And as business owners, sometimes we feel like we have to be on all the time or like we have to be there. And sometimes it just doesn’t quite work like that. I am so glad to have Karen Jones on the show. She is a grief, recovery and resilience coach, and we talked about some myths around grief and what to say to people, what not to say to people, and also understanding it a little bit more because there was a lot, I felt like grief and people going through a lot of stuff recently.
Timeline
00:45 Karen Jones’ Background and Approach to Grief
01:37 Starting the Conversation on Grief
03:13 Debunking Myths About Grief
05:36 The Process of Healing and Coping Mechanisms
08:56 Addressing Different Types of Grief
10:43 Supporting Others Through Grief
19:16 The Importance of Witnessing Grief
22:24 Final Thoughts and Resources
Resource Links
If you’d like to learn more about Karen or download her guides…
Website: iamkarenjones.com
Guides: Download here
LinkedIn
Listen On Apple Podcasts
Listen on Spotify
Grief is something every human experiences, yet we rarely talk about it… especially in business. Whether you’re running a solo business or leading a small team, grief can shake your foundation. In this conversation with Karen Jones, a certified grief recovery specialist, cancer journey coach, and death doula, we explored the complexities of grief, what it really means to process it, and how it impacts our work, our relationships, and our sense of self.
Why Time Doesn’t Heal All Wounds
One of the first myths we unpacked was the idea that “time heals all wounds.” Karen was clear: time alone does not heal. She compared grief to the stock market, full of ups and downs. When grief is fresh, the emotional spikes are frequent and intense. Over time, they may space out, but they don’t necessarily fade unless you actively process them.
“Grief doesn’t heal with time. It softens when we give it attention, space, and care.” – Karen
Unresolved grief doesn’t just linger. It can limit your ability to experience joy. With intentional work, like the process Karen offers, those emotional waves soften, and your ability to engage with life again increases.
The Grief Backpack: Why One Loss Can Trigger Many
Karen used a powerful metaphor: we all carry an invisible “grief backpack.” It starts filling up from childhood (loss of a pet, a broken friendship, not making the team) and grows heavier with bigger life losses like divorce, illness, or death.
Most people seek grief support after a major loss, but often, that grief is compounded by all the unresolved pain stuffed into the backpack.
Karen helps clients identify the biggest, heaviest grief they’re carrying and start there. Once they learn her process, they can use it on other losses, too, freeing themselves from years (or decades) of emotional weight.
What If the Relationship Was Complicated?
Grief doesn’t only come from deep, connected relationships. Sometimes the hardest grief is from relationships that were distant, estranged, or incomplete.
I shared my personal experience of losing my aunt, grandma, and mother in a short time span. My mother and I hadn’t spoken in decades, but there was still grief. Karen explained that this is incredibly common. We grieve what could have been, not just what was. She gently walks clients through those complex emotions and unmet expectations to help them process even the most complicated relationships.
Grief Brain Fog Is Real and It Affects Your Work
When we lose someone, our brain doesn’t function normally. Karen explained that our neural pathways are used to being in connection with that person, talking to them, sharing life.
When they’re gone, it creates real disorientation and brain fog. This isn’t just emotional; it’s neurological.
For entrepreneurs and leaders, that fog can create serious friction. I shared that I had to cancel meetings and reschedule work to cope, even trying to “control” when I would grieve. Karen emphasized that while staying busy is a common response, what’s more important is giving ourselves permission to pause.
"Give permission" means allowing yourself or someone else to do or feel something without guilt, shame, or needing approval.There’s no perfect formula for grieving while running a business, but creating a custom game plan that includes rest, support, and boundaries can help you move through it more gracefully.
Why Grief Needs to Be Witnessed
This part of the conversation hit hard: grief needs to be witnessed. That doesn’t mean someone fixing you. It means someone sitting with you in it without judgment or trying to compare your grief to theirs.
Karen explained that people often say unhelpful things, even with good intentions:
- “You can get another dog.”
- “At least they lived a long life.”
- “There are more fish in the sea.”
- “God only gives you what you can handle.”
These comments can unintentionally dismiss someone’s grief. What helps? Simply being present. Saying things like:
- “I don’t even know what to say, but I’m here.”
- “This is so hard, and I’ll just sit with you if you want.”
- “I’ll have hope for you until you can have hope again.”
Recovering from Grief Isn’t About Forgetting
Karen made it clear: recovery from grief doesn’t mean forgetting the person or pretending the loss didn’t matter. It means learning how to live again, fully, joyfully, and intentionally, even while carrying the love and lessons from the loss.
Recovery might look like:
- Enjoying fond memories without pain
- Letting go of guilt, shame, or “shoulds”
- Talking about your person freely, without emotional shutdown
- Finding meaning in life again even if it looks different than before
Grief Changes You But It Doesn’t Have to Break You
One of Karen’s personal stories stuck with me. After going through a divorce, losing her brother, and being diagnosed with cancer all within a short period, she shut herself off emotionally. She was afraid to get close to anyone for fear of more pain.
Now, with the tools she teaches, she’s learned how to live, and love, fully again. Her clients experience the same transformation. One woman, who had withdrawn from family events after losing her partner, is now going on a cruise with her grandchildren. It’s not about bouncing back, it’s about stepping forward with new perspective and purpose.
The Power of a Safe Space
Not everyone feels comfortable being “witnessed” in their grief. I admitted that I often preferred to hide when I was grieving. But I also noticed that talking to my aunt (someone who was grieving the same people) felt strangely freeing.
Karen pointed out that many people avoid being witnessed because they haven’t yet experienced what it’s like to be held in a safe, judgment-free space. That’s a big part of her work.
Her sessions aren’t therapy. They’re guided emotional processing rooted in the Grief Recovery Method®, the only evidence-based grief recovery program in the world, used in over 27 languages and practiced for more than 40 years.
Two Key Takeaways for Anyone Experiencing Grief
Karen wrapped up our conversation with two powerful takeaways:
- You may be carrying more grief than you realize.
One loss often opens the door to unprocessed grief from throughout your life. Her work helps clients identify and release that emotional weight, and the relief they feel is often described as a “weight lifted” or a “massive emotional release.” - You can recover.
Recovery isn’t about moving on or forgetting… it’s about honoring the person or loss, learning from it, and stepping back into life again. You can still feel sad sometimes, but you’ll also be able to feel joy again. And with the tools she teaches, you’ll move through future losses with more resilience and clarity.
You Don’t Have to Do It Alone
If you’re grieving, or supporting someone who is, Karen offers two powerful free resources:
- Helpful vs. Not Helpful Things to Say to Someone Who’s Grieving
- Signs of Unresolved Grief and What to Do About Them
You can connect with Karen on LinkedIn or through her website. She works with clients around the world via Zoom and offers free consultations to explore what support might look like for you.
The Takeaway
Grief doesn’t follow a timeline. It doesn’t have clear stages or a neat conclusion. But it does evolve. With the right support, tools, and space to be witnessed, it’s possible to move forward, not despite the loss, but because of the strength it gave you.
You don’t have to carry it forever.
