The 3 A’s of Grief – From Stuck to Starting Again

By Lynn Lewis, Certified Grief Coach | Destined to Thrive Grief Coaching

Grief, in its simplest form, is the emotional response to loss. Most people associate it with death, but grief isn’t limited to that. It can arise from the end of a relationship, a health diagnosis, a divorce, the loss of a job or home, or the sudden shift in life as we knew it. In short grief shows up anytime something meaningful is taken away.

What many don’t understand is that grief is not linear. It doesn’t follow a schedule, and it definitely doesn’t look the same for everyone. It has no expiration date, and it’s not a “one size fits all” process. Think of it like emotional DNA—your grief journey is uniquely yours, even if you share the same loss with someone else.

Here’s the part no one tells you: grief can leave you feeling stuck. And that stuck place? It’s hard. It’s heavy. It’s isolating. In my experience as both a mother who grieves and a grief coach, I’ve met people who are not ready to move—and some who want to move forward but don’t know how.

This post is for those who are ready.

When you’re feeling overwhelmed by loss and unsure of where to begin, I invite you to reflect on the Three A’s of Grief: Acknowledge. Accept. Action.

1. Acknowledge

Acknowledge that the loss happened. Sometimes the shock is so great that our minds attempt to protect us by denying the reality. If we don’t acknowledge it, we can’t heal from it.

2. Accept

Accepting the reality of the loss doesn’t mean you approve of it. It means you are allowing yourself to feel the weight of it. You may be dealing with guilt, shame, loneliness, frustration, even embarrassment. Accepting what is true creates the space for what’s next.

3. Action

After you’ve acknowledged the loss and accepted the reality, the next step is to take action. Action is where transformation begins. It doesn’t mean forgetting. It means choosing to move—emotionally, spiritually, and practically—toward healing. It’s where we shift from “I can’t change what happened” to “But I can decide what happens next.”

Let me leave you with this:

Imagine a car with a flat tire. You see it. You know it’s flat. You even accept that it needs repair. But you never call for help. Never change the tire. You just keep staring at it, talking about it, and wondering why you’re not getting anywhere. That’s what grief without action looks like.

Acknowledging and accepting are critical steps—but it’s action that gets you moving again. The path forward doesn’t have to be big or fast. It just has to begin. If you’re ready to take the first step, I’m here. Schedule your complimentary chat here - www.calendly.com/destinedtothrive. If you’re not ready just yet, I honor that too.

You deserve to heal at your pace—but please know that healing is possible.

With you on the journey,

www.destinedtothrivegriefcoaching.com