For decades, the Five Stages of Grief made popular by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross shaped how people thought about loss. Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance became shorthand for what grief looks like. Today, this model is facing criticism. Researchers argue that grief is not linear, not everyone experiences all stages, and trying to fit loss into a sequence can feel limiting.…

Across human history, grief has never been just a private experience. It has always been both an individual process and a community event. From ancient mourning rituals in small villages to modern memorial services, societies have depended on shared frameworks to help people carry the weight of loss together. Yet, in today’s world, grief often feels fragmented and isolating. Without…

When Elisabeth Kübler-Ross introduced the five stages of grief in 1969, it gave people language for a difficult and often isolating experience. Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance quickly became a common way to describe the emotional landscape of loss. Over time, however, grief researchers and counselors have clarified an important truth: grief is not linear. You don’t graduate from…

Grief changes how we read. Sometimes we need something soft and reflective. Other times we want answers or structure. At Restfully, we recognize that people process loss in different ways; our Grief Personas were created to help with this. Certain books can speak more directly to those unique personality styles. Whether you are seeking comfort, clarity, or meaning, this list…

Note: This post is written for a persona from our Grief Persona Quiz. If you haven’t identified what your persona is, please start here. For those who identify as the Seeker, grief raises questions as much as it brings emotions.You may find yourself wondering why it happened, what it means, and how you will make sense of it all. Your…

Note: This post is written for a persona from our Grief Persona Quiz. If you haven’t identified what your persona is, please start here. For those who identify as the Quiet Anchor, grief is something you carry quietly.You don’t always want to talk about how you feel. You may not cry in front of others. Instead, you keep your emotions…

Note: This post is written for a persona from our Grief Persona Quiz. If you haven’t identified what your persona is, please start here. If you’re The Steady Hand, you keep things moving. When grief strikes, you respond by stepping in. You take care of others, organize meals, plan logistics, and hold things together. You are the one people rely…

Note: This post is written for a persona from our Grief Persona Quiz. If you haven’t identified what your persona is, please start here. For those who identify as the Open Heart, feelings are not meant to be buried. They are meant to be felt, shared, spoken, cried through, and expressed. Grief is not something you hide. This kind of…

We all experience grief differently. This short quiz can help you discover your natural style of processing grief so you can better care for yourself and grieve with others during tough times. If you’re looking for a further explanation why we created this Grief Persona Quiz, check out the longer blog post here. Instructions: It’s common for a few answers…

Grief is often described as a universal experience, and it is. But the way we grieve? That’s profoundly personal. Some of us become quiet observers. Others spring into action. Some search for meaning, while others simply try to survive each day. And yet, in the midst of all this difference, there’s a shared truth: understanding how you grieve can help…