<![CDATA[Healing For Grieving Hearts - Halifax, NS

<![CDATA[Healing For Grieving Hearts - Halifax, NS - Blog]]>Tue, 10 Mar 2026 08:25:07 -0300Weebly<![CDATA[A Tender Goodbye and a New Beginning]]>Mon, 01 Jan 2024 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.healingforgrievinghearts.com/blog/a-tender-goodbye-and-a-new-beginning

There comes a time in every journey when we feel called to gather our energy, our dreams, and our hopes and place them tenderly into one new basket.

Over the years, I’ve had the profound honour of supporting many of you as an art therapist and creative grief coach. We’ve painted our way through pain, stitched together broken pieces, and found gentle ways to honour loss. I am endlessly grateful for your trust and courage.

Now, I feel a strong pull to fully immerse myself in my creative practice, to focus on my thread sculptures, inspired by the quiet strength and beauty of nature. I’m putting all my eggs into this new basket and allowing myself to be surprised by what will hatch. (smile)

While I am no longer offering art therapy or grief coaching services, please know that I carry the stories we shared with great tenderness. You have shaped me, and your bravery will always be woven into my work.

Thank you for walking alongside me. I invite you to continue following my journey as I explore new textures, colours, and ways of honouring life through art.

With gratitude and warmth,
Jacqueline

PS: I'm leaving the website up for now so you still have a place to find information for your healing journey. You can find me and my art at JacquelineSteudler.com

]]><![CDATA[7 Self-Care Practices to Help You Grieve and Heal]]>Fri, 06 Jan 2023 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.healingforgrievinghearts.com/blog/7-self-care-practices-to-help-you-grieve-and-heal

our Grief is always the same but we can grow around it

When someone we love dies, our world can feel like it’s crashing down. Losing a loved one can be devastating and overwhelming. Identifying the most effective ways to navigate your loss is critical. Self-care is one of the most important aspects of moving forward after a loss. It’s also one of the hardest to put in place.

But, it’s a necessary first step toward healing. Self-care is about caring for yourself and taking care of your needs. So, you have the best chance of recovering and moving forward with your loved one in your heart. In other words, it’s about giving yourself the support you need to get through a difficult situation.

Learn about the Different Types of Self-Care

Self-care can improve your well-being, lower stress levels, and help healing. These behaviours are dependent on individual preferences. A few types of self-care seem to be essential for anyone who is grieving.

Some of the most important types of self-care that everyone can practice during times of loss are:

Engaging in activities that give your body and mind something to do and focus your attention on.
Pay attention to your emotions and use that information to guide your actions. Acknowledge your feelings don't push them away.

1. Take Steps to Heal

Once you’ve identified what parts of you need support, it’s time to take steps toward healing.

The first step is to acknowledge that you’re in a stressful situation. It is critical to recognize that you’re dealing with loss and may be experiencing some symptoms related to depression or anxiety.

Once you’ve acknowledged that you’re in a stressful situation, it’s time to begin the healing process. Talk to someone you trust and open up about your feelings. Talking to a trusted friend, parent, or therapist can be a source of comfort and help you identify what you’re feeling and why.

2. Practice Breathing

Breathing exercises can help you feel more grounded and in control. There are many breathing exercises. Choosing one will depend on your preferences and personal situation.

One type of breathing exercise used to help with grief is guided imagery. You can create your imagery script or use an imagery CD. It's also called visualization.

Here are some examples of imagery scripts that can help you through times of high stress:

I am breathing in calm and clear thoughts.
I am breathing in healthy feelings of love and support.
I am breathing in gentle, calming touch.
I am breathing in delicious scents and tastes.

3. Write A To-Do List

Writing your to-do list can help you feel focused and organized, even during high stress.
Your to-do list can also be an effective way to process your thoughts and identify what you’re feeling.

When you’re journaling, you’re creating a "to-do list" that you can cross off as you complete tasks.

