THE MIND SHIFT MOMENT WITH DR. VERONICA GRIFFIN Episode 24: Making Room for Joy After Loss Series date: August 12, 2026 (retrospective; not a past publication claim) Prepared: October 17, 2026 Episode transcript — audio available Audio runtime: approximately 7 minutes Audio: /podcast/audio/episode-24.mp3 Editorial series dates are retrospective and do not indicate past audio releases. Final audio runtime: approximately 7 minutes. Welcome to The Mind Shift Moment with Dr. Veronica Griffin, from Protect Each One Consulting, LLC. I am Dr. Veronica Griffin. This is a moment to pause, reflect, and choose a thoughtful next step. Our discussion is educational and offers general reflection rather than individualized treatment. You can participate at your own pace, skip any prompt, or simply listen. If you are driving or doing something that needs your attention, save the exercise for later. The people in our examples are fictional. Take what is useful and leave room for your own circumstances. A pleasant moment after loss can be followed by a difficult question: Is it okay that I enjoyed that? You may notice laughter, interest, or anticipation and then feel unsure what it means. Today we are making room for a life that can hold grief and ordinary pleasure. There is no required emotion for this episode. You can listen without trying to feel better on command. People describe grief in many ways, and the relationship that was lost matters. A moment of enjoyment does not tell the whole story of your love or your sorrow. You do not need to turn that moment into a declaration that you have finished grieving. You can simply notice what happened: a conversation was warm, a meal tasted good, or something made you smile. The experience can stand on its own without carrying an explanation for everyone else. Imagine a fictional person, Sidney, attending a small gathering after a loss. Sidney laughs at a friend's story and later worries that other people will think the grief is over. One option is to name the complexity with a trusted person: I enjoyed being with everyone, and I am still missing someone deeply. The sentence makes room for both experiences. Sidney can also keep the moment private. Sharing is a choice rather than a requirement for making sense of the day. Choose a small activity that feels inviting, neutral, or familiar. It might be music, a garden, a meal, a craft, or time with someone respectful. Ask what would make participation manageable. A shorter visit, your own transportation, or a quiet place nearby may help. You are choosing an opportunity, not promising a particular feeling. If the activity feels different when the time comes, you can adjust it or choose another day. [Reflection pause: 30 seconds.] If guilt appears, write down the rule it seems to contain. Perhaps: If I laugh, people will think I do not care. Ask whether that rule fairly describes your relationship and your experience. You can decide what you believe without debating every imagined judgment. A trusted clinician or bereavement support person may help if the guilt feels persistent, intense, or connected to a complicated part of the loss. Remembering a person can include pleasure, and it can also include sadness, anger, or unanswered questions. You might choose to carry forward a recipe, a story, a tradition, or a value. You may not want to do any of those things now. There is no assignment to make the loss meaningful. Your relationship with remembering can change over time. You are allowed to approach it with curiosity and to stop when you have had enough. This week, consider one small invitation to life as it is now. Notice what you experience without grading the outcome. If there is enjoyment, you can allow it to be present. If there is sorrow, it deserves care too. Let the activity be a moment rather than a test. You can honor someone you love while making room for the person you are and the life that continues around you. Here is your journal question: What small experience would I like to allow without asking it to prove anything about my grief? You can write a sentence, make a brief list, or consider it quietly. You do not have to share what you write. If the reflection feels unhelpful, stop and choose an ordinary activity instead. We will leave a little space here. [Reflection pause: 30 seconds.] Your practical step for this week is: Choose one flexible, low-pressure activity and give yourself permission to adapt it. Before we close, choose what you want to carry into the next few days. Make the step small enough to use and clear enough to recognize. You can return to the question later, adapt the exercise, or discuss it with someone you trust. If this concern is persistent, worsening, or affecting daily life, a qualified professional can help you consider support that fits your situation. Thank you for making room for this conversation. This has been a MindShift moment with Dr. Veronica Griffin. I am a Clinical Social Work Researcher, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional with Protect Each One Consulting, LLC. My work connects research with trauma-informed practice to support healing, resilience, and personal growth. Thank you for taking this moment to pause, reflect, and care for yourself. Healing begins in a safe space—Protect Each One. JOURNAL PROMPT What small experience would I like to allow without asking it to prove anything about my grief? NEXT STEP Choose one flexible, low-pressure activity and give yourself permission to adapt it. SOURCES & CONTEXT National Institute on Aging — Coping With Grief and Loss https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/grief-and-mourning/coping-grief-and-loss Guidance on grief and support following a death.