The antithesis of a life that carries with it pain, as Faulkner wrote, would indeed be nothingness. Nietzsche's "Superman", the nihilistic fool, should have chosen a path more human. Grief, indeed, is better than nothingness. Grief feels. Apathy is not natural to our human condition and forces feelings to subside.

Life, unfortunately, isn't a smooth ride up.

My life has had its share of grief—much less than many people I know or have at least known of, and perhaps more than others. But still there is joy. My personal joy comes from the knowledge of the Lord. Yours may come from other things. The point is that grief is something to expect. Only a fool runs from that which is expected. The question is simple: how do we deal with grief?

The scope of this article is obviously far too small to deal with the psychological aspects of grief. I merely wish to illustrate how training and putting your mind and hands to work can help overcome the consequences of grief and move you on to the lessons that these events are meant to teach us.

Heal Through Doing

“Great grief does not of itself put an end to itself.”
—Seneca

The grieving process has a life of its own. However, you can accelerate the process of grief through exercise. Exercise increases endorphins, your brain's natural "feel good" transmitters, allowing your brain to process information more clearly and generate greater happiness. Exercise also channels destructive emotional energy normally stored by the body. Make no mistake—your body stores emotional energy, and that energy can be devastating to your health. Release is imperative. Prayer, yoga, exercise—all of these activities, if done correctly, will help release it.

Better yet: release energy through the giving of yourself to others.

On of the best ways to transform personal loss is through comparison. Just look around you: you'll find plenty of people who, despite your pain, have it much worse than you do. Help them. Give a bit of yourself. The rewards received will go a long way to helping you restore your own happiness and aid you to resolve your grief.