E37: Ask Shelby: How Do I Answer “How Are You?” When I’m Grieving a Loss?

Written By Shelby Forsythia

When someone asks, “How are you?” do you freeze, fumble, or fake a smile? In this episode, I share 20 ways to respond to that loaded question while grieving—sorted from most to least personal.

You’ll learn:

  • How to protect your grief without hiding it

  • When it’s okay to say “I’m fine”

  • Four types of responses for different social situations

  • Why honesty isn’t all-or-nothing in grief

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https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/of-course-im-here-right-now

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Download the transcript for this episode here.

Shelby Forsythia

Shelby Forsythia (she/her) is a grief coach, author, and podcast host. In 2020, she founded Life After Loss Academy, an online course and community that has helped dozens of grievers grow and find their way after death, divorce, diagnosis, and other major life transitions.

Following her mother’s death in 2013, Shelby began calling herself a “student of grief” and now devotes her days to reading, writing, and speaking about loss. Through a combination of mindfulness tools and intuitive, open-ended questions, she guides her clients to welcome grief as a teacher and create meaningful lives that honor and include the heartbreaks they’ve faced. Her work has been featured in Huffington Post, Bustle, and The Oprah Magazine.

https://www.shelbyforsythia.com
Next

E36: "Don't Speak Ill of the Dead" Is B.S.—Why This Phrase Is Harmful to Grievers