Restfully 
After loss, words can fail. So can silence. That in-between space, where thoughts are swirling, emotions are stuck, and nothing feels settled, is where journaling and creating can help. Whether it’s writing, drawing, recording voice notes, or building something with your hands, creative expression gives your grief somewhere to go.
How to Start
You do not need to be a writer or an artist. You just need a quiet moment and something to say, even if you don’t know what it is yet.
Try:
- A blank notebook
- The notes app on your phone
- A voice memo
- A drawing or scribble
- A list of memories
- A letter to someone you lost
Universal Prompts
These work for anyone, at any stage of grief:
- What was the moment that changed everything?
- What do I miss that others might not understand?
- What would I say if I could have one more conversation?
- What part of me is trying to survive today?
- What do I want to remember about them forever?
Prompts by Grief Persona
These suggestions align with how each persona tends to process loss. Pick what fits best, or try a few across types. For more information on your Grief Persona, check out this post.
The Open Heart
- What am I feeling right now, and who do I wish could hold it with me?
- What memory always brings tears, and why do I keep returning to it?
- What would I tell a friend going through this?
The Steady Hand
- What am I doing to stay in control, and how is it helping or hurting?
- What tasks am I using to cope, and what feelings do they shield me from?
- What did I fix that no one noticed, but mattered deeply to me?
The Seeker
- What do I believe now about death, meaning, or purpose that I didn’t before?
- What am I learning about myself through this loss?
- If this pain has a message, what is it trying to teach me?
The Quiet Anchor
- What do I wish others knew, even if I’ll never say it out loud?
- What helps me feel most like myself right now?
- If I could describe my grief in an image, what would it look like?
Why It Works
Writing and creating help people process pain in ways that words alone often can’t.
Psychologist James Pennebaker found that writing about difficult emotions can lower stress and help people feel more in control. Grief expert Robert Neimeyer showed that building a personal story around loss helps people find meaning and adjust to life without the person they lost. The American Psychological Association reports that expressive activities, like writing or art, can ease symptoms of trauma, depression, and anxiety.
Creative expression gives grief shape. It helps people say what feels too big or confusing to say out loud. It lets them be real, even when the world expects them to stay composed.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to share what you write or create. You don’t need to make it beautiful. You only need to let it exist. Grief has a way of scattering us. Creating something, anything, helps gather the pieces. Bit by bit.
