How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed: A Journal for Grief

How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed is a guided grief journal designed for those navigating loss and bereavement. The book combines writing prompts, reflective exercises, and spaces for personal documentation of the grieving experience. Author Megan Devine draws from her background as a therapist and her own experience of loss to create structured pathways through grief. The journal format allows readers to engage with their emotions at their own pace, while providing frameworks for processing complex feelings. The book includes sections for both immediate aftermath responses and long-term grief work, with specific prompts for different types of losses. Written exercises are interspersed with brief passages about grief psychology and validation of various grieving styles. This work challenges conventional approaches to grief recovery, suggesting that some losses cannot be "fixed" but must instead be carried forward. The journal format supports readers in finding their own path through mourning rather than prescribing a single method of healing.

Readers describe this grief workbook as different from typical self-help books because it doesn't try to "fix" grief or push towards closure. Many appreciate that it validates painful emotions without forcing positivity or healing timelines. Liked: - Open-ended prompts that don't judge responses - Permission to leave sections blank or skip around - Focus on coping rather than "getting over it" - Mix of writing exercises and straightforward information - High-quality paper and binding that withstand repeated use Disliked: - Some find the format too loose/unstructured - Several mention the prompts can feel repetitive - A few note it works better for recent grief vs. past losses - Price point higher than similar journals Ratings: Goodreads: 4.41/5 (190+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (1,300+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.8/5 (40+ ratings) Notable review: "Finally a grief book that doesn't tell me how to feel or when to 'move on.' This gives space to just be with the pain." - Amazon reviewer

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🌟 Author Megan Devine created the book after experiencing profound grief following the accidental drowning of her partner Matt in 2009. 📖 The journal incorporates evidence-based therapeutic tools and mindfulness practices specifically designed for grieving individuals. 💭 Unlike traditional self-help books, this work emphasizes that grief isn't something to "get over" but rather something to carry. 🎓 Devine's approach challenges the common "stages of grief" model, arguing instead that grief is highly individual and doesn't follow a prescribed pattern. 🤝 The book emerged from Devine's grief support community "Refuge in Grief," which has helped thousands of people worldwide navigate loss since 2012.