Introduction

1. Topic Introduction [00:56]

Main Topics

1. When Life No Longer Looks the Way You Imagined [01:22]
2. Redefining Purpose After Loss [03:40]
3. Trusting the Quiet Voice Within [05:30]
4. Purpose Lives in the Ordinary [07:12]
5. Becoming Without Rushing the Becoming [08:40]
6. Closing [09:57]

Additional Resources

1. https://healingourgrievinghearts.com/
2. https://purpose.healingourgrievinghearts.com
3. https://healingourgrievinghearts.com/media
4. https://www.facebook.com/kay.fontana

00:00

00:27

I’ve faced many kinds of losses — from family members to beloved pets — and through it all, I’ve come to understand grief not only as sorrow, but as a sacred passage. My mission now is to help you move through the darkness with grace, to honor your own process, and to remind you that healing is possible — even if your heart is broken wide open. You are not alone. This is the Healing Our Grieving Hearts Podcast.

00:56

Welcome, dear friends. In today’s episode, we’re talking about what it means to Rediscover a Sense of Purpose in Daily Life, especially after loss has changed the shape of our world. This is not about rushing forward or finding big answers, but about noticing the quiet ways meaning can return through presence, compassion, and honoring where you are right now.

01:22

There comes a moment in grief when the questions begin to change. In the beginning, the focus is often on survival. How do I get through today? How do I breathe when everything feels heavy? How do I function when my world no longer resembles the life I once knew?

01:41

Those early questions are about endurance. About staying afloat. About learning how to exist inside a reality you did not choose. And then, often quietly and without any announcement, another question begins to surface. What is my life now?

02:03

This question does not arrive with urgency, nor does not demand answers. It simply appears, sometimes in the stillness of a morning, or in the quiet of the evening. It may arise when you realize that the world keeps moving, even though your inner world has shifted completely.

02:22

If you are finding yourself wondering about purpose after loss, I want to gently reassure you that this is not a sign that you are moving on too quickly or betraying your love. It is not a sign that your grief is somehow diminishing. Very often, it is a sign that something within you is beginning to stir.

02:45

Grief has a way of dismantling the structures that once gave our lives meaning. Roles change or disappear and the identity you carried for years may no longer fit. The future you imagined can feel unreachable or entirely gone. When that happens, it is common to feel untethered or disoriented as though you are standing in the middle of a life you do not quite recognize.

03:14

This can be frightening, especially if you were someone who once felt grounded in routine, responsibility, or shared plans. You may find yourself longing for direction, even as you feel resistant to any pressure to move forward. That tension is natural. And even here, purpose has not vanished. It is simply asking to be rediscovered in a new form.

03:40

One of the reasons purpose feels so complicated after grief is because of how we have been taught to define it. We often associate purpose with productivity, achievement, and contribution. We are encouraged to find our passion, set goals, and move steadily toward something meaningful. However, after loss, that framework can feel exhausting or even painful.

04:06

Purpose can start to feel like one more thing you are supposed to figure out when you are already carrying so much. It can feel like pressure to reinvent yourself before you have had time to rest, grieve, or simply be. But grief invites a different definition of purpose.

04:25

Purpose after loss is not about striving, fixing your life, or making something meaningful out of your pain. It is about relationship, and I mean your relationship with yourself, your inner world, and with what feels true and supportive in this season.

04:43

There may be days when your purpose is to grieve fully and honestly; to cry, to feel anger or sadness or longing, to remember, and to allow the waves to come and go without trying to control them.

04:57

There may be other days when your purpose is to engage with life in small ways, like cooking a nourishing meal, meeting a friend for coffee, or stepping outside and noticing the sky. Both are purposeful and valid.

05:13

Purpose is not linear. It does not move in a straight line from loss to clarity. It ebbs and flows, just as grief does. When you release the idea that purpose must look a certain way, you create space for something gentler to emerge.

