Grief hurts. While it' s natural to want to avoid pain, healing after a loss requires engaging with and expressing the pain. The only way to fully engage with our grief is to open ourselves to it. All our thoughts and feelings need acknowledgment. They need our time and attention. They also need expression. Sharing our grief outside of ourselves is called mourning, and ongoing mourning is what truly catalyzes our healing over time. Yet we are never more vulnerable than when we are sharing our deepest emotions.

Vulnerability is scary. We' re often afraid of the pain we' ll feel when we' re honest with ourselves. We also tend to be afraid of what others might think. But it turns out that vulnerability in grief is our ally. The more open and authentic we are, the more fully we can integrate our loss and go on to live and love well. If you' ve suffered a significant loss, this book by one of the world' s most respected grief counselors will help you understand why and how to be vulnerable in grief. It will help you find the courage to mourn authentically, one small bit at a time. And it will help you embrace the paradoxical power of vulnerability in living a rich, full life.