Grief is a journey that we all will have to walk in life.

It can be a hard one for many, but as I have walked it now a few times in life (most recently after my dad passed away), I can say- without a doubt- that it is possible to find joy in the grief journey.

It sounds counterintuitive and it’s a bit hard to explain–but I encourage you to check out my How to Find Joy in Grief Part One post and Part Two post to help further describe this.

If you are the midst of a grief journey, these are five resources that have really served me personally. They go beyond the traditional grief resources that are available out there -and may just offer a different perspective on death, grief and healing.

#1: Bella Lively’s Podcast Episode

This podcast episode completely changed my whole perspective on death and-in particular- having a parent pass away.

There is a little bit of backstory regarding this episode.

Bella’s father passed away in early summer of 2024. She then recorded and release this episode all about her experience with her dad’s transition in middle-late July of 2024.

I listened to it pretty close to when it came out, and felt such a sense of beauty with her experience of her dad passing away and the way she approached death and grief.

Then, completely unexpectedly, my own dad passed away on August 1st, 2024.

I had literally just listened to Bella’s episode not even two weeks prior, and it it was still very much in my awareness–and then I went through the same experience of having a father pass away.

I cannot tell you how much this podcast episode changed my perspective on death, and it honestly has been such a beacon to listen to when I missed my dad and was getting through those first few weeks of the shock and the confusion.

If you are ready for a whole new viewpoint on losing a parent or a dear loved one in your life, Bella’s episode will offer it in a way that is beautiful, magical and comforting.

#2: Coco Movie

When I first watched the movie Coco, I fell in love with it right away. Now, after losing two close people in my own life, I love it more than I did before.

Part of our fear around death is that it is ultimately unknown. We don’t know what happens when we die–or when others die.

Coco offers us a little exploration into one of the potentials.

Following little Miguel as he accidentally crosses over during Mexico’s Día de los Muertos, he meets his family members who have transitioned and together they embark on a quest to save the family and Miguel.

The movie offers a bit of comfort and a bit of a paradigm to imagine death-and it ultimately helps to remind us-life and death are all part of one big adventure.

“Remember me
Though I have to say goodbye
Remember me
Don’t let it make you cry
For even if I’m far away I hold you in my heart” -Pixar’s Coco

#3: The Knowing Book

In my first post about finding joy in grief, I talked about this book–and the impact it had on my understanding of grief after I lost a loved one in 2021.

And it still rings true now.

The authors of The Knowing Saje Dyer and Serena Dyer Pisoni are the daughters of the spiritual leader Dr. Wayne Dyer. After Wayne passed away in 2015, they went through their own grief journey and have since written The Knowing to talk more about some of the lessons they have learned as they navigated grief and reflected back on their father’s life-and how to apply those lessons to being more attuned to your own intuition in life.

My favorite parts in the whole book are when they talk about their dad’s perspective on death. Saying he felt, “we are indeed spiritual beings having a temporary human experience.”

We often view death as this insurmountable occurrence, but what if we shift our perspective of it to simply be that when it happens–we are simply returning to our true nature once again.

Saje and Serena also talk at length more about this book and the death of their father on the Heal with Kelly podcast if you desire to hear more from them. My favorite line in the whole episode is when they quote their dad’s view on life and death, saying “We all come here with a round-trip ticket. We celebrate the birth. We celebrate it so much we continue to celebrate it for our whole lives. It marks this beautiful new beginning of life. But then tend to live our lives in fear of the return.”

Death is part of the cycle–and we can honor it or we can fear it.

#4: Dr. Joe Dispenza’s Clip on Grief

This Dr. Joe Dispenza clip is short–but, oh my goodness, is it powerful.

Dr. Joe offers us a little bit of perspective in this clip where he talks about grieving and transitioned loved ones.

He points out that when someone we love deeply passes away–don’t you feel like they are wanting you to be happy?

Our loved ones’ don’t want us to be unhappy and going through the motions of life because they are gone. They want us to squeeze every last amazing thing out of life–and live it to the fullest.

Perhaps it offers a bit of tough love, but he gives us such a clear shift in thinking about grief. And maybe we might need a powerful reminder of what our loved ones’ really want of us now that they are no longer here physically.

#5: The Song “Carried Me With You”

Another great movie is the Pixar movie Onward. And one of the best parts (in my opinion) is the song called, “Carried Me With You” by Brandi Carlile.

This song truly gets me every time I listen to it because it reminds me that our loved ones are not gone forever- we still carry them with us and they carry us back. I always imagine my loved ones who have passed when I hear this song and how they are all helping me in my own life journey. And whenever I “bear a heavy load”, they can, “be the wheels…be the road”.

Grief is a journey…your own journey

If there is one thing about grief and losing someone you care about-it’s that it is a journey ultimately guided by you.

What feels best. What seems to help. What does our mind, body, heart and soul need. It’s unique for each of us.

I hope these resources I found in my own grief journey offer a little bit of comfort and peace, and-maybe even-a new way to view grief during your own journey.

Do you have any resources you would add to this list?