05:30

Another layer of grief that is often overlooked is how deeply it can impact your trust in yourself. Loss can make you question your decisions, your instincts, and your sense of inner knowing.

05:45

You may replay choices you made or wonder if you should have done something differently. This self-doubt can extend into the future. You may hesitate to make plans or commitments, or you may worry about choosing the wrong path or making a mistake. Rediscovering purpose often begins with rebuilding trust in small, compassionate ways.

06:07

Instead of asking, “What should I be doing with my life,” you might begin with gentler questions, such as, “What feels supportive today?” “What feels heavy or draining?” “What brings a sense of calm or ease, even briefly?”

06:24

Purpose rarely announces itself clearly. It often shows up as a whisper, a quiet inner nudge, or a subtle sense of rightness that does not always come with explanation.

06:36

Learning to listen to that voice again takes time, especially if you have been living in survival mode. It requires patience and a willingness to slow down.

06:48

You do not need certainty to live with purpose. You do not need a clear plan or a defined path. You only need presence, with yourself, with your emotions, and with what is unfolding, moment by moment.

07:03

Trust grows through attention, honoring what you notice, and allowing yourself to respond rather than forcing yourself to decide.

07:12

One of the most profound shifts after loss is realizing that purpose is not reserved for extraordinary moments. It lives in the ordinary rhythms of daily life. Purpose may be found in how you begin your mornings, in the rituals that help you feel grounded, and in the way you care for your body, your home, and your inner world. It may live in journaling a few words each day, listening to music that soothes your nervous system, creating quiet spaces for reflection, or allowing yourself to rest without guilt.

07:48

These small acts may not look impressive from the outside, but they carry deep meaning. They are ways of saying, my life matters. My well-being matters. Even now.

08:01

Purpose does not require you to replace what was lost. It asks you to honor it while continuing to live and to allow love to remain part of your life in new expressions.

08:13

For some, purpose may slowly reemerge through creativity, such as through art, music, or writing. For others, it may show up through service, listening, or simply being present with others who are hurting. And for some, purpose may be quiet and inward for a long time. That is allowed too. There is no timeline for purpose. There is no correct way for it to appear.

08:40

Perhaps the most tender truth of all is this. You are not becoming someone else after loss. You are becoming more of who you already are. I’ve said this before…you are becoming more of who you already are.

08:56

Grief has a way of refining us. It strips away what no longer fits and brings us closer to what is essential. This process cannot be rushed, and it does not follow a schedule.

09:08

You are allowed to move slowly, to pause, and to change direction. You are allowed to create a life that looks different than the one you imagined.

09:18

Purpose does not require answers. It does not require clarity. It only asks that you remain open. Sometimes purpose is simply staying present. Sometimes it is breathing through a difficult moment. Sometimes it is allowing yourself to hope again, even tentatively.

09:38

I often say that everything is in Divine Right Order, Divine Right Action, and Divine Right Timing. You are exactly where you are supposed to be. You are not behind, failing, nor lost. You are becoming, and that, in itself, is purposeful.

09:57

If this episode speaks to your heart, know that you are seen. Your experiences are valid. Please share with others on a similar journey.

10:08

The mission of Healing Our Grieving Hearts is to support women who are navigating life after the loss of a spouse or soulmate, and those who are tenderly companioning their husbands through illness. Through spiritual support, sound and vibration therapies, and reflective practices, I help women find meaning, healing, and renewed purpose.

10:28

For free resources, including tips on coping with grief and rediscovering joy, visit purpose.healingourgrievinghearts.com. And to connect with me on Facebook, you’ll find me at facebook.com/Kay.Fontana.

10:46

Thank you for listening to this episode of the Healing Our Grieving Hearts Podcast. Remember, you are not alone in your grief, and your experiences and emotions are valid. Join me next Saturday at 10am Arizona time as we continue to explore the human experience and Caring for Your Body While Your Heart Heals. Until next time, may you trust that purpose is already unfolding for you in quiet, compassionate ways, even on the days it feels hard to see.