profile

Heather Stang

New Podcast Episode: From Rumination to Wisdom

Published 7 months agoΒ β€’Β 1 min read

Hello Reader,

A new episode of the Mindfulness & Grief Podcast is out today.

In this conversation, Amanda and I explore the second step in the Mindfulness & Grief system: mindful awareness.

Many people think mindfulness means clearing the mind or forcing ourselves to stay calm. In grief, that can feel impossible.

Mindfulness is not about having fewer thoughts. It is about learning how to see them more clearly.

🎧 Listen here: Episode 60: From Rumination to Wisdom​
​ (or search for Mindfulness & Grief wherever you listen to podcasts)

One of the most important ideas we explore is the difference between pain and suffering.

Pain is the reality of loss. Someone you love is missing. Suffering often comes from the stories our minds add:

β€œI will never be okay.”
β€œMy life is over.”
β€œI’m going to lose everything.”

These thoughts are incredibly common in grief. They can also make the experience feel heavier than it already is.

Mindfulness helps us gently notice the difference between what is happening and the stories our minds create. It does not remove the pain of loss, but it can soften the suffering around it.

In this episode, we talk about:

  • why mindfulness is not about having a blank mind
  • how rumination can keep grief feeling stuck
  • simple practices that help us return to the present moment
  • how mindful awareness can lead us from rumination to wisdom

🎧 Listen here: Episode 60​

I’m so glad you’re here.

With lovingkindness,

πŸ’œ Awaken Grief Support Community​

πŸŽ“ 2026 Mindfulness & Grief Coach Certification Now Open​

πŸ“Ή Living With Grief Workshop​

🎧 Mindfulness & Grief Podcast​

πŸ“˜ Books by Heather Stang​

🀍 Private Sessions​

8737 Indian Springs Road, Frederick, MD 21702
​Unsubscribe Β· Preferences​

Heather Stang

Read more from Heather Stang

Hello Reader, Fridays have become my favorite day of the week. Not because the weekend is coming (though also that), but because Friday is the day I get to meet with the future coaches in the Mindfulness & Grief Coach Certification program. Some Fridays, a student tells us how they used one of the practices in a real situation and noticed a difference. Someone brings a question from a practice session. A buddy jumps in with encouragement or another perspective. And sometimes I get messages...

3 days agoΒ β€’Β 1 min read

Hello Reader, Last week in the Monthly Living With Grief webinar, we spent time with a practice that felt especially right for this season. I led a shorter version of my Journey to Your Heart Center meditation, and it was powerful to witness. Valentine’s Day can stir up a lot. Even if you tell yourself it is just another day, the imagery is everywhere. Hearts. Romance. Partnership. It can feel like the world is highlighting what is no longer physically present. Your nervous system notices....

8 months agoΒ β€’Β 1 min read

Hello Reader, Grief is not something I believe we are meant to navigate alone. It is relational. It unfolds in conversation, in reflection, and in being witnessed. And over time, I realized that I no longer wanted to be having these conversations by myself. So I want to introduce you to Amanda Palermo, who is joining me as the new cohost of the Mindfulness & Grief Podcast. Amanda has been part of my world for a long time. She is a member of Awaken, walked her own path through grief, and...

8 months agoΒ β€’Β 1 min read