E55: Supporting Someone #8: What to Say to Someone Grieving—And Why Words Matter More Than You Think

Written By Shelby Forsythia

If you’ve ever wondered what to say to someone grieving—or worried about saying the wrong thing—this episode will help you understand why words matter more than you think, get helpful scripts to say after any kind of loss, and learn how to use words to support someone with care and confidence.

You’ll learn:

  • Why “I don’t know what to say” is such a common response to grief

  • What happens when grief is met with silence or clichés

  • Why words don’t fix grief—but instead help people carry it

  • Simple, grounding phrases you can use right away

Listen to This Episode:

You can also…
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify | Listen on YouTube |Listen on Insight Timer

Or Watch on YouTube:

Pre-order my new book, Of Course I’m Here Right Now: Three Actually Helpful Things to Say to Someone Grieving:

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

Submit your pre-order receipt to join the FREE Of Course I’m Here Right Now book club:

https://forms.gle/UKZUerJ91Cf1RwrC7

RSVP for Of Course I’m Here Right Now launch parties in Chicago and virtual:

https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/events

Get FREE grief workshops, quizzes, and so much more:

https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/links

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Join my online course + community, Life After Loss Academy:

https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/life-after-loss-academy

Listen to more episodes of Grief Grower and submit a question for the show:

https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/grief-grower-podcast

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
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E56: BONUS: Unboxing My New Grief Book: What to Say to Someone Grieving (+ Reading an Excerpt!)
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E54: Growing Through Grief: Micro-Steps to Rebuild Your Life After Loss with Alex Mammadyarov