Finding Light in the Darkness: Navigating Grief, Loss & Life’s Transitions with Tanya Chomyk

In this episode, I’m joined by Tanya Chomyk, author of Bringing Light to Loss, for a deeply moving conversation about grief, loss, resilience, and finding our way forward when life changes in ways we never expected.

Tanya shares her deeply personal journey of losing her infant son and the many years it took to find meaning in that loss. We talk about allowing ourselves to truly feel our emotions, creating anchors to hold onto when life feels unsteady, and learning to have a relationship with grief rather than trying to push it away.

Tanya also introduces her powerful distinction between “clean pain” and “dirty pain,” and shares her five-step approach to navigating loss and major life transitions: creating a safe space to feel, practicing self-compassion, finding moments of joy and gratitude, seeking connection when we’re ready, and pacing our pain.

This is a conversation about love, loss, healing, and the quiet ways resilience is built over time. And perhaps most importantly, it’s a reminder that we don’t have to see the light right away. Sometimes, we simply need to take the next breath, trust the process, and allow healing to unfold quietly.

About Tanya Chomyk

Tania Chomyk is a life transition expert, award-winning resilience speaker, and grief educator. With over 30 years of experience in higher education, career development, and personal growth, she helps people move through life’s toughest moments with clarity, courage, and compassion. Her work is rooted in both lived experience and professional expertise. After losing her infant son unexpectedly, Tania’s world shifted. That loss became the spark for a new path—one focused on healing with purpose and supporting others through grief, major life changes, and the journey of finding themselves again.

Her debut book, Bringing Light to Loss, is a powerful reflection on grief, love, and the strength it takes to rebuild your life. A portion of proceeds supports the Child Life Program at the Montreal Children’s Hospital, keeping her son’s legacy alive by bringing joy to kids who need it most.

Connect with Tanya Chomyk

Website: https://taniachomyk.com/

Order her book: Bringing Light to Loss

Connect on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taniachomyk

About Anita Adams

I’m Anita Adams, your host and the founder of Joyful Journey, an organization devoted to teaching The Wisdom Way—a practice that helps individuals reconnect with their authentic selves and create lives filled with meaning, well-being, and joy. In addition to hosting the Joyful Journey Podcast, I lead transformative retreats and workshops, and offer both group and one-on-one coaching. I’m also the bestselling author of Whispers of the Soul: A Guide to Clarity, Confidence, and Joy.

If you have any questions, please reach. My contact information and ways to connect with me are below. And please subscribe for updates and consider leaving a review to help others discover this podcast. Thank you!

Offerings by Anita:

Coaching Services: https://www.joyfuljourney.ca/coaching

Retreats: https://www.joyfuljourney.ca/retreats

30-Day Nature Challenge: https://www.joyfuljourney.ca/nature-challenge

Whispers of the Soul: https://mybook.to/Whispersofthesoul

Weekly newsletter: https://joyfuljourney.myflodesk.com/join

The Wisdom Way Substack https://thewisdomway.substack.com/

Connect with Anita:

Email - [email protected]

Website - https://www.joyfuljourney.ca/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joyful_journey_with_anita/

Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitaadamsyvr/