Articles
Grief is a universal experience. At some point, each of us will grieve a loss, not only the loss of a loved one, but likely the loss of relationships, identity, health, home, imagined futures, or the worlds we thought we were living in. And yet, Western culture remains profoundly ill-equipped to hold grief, especially when the loss is traumatic or out of order.
On January 5, 2012, I sustained a spinal cord injury. In a matter of seconds, I lost the ability to control my legs with my brain—a traumatic loss that made me struggle for years. The loss of our bodies and the way they have always worked is comparable to the loss of an intimate partner, as we are changed forever (Clifton, 2014).
And yet, if you ask me, I live a pretty good life.
In this issue of MAPP Magazine, we sought to explore where positive psychology sits beside suffering. To make space at the holiday table for both celebration and lament. When you’ve lost a child or the use of your legs. . . When you’re facing a life-altering diagnosis or life-shattering heartbreak. . . When you’ve lost your way, can barely breathe, and well-meant platitudes and pep talks not only fall short but intensify your pain. . . what then? What does the best in us look like when we’re navigating the worst?
