--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Journeying through grief is one of the…" description: "\"“Journeying through grief is one of the most \"normal human\" experiences you can have. Nevertheless, all too frequently the heartbroken seem to feel ali..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/feb/elizabeth-berrien-24243_first-place_journeying-through-grief-is-one-of-the-m_1247181.jpg" --- # Journeying through grief is one of the most "normal human"… ![“Journeying through grief is one of the most "normal human" experiences you can have. Nevertheless, all too frequently the heartbroken seem to feel alienated by society. Unfortunately in our culture, we are taught to hold our feelings in. If someone asks us, "How are you doing today?" the expected…” quote by Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/feb/elizabeth-berrien-24243_first-place_journeying-through-grief-is-one-of-the-m_1247181.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/feb/elizabeth-berrien-24243_first-place_journeying-through-grief-is-one-of-the-m_1247181.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/feb/elizabeth-berrien-24243_first-place_journeying-through-grief-is-one-of-the-m_1247181.jpg) > ““Journeying through grief is one of the most "normal human" experiences you can have. Nevertheless, all too frequently the heartbroken seem to feel alienated by society. Unfortunately in our culture, we are taught to hold our feelings in. If someone asks us, "How are you doing today?" the expected answer is, "I'm okay." But what if you aren't okay? You obviously don't want to go into a monologue of why you're not okay, but sometimes you feel as if you're going to explode if you can't "tell off" that well-meaning person for even daring to ask you such a thing in the first place!”” [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Grief is a common human experience, but societal expectations often pressure people to hide their true feelings, leading to isolation and emotional buildup. **In simple terms:** Grief feels normal but is often hidden, causing isolation. Key Takeaway Allow honest expression of grief. Themes grief emotional health social expectations Mood sad reflective empathetic Type advice reflective When to use this quote - therapy sessions - support groups - confiding in trusted friends - journaling - creative outlets Key Concepts psychology social norms emotional regulation Questions to Reflect On - How can you create a safe space for sharing grief? - What barriers keep you from expressing true feelings? A Different Perspective Societal pressure may discourage open discussion, making it hard to find safe spaces. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [First place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-place/) [Grief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Loss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loss/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) ## Related quotes > [Grief is a normal and natural response to loss. It is originally an unlearned feeling process. Keeping grief inside increases your pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-grant/grief-is-a-normal-and-natural-response-to-loss-it-is-originally-an/) [Anne Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-grant/) > [One of the difficulties with grief research is that it risks making certain kinds of grief seem normal and others abnormal - and of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meghan-o-rourke/one-of-the-difficulties-with-grief-research-is-that-it-risks-making/) [Meghan O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meghan-o-rourke/) > [We need to lay hold on the feelings and try to control them to keep us from getting into a circumstance that leads to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/we-need-to-lay-hold-on-the-feelings-and-try-to-control-them-to-keep/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) > [If you Love someone then dont hold back your Feelings. because Love is the Reason to Live. Love is Beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indraneel/if-you-love-someone-then-dont-hold-back-your-feelings-because-love-is/) [IndraneeL](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indraneel/) > [Falling in love is great. It colors your whole world and makes your days inspiring. But for some reason, some people find it too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ces-peta/falling-in-love-is-great-it-colors-your-whole-world-and-makes-your/) [Ces Peta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ces-peta/) > [If you hold back your feelings becuase your afraid of getting hurt...you'll end up hurting anyway. </3](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naye-naye/if-you-hold-back-your-feelings-becuase-your-afraid-of-getting-hurt/) [Naye-Naye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naye-naye/) > [When you do something that maybe wasn't the best thing to do at the time, you don't want to hold onto those feelings of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-w-k/when-you-do-something-that-maybe-wasn-t-the-best-thing-to-do-at-the/) [Andrew W.K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-w-k/) > [Remember all the times you were a winner; the times when you did something you were proud of, even small things. Hold these feelings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-hay/remember-all-the-times-you-were-a-winner-the-times-when-you-did/) [Louise Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-hay/) > [“Don’t talk then. Paint. Dance. Write. Just don’t hold your feelings inside. The longer we let pain hide in our hearts, the more it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-sedoti/don-t-talk-then-paint-dance-write-just-don-t-hold-your-feelings/) [Chelsea Sedoti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-sedoti/) > [Its hard really have to hold on to the feelings that you always have. -To move-on on your own with an empty heart. -To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laine/its-hard-really-have-to-hold-on-to-the-feelings-that-you-always-have/) [Laine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laine/) > [Resentment