My Heart Hurts and I Feel Sad

Divorce Grief—And How to Survive It

Parts of this might be triggering to victims of narcissistic abuse or domestic violence, so please only read when you have capacity. If you read to the end, I promise to leave you on a positive note! Grateful for your witness.

I started a daily meditation practice about a year before my marriage fell apart.

A gift in so many ways, it steadied me while teaching me to note emotions as I felt them. Including where I felt them in my body.

For many, many months, I found myself noting the same thing over and over again.

“My heart hurts and I feel sad.”

You could often see me clutching my hand over my heart, hoping to ease it. Or over my gaping mouth, as I realized some new truth I hadn’t known about my life.

Fortunately, one of the many meditation teachers I’d practiced with by then encouraged me not to become the feeling. Don’t say, “My heart hurts and I am sad.”

Because feelings come and go and do not define us.

Even though I kept waking up each morning to the same painful feelings.

Month aft…