“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s mind there are few.” — Shunryu Suzuki
Grieving the loss of a child can feel like everything we knew has been stripped away. Familiar truths no longer comfort. Time, faith, and even love feel different after loss. The world continues, but our understanding of it has changed forever. In the beginning, many parents try to cling to what once made sense. But grief does not follow logic. A grieving heart often becomes a student of life again. Every moment becomes unfamiliar, unpredictable, and deeply personal.
Some parents may feel ashamed for not having answers. Grief shatters any illusion of expertise. But grief also opens the door to presence. A beginner’s mind allows a parent to ask new questions. A parent in mourning may learn to sit with sorrow instead of solving it. Releasing the pressure to “get it right” can be a quiet form of healing. The willingness to not know everything is where grace can begin. Gentle curiosity can replace self-judgment. Honest questions can become the new form of prayer.
Living with grief invites a kind of wisdom that does not speak in certainty. The most profound peace sometimes comes from surrender. A grieving parent may begin again with every sunrise. Today’s pain might not look like yesterday’s. Tomorrow’s strength may rise from today’s tears. A beginner’s mind allows space for all of it. Life does not return to normal. Life becomes something else—unexpected, fragile, and still capable of meaning. Openness to that possibility can be its own quiet form of courage.
Thought for today: Embrace not knowing. Let today unfold with openness. A beginner’s heart creates space for unexpected peace.