makes so much sense. When we practice giving thanks for the time with had with together with our pet as well as for the blessings we have in our lives now, we give ourselves the chance to see all of life as a blessing, to see not just the grief and the pain, but also all the love.

Remember that gratitude isn’t a blindly optimistic approach in which the bad or painful things in life are ignored. It’s more a matter of where we put our focus and attention. Pain and injustice exist in this world, but when we focus on the gifts of life, on all the fond moments with and memories of our pet, we gain a feeling of well-being. Gratitude balances us and gives us hope. We begin to let go of the grief and really feel grateful for knowing and having had such an amazing animal in our lives.

What is on your gratitude list? What things about your pet are you grateful for? And what (or who) do you have in your life now that you are grateful for?

Some ways to practice gratitude

Keep a gratitude journal in which you list things for which you are thankful. You can make daily, weekly or monthly lists. Keeping that journal where you can see it will remind you to think in a grateful way.

• Make a gratitude collage by drawing or pasting pictures.
• Practice gratitude around the dinner table or make it part of your nighttime routine.
• Practice finding the hidden blessing in a challenging situation.
• When you feel like complaining or things seem hopeless, make a gratitude list instead. You may be amazed by how much better you feel.
• Notice how gratitude is impacting your life and write about it – or express it in some way that feels right for you..

As you practice, an inner shift begins to occur, and you may be delighted to discover how content and hopeful you are feeling. That sense of fulfillment is gratitude at work. And little by little it will be easier for you to move through the grief after pet loss and achieve a state of inner peace and gratitude, feeling love and not pain when you think of your beloved pet.

Gratitude Journal

I have created a Gratitude Journal to help you implement the practice of gratitude in your life after pet loss. You can get the Gratitude Journal free of charge by clicking here, or on the image below.

Words from a heart that is healing:
“Marianne, Thank you for this wonderful journal, and all of your blogs, articles, and other downloads. They have been a tremendous help to me during this very difficult time. Every time I see your name in my inbox and receive one of your invaluable emails I get a sense of uplifting because I know help is near. It warms my heart to see such caring and sincere work, and I appreciate it. Thank you again!” ~ Julie Connors