Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief

This book is a must read for anyone experiencing any kind of loss, giving the reader hope and reason to find meaning and move forward.

I gifted this to my sister-in-law and close friend who had recently lost their father suddenly. I bought the workbook as well and they have both stated that it has been a helpful guide to navigate these complicated emotions regarding their sudden loss.

I picked this book up during the week when my daughter would have been eleven years old had she lived. I found myself filled with emotion and so much pain. Having been through so many losses in my life- I felt that I had understood how to make meaning and to keep moving forward- changed forever but moving forward. I had marked this book in my samples to read one day when I am ready to write more than I had already written about my losses. I viewed reading it academically, clinically almost. Research.Till this week.Feeling so much pain and sadness and feeling lost- I started listening to David Kessler on a few podcasts. And then started reading this book.His clarity and kindness is evident in his words and writing. Every sentence is filled with warmth and caring. The stories and examples he shares are shared with a reverence and caring. The book is filled with personal lessons he has learned from his many losses and his own post traumatic growth. And the narrative leaves so much room for all stages of grief. He does not force a single idea on you but repeatedly reminds us to honor our pain- exactly how it is- right now. And to lean into trust that it gets easier.It does get easier and we do find meaning. I can attest to that. And then we do go back to grief bursts as he calls it. We also live in awe again. Our grief is individual and we learn and grow when we are ready. And layers come back to visit…. To remind us again of the love and connection we had.What this book does so well is remind anyone going through a loss that they have the permission to hurt as much and however they want to. This is a beautifully written book full of hard-earned wisdom from a life lived- you will find comfort, peace, strength, warmth and direction as you navigate your own grief or transformation journey. Please read it. Please live it. You too can move forward. The author illustrates this beautifully. 💜🙏🏽

This book is great for anyone experiencing any kind of loss. Great read.

I gained considerable information from reading this book. Some of it was repetitious because I have read lots of Mr. Kessler's information before. He is very good and I appreciate his insight and desire to help people in grief. I will continue recommending him to others.

Excellent and compassionate. Very helpful for healing and well written. One of the best books I have ever read. A must read after you have had a bit of time to mourn. Thank you to the author.

This book was amazing. I bought it for my dad but I made an error, I opened the book. How plainly written it is makes it accessible to all. You will cry, maybe even get angry, these stories are haunting at times. But mostly they show that we aren't pre written codes we are all different. It helps to understand some of the odd things wounded people do. So my dad got a dog eared, dirty, and well loved gift.BTW. I would say this isn't for someone who just experienced their loss. Maybe a few months in maybe a year idk. Also this could be helpful even of it isn't your loss. I would say that's equally if not more important.

This is a remarkable book. Given that all of us, unless we die young ourselves, will lose someone close to us, grief is a deep and painful wound that we will have to face. The author, a friend and close associate of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross the late author of Death and Dying, in which she elaborated the now very famous "Five Stages of Grief", has extended his mentor's work to a Sixth Stage --finding meaning. David Kessler's groundbreaking book explores many ways to honor a loss by embracing the uniqueness and value of the person or relationship that is gone. To describe these ways as celebrating, learning from, taking lessons from the person we've lost is to do this subtle and deep work a disservice. It's far more than that. No two losses are the same. David Kessler writes from experience, both as a grief expert and counselor, but also as a man who lost his son to the tragedy of addiction, shortly after the young man's twenty-first birthday. The pain but also the hope, the stoicism but also the humor that flavors these pages provide a comforting guide through our own grief. David Kessler has a wise and kind voice. I lost five people to whom I was very close in the last two years and derived immense comfort and meaning from this book, as well as an insight into my own needs for grieving, and for recovery. Highly, highly recommended.