Grieving is like Pooping
A Practice in Daily Digestion
A teacher once told us that "grieving is like pooping"—and while it made us laugh, it also made perfect sense.
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Both are natural processes that release the body's waste.
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When things are flowing, it feels good.
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When they’re blocked, we feel it everywhere.
Just like pooping, emotional digestion needs a rhythm, a space, and a sense of safety to “let go.” Sometimes it’s tidy, and others it’s messy... shit happens.
The importance here is to spend time supporting all parts of digestion!
Physical Digestion
The body keeps what it needs and lets go of what it doesn’t.
When we tense, our muscles, breath, and gut hold that strain.
When we soften, move, cry, or rest, the body finds its own way to let go.
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Letting go with breath
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Inhale for a count of 4, exhale for 6 to 8 seconds.
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Spinal Twists
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Massages intestines, stomach, and vagus nerve.
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Self Massage
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Trace a circle from the front right hip, up to your right ribs, across your upper belly, then down to your front left hip.
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Emotional Digestion
The body keeps what nourishes our spirit and releases what no longer serves.
Tension holds; softness moves.
When we breathe, cry, or rest, the body resumes its natural rhythm of letting go.
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What am I holding in that’s ready to come out?
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Where do I feel this in my body?
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What small, safe way can I let it move through me today?
Cognitive Digestion
The mind takes in ideas, stories, and information—sorting what serves and releasing what doesn’t.
When we overthink, thoughts get stuck and swirl.
When we pause, reflect, or rest, clarity settles and insight can emerge.
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Mental Meal Check
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What did I consume today? (media, environments, conversations, etc.)
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What nourished me today?
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What felt heavy or hard to digest?
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Information Fast
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Choose one day or evening without screens, news, or input. Notice how your mind feels when it’s not constantly consuming.
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What we take in—food, thoughts, emotions, media—shapes how we feel and what eventually comes out.
When we stay mindful of our mental and emotional “diet,” we can better understand our reactions instead of spiraling into worry or confusion.
Awareness helps us trace our experiences back to their source, respond with understanding, and keep things moving smoothly.
The more aware, the more we know;
The more we know, the more we flow.
