When the World Keeps Moving but Your Heart Stays Still

Grief has a strange way of bending time. The world around you keeps spinning, bills keep coming, people keep laughing at coffee shops — and yet, inside, it feels like you’re standing completely still. Every sound is muffled, every face a blur. It can feel like you’re watching life from the other side of a window you can’t open.

If this is you right now, I want you to know: there’s nothing wrong with you. This isn’t weakness. This is grief — a natural, human response to love and loss.

I’m Jade, and today I want to sit with you in that stillness.

The Myth of “Moving On”

One of the hardest things about grief is the pressure to “get over it.” People might not say it out loud, but you can feel it in their questions:

• “Are you feeling better yet?”

• “You’ve got to stay strong.”

• “They wouldn’t want you to be sad.”

Those phrases can sting, even when they’re well-intentioned. Because the truth is: you don’t “move on” from grief. You move forward with it.

Your loss becomes part of your story — like a scar that softens over time but never fully disappears. And that’s not a bad thing. It’s proof that someone or something mattered deeply to you.

Why Grief Feels So Heavy

Grief isn’t just sadness. It’s love with nowhere to go. It’s the brain searching for someone who’s no longer there, and the body reacting as if they might walk through the door at any moment.

You may feel:

• Exhaustion even after a full night’s sleep.

• Irritability at small things that never used to bother you.

• Forgetfulness or brain fog.

• Physical aches — tight chest, stomach knots, headaches.

• Moments of guilt when you laugh or feel okay for a second.

These aren’t signs that you’re “failing” at grieving. They’re signs your body is adjusting to a deep change.

Tiny Steps Toward Healing

You don’t need to fix everything at once. Healing doesn’t happen in one giant leap — it happens in small, almost invisible steps.

Here are a few things that might help:

1. Name what you’re feeling.

Sometimes, saying “I’m sad” or “I’m angry” out loud can feel like unclenching a fist. Put words to the storm inside you — even if it’s just in a journal or whispered into the air.

2. Make space for memories.

Instead of avoiding every reminder of your loved one, try setting aside gentle moments to honor them. Light a candle. Cook their favorite meal. Say their name. It transforms pain into connection.

3. Find “safe people.”

Not everyone will understand your grief — and that’s okay. Look for people who let you talk without rushing you. These are the ones who will sit with you in silence when words fail.

4. Care for your body.

Grief can trick you into skipping meals, staying up late, or isolating yourself. Small acts like drinking water, stepping outside, or stretching your shoulders are quiet forms of self-love that keep you afloat.

5. Give yourself permission to feel joy.

It doesn’t dishonor the person you lost. In fact, allowing yourself to smile again can be a way of carrying their love forward.

When Grief Feels Too Heavy

If your grief feels unbearable — if you’re struggling to get out of bed, feeling hopeless, or thinking about hurting yourself — please reach out for help. Talk to someone you trust. Call or text a hotline. You don’t have to carry this alone.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S.): Dial or text 988

Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

Asking for help doesn’t mean you’re weak. It means you’re human.

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A Quiet Reminder

You are allowed to take your time. You are allowed to grieve in waves. And you are allowed to laugh again without guilt.

Grief is love with nowhere to go — and love this deep never really ends. It transforms. It softens. It teaches us how much we’re capable of feeling.

Wherever you are in this moment, know that I see you. Your grief is real. Your healing is possible.

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If You Need Support Right Now

Grieving alone is heavy. At My Reset Lab, we created the Grief & Loss Circle — a small, supportive weekly group where you can share, listen, and simply exist without judgment. If you need a space where your pain is understood, you’re welcome to join us.

—Jade

Support Groups