Here are some examples of to-do lists you can use:

I am healing and maintaining my health.
I am finding joy in the here and now.
I am moving forward and celebrating small victories.
I am spending time with those I love.
I am spending time with those I care for.
I will see a therapist when I need to.

4. Eat Well

Eating well can help you feel energized and balanced. It can also help you process your emotions and focus your thoughts. Some foods that are helpful for processing emotions include protein-rich foods such as fish, nuts, or beans, healthy fats such as avocados, and whole grains.
I'm not a nutritionist so please conduct your own research.

Some ideas for healthy eating while grieving include:

Fruits: Apples, oranges, kiwis, plums, pomegranates, etc.
Veggies: Starchy veggies such as potatoes and carrots. Leafy veggies such as lettuce and spinach.
Meat: Birds, eggs, and low-fat dairy products such as milk, yogurt, etc.

5. Get Some Exercise

Exercising improves your mood, increases your sense of well-being, and reduces stress levels. Studies have shown exercising can reduce symptoms of feeling depressed and hopeless.

Some types of exercise used to improve mood and reduce symptoms of grief include:

Walking
Yoga
Stretching
Housekeeping exercises include cleaning your room, sweeping the floor, or washing the dishes
Gardening
Cardio such as jogging, dancing, or walking

6. Set Up a Relaxing Environment

Sitting in silence and focusing on breathing can help you process your thoughts and identify your feelings. Creating a calming environment in your home or putting on nature sounds such as rain or ocean — can help you feel more centred and present. Research has also found that listening to music that you love can help you to process your emotions.

Some ideas for creating a relaxing environment in your home include:

Use dim lights and turn on soft, soothing music
Put on a favourite blanket or cozy sweater
Turn off the computer, removing your phones/tablets, and turning off the TV
Practice mindfulness in everyday life, such as brushing your teeth and showering
Journal about your feelings
Take a hot bath or shower with lavender essential oil

7. Find What Works for You

Self-care is vital to help you process your loss and start healing. You can take your loved on with you on your journey. There are many ways to practice self-care, and you enjoy each in different ways. Some may be more applicable to you at certain times, while others may work better for you at work or in your personal life.

30-Day Soul Connection Journal

]]><![CDATA[The different forms of self-care and how to adjust them for your life]]>Mon, 28 Nov 2022 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.healingforgrievinghearts.com/blog/the-different-forms-of-self-care-and-how-to-adjust-them-for-your-life

Self-care is often thought of as something we do for ourselves when we feel down or stressed. (And to be clear, self-care isn't selfish or self-indulgence.)

But what if we made self-care a regular part of our lives?

Think about it – if we took care of ourselves physically, emotionally, and mentally regularly, we would be better able to handle the ups and downs of life. We would be more resilient. And we would likely be happier overall.

So how can we make self-care a part of our lives?

Get enough sleep. Most of us need around eight hours of sleep each night. But some of us need more or less. So pay attention to how you feel after different amounts of sleep, and ensure you're getting the right amount.

Eat healthy foods. Eating nutritious foods helps our bodies to function at their best. When we're well-nourished, we have more energy and stamina, and we're better able to cope with stress.

Take breaks. When we're constantly on the go, it's essential to take a break now and then. Take a few minutes each day to relax and rejuvenate. Maybe take a hot bath, read your favourite book, or take a nature walk while connecting to your surroundings and nature's beauty. I've started to add a power nap to my day. Just 15 minutes a day lying down and closing my eyes.

Exercise. Exercise releases endorphins, which have mood-boosting effects. And even moderate exercise can help to reduce stress levels. So find an activity you enjoy, and make it a part of your routine. I'm not fond of Gyms, so you can mostly find me on a walk in the woods or at the beach. (smile)

Connect with others. Spending time with loved ones can help reduce stress and promote positive emotions. So make time for the people who matter to you, and stay connected even when you're apart.

Making self-care a part of your life can help you to feel your best.

So start today, and see how good you can feel! Or....

