What Not To Say When Your Friend is Struggling

In this episode, we talk about suffering, dealing with grief, loss, and the complexities of human emotions. We reflect on personal experiences with losing loved ones and the societal tendency to offer platitudes like "everything happens for a reason," which seriously pisses some people off - especially those in mourning.

As we do, we end with some levity with two show recommendations: The Serpent Queen and Women and Blue, both about women crushing it against expectations. 

TOPICS COVERED:
[00:02:58] Life is suffering.
[00:04:22] The meaning of suffering.
[00:09:50] Grief and its complexities.
[00:14:19] Dealing with grief and anger.
[00:18:19] Good life reflections through photos.
[00:22:05] The Serpent Queen TV show.
[00:24:09] Women in Blue series.

More granular...
00:00:00 - Introduction and Podcast Purpose
00:00:16 - Topic Brainstorming
00:00:38 - Reflecting on Old Journals and Grief
00:01:22 - Relating to Past Experiences
00:02:10 - Impact of Parental Loss
00:02:58 - Buddhist Philosophy and Suffering
00:03:15 - Wealth, Poverty, and Suffering
00:04:22 - Critique of "Everything Happens for a Reason"
00:05:13 - Intentions Behind Comforting Phrases
00:06:16 - Alternatives to "Everything Happens for a Reason"
00:06:52 - Challenges of Offering Condolences
00:07:49 - Grief Circles and Levels of Grief
00:08:52 - Podcast Recommendation: Everything Happens by Kate Bowler
00:10:16 - Personal Experiences with Grief and Anger
00:12:41 - Toxic Positivity and Hypocrisy
00:14:19 - Control and Life Surprises
00:15:20 - Artistic Perception and Self-Critique
00:16:31 - Reflecting on Old Photos
00:18:19 - Retelling Life Stories
00:19:21 - Balancing Positivity and Realism
00:21:30 - Humor in Grief
00:21:43 - TV Show Recommendation: The Serpent Queen
00:23:59 - TV Show Recommendation: Women in Blue
00:25:33 - Closing Remarks and Production Credits

#grief #newjersey #podcast #toxicpositivity #how