Sometimes when you are in the midst of turmoil follow the death of your loved one, it helps to have just one word to cling to. You can repeat your word as a mantra, and with the right word, it can recenter you in the storm.

A friend this year gave me three words, one for each year. She works with women in transition and told me early on that grief was a three-year process.

Year one: SURVIVE
Year two: REVIVE
Year three: THRIVE

When you are feeling overwhelmed, remind yourself where you are. You can’t expect to thrive when you are in the midst of surviving. Thriving will come, but you have some work to do.