07/08/2026
Life’s hardest moments can bring moments of such overwhelming pain that it’s hard to imagine feeling okay again. Yet, a few hours later, you may find yourself laughing—perhaps even while tears stream down your face.
As a culture, we struggle to hold grief and joy in both hands. But positive and negative emotions don’t cancel each other out, and you don’t have to be done with pain to make space for meaning and joy. It’s common—and quite human—to feel both at the same time.
Healing happens when we’re realistic about how long our struggles may take (e.g. our grief may never be “over” even as it becomes easier to cope with over time), while staying open to the possibility of building a life of meaning, peace, and joy.
🎨 Art by destressed on Instagram