or grudges do no harm to the person against whom you hold these feelings but every day and every night of your life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/resentment-or-grudges-do-no-harm-to-the-person-against-whom-you-hold/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [You should never hold back because of your feelings. If you hate them, let them know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-should-never-hold-back-because-of-your-feelings-if-you-hate-them/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The feeling I have for her has ruined our friendship.Now,she won't talk to me and even look at me.I'm an idiot!!!If I knew this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-feeling-i-have-for-her-has-ruined-our-friendship-now-she-won-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Instead of thinking that this has to be the end, I'm going to hold out. I believe she could very well be the one.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-pratt/instead-of-thinking-that-this-has-to-be-the-end-i-m-going-to-hold-out/) [S. Pratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-pratt/) > [If you love someone, don't hold back your feelings, whatever will be the outcome, atleast you wont regret for not trying !!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/if-you-love-someone-don-t-hold-back-your-feelings-whatever-will-be/) Senoraroy ## More by Elizabeth Berrien > [“I used to feel afraid of the future, always assuming the worst. But now I've realized that my worst fears have already happened, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/i-used-to-feel-afraid-of-the-future-always-assuming-the-worst-but-now/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) > [“I would still rather feel things and live life to the fullest rather than hide in a cave and attempt to protect myself from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/i-would-still-rather-feel-things-and-live-life-to-the-fullest-rather/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) > [“I began to recognize that there was a part of me that was stronger than I ever could have imagined. I didn't know how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/i-began-to-recognize-that-there-was-a-part-of-me-that-was-stronger/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) > [“Some of the choices you make might not always turn out to be the best ones, but at least you are learning as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/some-of-the-choices-you-make-might-not-always-turn-out-to-be-the-best/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) > [“It is okay to release your feelings when you feel the waves coming. It's all part of the process of having to let go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/it-is-okay-to-release-your-feelings-when-you-feel-the-waves-coming-it/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) > [“The intense roller coaster of emotions will gradually lesson over time. But there is no timeframe for the grieving process, and it will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/the-intense-roller-coaster-of-emotions-will-gradually-lesson-over/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) > [“In the first year of my grief, there were times when I felt like hiding my personal story of loss and other times when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/in-the-first-year-of-my-grief-there-were-times-when-i-felt-like/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) > [“The truth is, we never know what life will bring us and we don't have as much control as we might think we have.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/the-truth-is-we-never-know-what-life-will-bring-us-and-we-don-t-have/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) > [“Remember to view yourself and your humanness with a kind heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/remember-to-view-yourself-and-your-humanness-with-a-kind-heart/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) > [“I believe I gather strength from the generations of women who came before me - that together we all hold the suffering of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/i-believe-i-gather-strength-from-the-generations-of-women-who-came/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) > [“We never truly "get over" a loss, but we can move forward and evolve from it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/we-never-truly-get-over-a-loss-but-we-can-move-forward-and-evolve/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) > [“Mothering while grieving should involve being understanding and keeping a gentle attitude toward yourself as you work to balance your own needs and your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/mothering-while-grieving-should-involve-being-understanding-and/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) > [“Once you have walked down the grief path, what you have gained on your journey may turn into invaluable advice for someone else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/once-you-have-walked-down-the-grief-path-what-you-have-gained-on-your/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) > [“It's my own deep-rooted feeling that our souls never truly die and that life continues in some way. I know I need to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/it-s-my-own-deep-rooted-feeling-that-our-souls-never-truly-die-and/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) > [“Each loss brings growth with it, and learning to handle new experiences and taking charge of your needs is part of the transformative process.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/each-loss-brings-growth-with-it-and-learning-to-handle-new/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) [Explore all 24 Elizabeth Berrien quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) ## More First place quotes > [“But the process should not be confused with science. When tests are used as selections devices, they're not a neutral tool; they become a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-whyte/but-the-process-should-not-be-confused-with-science-when-tests-are/) [William H. Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-whyte/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [The politician attempts to remedy the evil by increasing the very thing that caused the evil in the first place: legal plunder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-politician-attempts-to-remedy-the-evil-by-increasing-the-very/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [At times you are going to miss people. When that happens, others have to come to the front and show the calibre that brought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-phelan/at-times-you-are-going-to-miss-people-when-that-happens-others-have/) [Mike Phelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-phelan/) > [Im never shocked when people let me down nowadays. I just hate the fact that I put myself in a position to be let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-never-shocked-when-people-let-me-down-nowadays-i-just-hate-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Had a 90's music party with my Glee family tonight. Helped remind me why I got into music in the first place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-salling/had-a-90-s-music-party-with-my-glee-family-tonight-helped-remind-me/) [Mark Salling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-salling/) > [“We heard about people who go back to their roots. That is good, but don't get stuck in the root. There is the branch,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/we-heard-about-people-who-go-back-to-their-roots-that-is-good-but-don/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [Don't be afraid of failure, be afraid of not trying in the first place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-forleo/don-t-be-afraid-of-failure-be-afraid-of-not-trying-in-the-first-place/) [Marie Forleo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-forleo/) > [“If you have the ability and the opportunity to help someone, but you don't do anything just because you're scared or it's inconvenient or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bree-despain/if-you-have-the-ability-and-the-opportunity-to-help-someone-but-you/) [Bree Despain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bree-despain/) > [Every penny we spend comes from the taxpayer. We thus owe it to the taxpayer to work as hard managing that money wisely as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-mulvaney/every-penny-we-spend-comes-from-the-taxpayer-we-thus-owe-it-to-the/) [Mick Mulvaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-mulvaney/) > [“The traumatized soul finds no rest in conditions of peace. It’s forever questing for violence, for action, for the same combination of factors which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-s-williams/the-traumatized-soul-finds-no-rest-in-conditions-of-peace-it-s/) [Matthew S. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-s-williams/) > [When you're 20 you care what everyone thinks, when you're 40 you stop caring what everyone thinks, when you're 60 you realize no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/when-you-re-20-you-care-what-everyone-thinks-when-you-re-40-you-stop/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Because I'm not, in fact, depressed, Prozac makes me manic and numb - one of the reasons I slice my arm in the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marya-hornbacher/because-i-m-not-in-fact-depressed-prozac-makes-me-manic-and-numb-one/) [Marya Hornbacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marya-hornbacher/) > [“The greatest faith is the willingness to ask in the first place, all evidence to the contrary. Faith not just in God, but in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cronin/the-greatest-faith-is-the-willingness-to-ask-in-the-first-place-all/) [Justin Cronin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cronin/) [Browse all 2,907 First place quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-place/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Journeying through grief is one of the most \"normal human\" experiences you can have. Nevertheless, all too frequently the heartbroken seem to feel alienated by society. Unfortunately in our culture, we are taught to hold our feelings in. If someone asks us, \"How are you doing today?\" the expected answer is, \"I'm okay.\" But what if you aren't okay? You obviously don't want to go into a monologue of why you're not okay, but sometimes you feel as if you're going to explode if you can't \"tell off\" that well-meaning person for even daring to ask you such a thing in the first place!”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Elizabeth Berrien" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/journeying-through-grief-is-one-of-the-most-normal-human-experiences/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "First place" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/journeying-through-grief-is-one-of-the-most-normal-human-experiences/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/feb/elizabeth-berrien-24243_first-place_journeying-through-grief-is-one-of-the-m_1247181.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/feb/elizabeth-berrien-24243_first-place_journeying-through-grief-is-one-of-the-m_1247181.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/feb/elizabeth-berrien-24243_first-place_journeying-through-grief-is-one-of-the-m_1247181.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Journeying through grief is one of the most \"normal human\" experiences you can have. Nevertheless, all too…” — Elizabeth Berrien", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Elizabeth Berrien", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Journeying through grief is one of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/journeying-through-grief-is-one-of-the-most-normal-human-experiences/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/journeying-through-grief-is-one-of-the-most-normal-human-experiences/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```