]]><![CDATA[The Labyrinth Leads to Centre]]>Fri, 23 Sep 2022 03:00:00 GMThttps://www.healingforgrievinghearts.com/blog/the-labyrinth-leads-to-centre

Labyrinth - Healing For Grieving Hearts - Jacqueline Steudler

Walking a labyrinth always leads you to the centre. The centre of yourself or your soul. You choose (smile)

You never can take a wrong turn. The difference between a maze where you get tripped up by the wrong path or wall, and you have to backtrack. In a labyrinth, you move forward.

We built the labyrinth in our garden a few years back, and every year it seems to become more difficult to keep nature from taking over. We built it when I moved to Nova Scotia from Switzerland seventeen years ago. (WOW)

At the beginning of my new life, I felt lost, not knowing anyone but my spouse and his family. That wasn't always enough to keep me creative and my community-based soul happy.

Homesickness came and went. I wasn't as confident as I had been in my familiar space to go out into a world where I didn't speak the language well enough. Trust me, my then school English wasn't great for an adult conversation. (smile)

In one of those homesickness moments, I remembered my walks in a labyrinth near where I had lived in Switzerland. Yes, in the middle of the bustling city of Zurich, there is a labyrinth a bit hidden in a park. I told my spouse, and we decided to build our own.

It's much smaller than the usual labyrinths, but it's wonderful to walk to the centre early in the morning before starting my day. It's my way of meditating.

A walk in the labyrinth always helps you to find back to your centre. In a time when your emotions are taking over your life, you will find it to be a wonderful addition to calm and nurture your soul.

Don't have a backyard to build your own? No worries, I have you covered.

Even moving your fingers inside the path of a labyrinth can help you have the same benefits as walking it. I've created a short video that shows you how you can draw your own labyrinth. It's super simple. Try it!

Watch here.

Let me know if it helped you too to center and calm your soul. Also, if you have questions or can't get it to work, send me an email; I'm happy to help.

]]><![CDATA[Healing Grief Takes Courage]]>Wed, 01 Jul 2020 03:00:00 GMThttps://www.healingforgrievinghearts.com/blog/healing-grief-takes-courage

I hope you're doing well and your time (mostly) spent at home during the pandemic is a good one. I still find it sometimes tricky that I can't move as freely as before. However, I'm always happy to spend the summers at home in Nova Scotia. Glad to see that more places can open up.

It has been a while since I wrote here. Do you also feel like the pandemic time is a weird one? Time either seems to stand still, or days rush by you?

In April, I released my short-read ebook 'From Grieving to Grateful: How to Heal a Broken Heart'. Thanks to terrific reviews, it became a bestseller on Amazon Canada for three days. (hahaha)
Always fun to see those sales metrics at work. And yes, I admit that it did feel good. (smile)
Following that, I had so many ideas about how I could help more women.

I'm working towards a new offering for grieving women. I want to reach and help more on their healing journey and create a supportive community at the same time.

Just keeping you in suspense for now, but in about two to three weeks, I'm ready to talk about it more and let you in on the secret. (smile) Stay tuned.

We all know that the journey of grief is never a linear one. You and I, we have our up and downs. Some days we breathe in joy, and some days we are just deeply sad and miss our loved one so much that our heart feels like someone is squeezing it.

Be assured that I'm not here to tell you how to grief or that you shouldn't be sad or cry. Instead, I'm here to help you find your healing journey through this messy and sometimes chaotic feeling of grief.

I leave you today with a quote from a young woman that I admire deeply.

"We were scared, but our fear was not as strong as our courage."
- Malala Yousafzai

You might be scared of your feelings sometimes. I assure you there is courage in you. And you can tease it out with love and compassion towards yourself. A good laugh with a dear friend helps too. (smile)

From my heart to yours, take good care and stay safe,
Jacqueline

PS: Do you have questions? Just press reply, and I'm happy to answer.

Are you interested in my ebook From Grieving to Grateful? Get it on Amazon. (You can download the free Kindle App on Amazon to read it on your mobile devices or desktop).

Jacqueline Steudler, Artist, Art Therapist, Creative Grief Coach, and Lover of Nature's Beauty

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