This personalised, gently guided, self-led grief journal with pen has been created as a self-care tool to help on the journey to finding the place in your heart where your loved one will forever live on. Everybody grieves differently and this journal is designed to be a release of that grief, a celebration of life, a way of recording the things that help over time so that they are easier to reach for, and recognising when some extra support may be needed.

Who is this grief journal for?

This guided grief journal is for anyone looking for a grief self-care book to write in following the loss of a loved one. Whether you are grieving the loss of a father, mother, husband, wife or another important person in your life, my hope is that little by little, you come to carry your grief just a little more gently.

How is the guided grief journal personalised?

You can add a name to the front of the journal in silver foil above the journal title and then a from message below the heart. I can also permanently print a short message or quote to the inside cover (also in silver foil).

What's inside this grief journal?

This grief journal is designed to help you to celebrate the life of your loved one, as a quiet space for release of your grief, to keep a connection by way of writing letters and to recognise the times when you may need a little extra help. Here's some more detail:

Writing to your loved one

Having somewhere to write to the person you’ve lost, your thoughts over time and journal your grief journey can be incredibly comforting. Looking back, it can help you to realise both how far you’ve come, and also the new room you’ve made in your heart to house that grief (love). This grief journal includes writing prompts to help you so that you are not always starting with a blank page. 

Wellness checks

Grieving is hard. You may find yourself slipping into unhealthy habits or withdrawing from the things you love (these might also change). Whilst this might be natural and needed for periods of time, the wellness checks just help you to be self-aware if you find yourself slipping too far without realising.

Self-care tools

Following on from the wellness checks, over time you will find the things and the people that help you the most. You will start to recognise your personal triggers that floor you and ways you might prepare for them. Things that you used to find enjoyable might suddenly feel joyless and you may find new rituals that help you over time. Writing these things down and thinking them through will help you to reach for them when you are feeling overwhelmed. It will also help you to express to others how they might help if they ask; something that is always tough.

Recording precious memories

You can also record your favourite memories of your loved one. Note that these memories don't always have to be past. You may continue to create memories for your loved one as time passes by. Maybe you will do/have done something for charity in their memory, or perhaps you've seen a sign (like a butterfly or robin) that has made you feel close to them. These are all memories you can add to your grief journal.

What is included in the grief journal?

• A pen and pen pouch.
• Writing prompts for grief.
• Space to write letters to your loved one.
• Periodical wellness checks throughout.
• Grief affirmations.
• Favourite memories section.
• Self-care recording tools.

How do I choose the right grief journal for me?

This is a deeply personal decision to make and will be different for everyone. This particular journal is very much for those who would like lots of space to write and who would like some gentle guidance and inspiration when needed. If you'd prefer a structured grief journal with a step by step path for example over 6-12 months, then this probably isn't quite the right fit for you.

Here's a little more help in deciding if this is the right grief journal for you:

Grief journal dimensions and information

Height: 215mm Width (closed): 155mm 106 pages/212 sides inside and a ribbon marker

A brief note about copyright
Copyright 2024 ©Lisa Clarke, The Self-care Journal co. All artwork and text for this grief journal has been submitted to an independent copyright registration agency  (certificate available upon request).