Longing and grief are intertwined. Feeling lost is our body’s response to stress. The ache you are feeling in your chest is only a response to stress.

Today, every other person is chasing something or the other. Feeling lost on the way is super common right now. If you have also felt lost and have a kind of ache that does not have any name, it was out of longing and not some flaw or health problem. It is a sign that you are only human.

Longing Is Something Deeper

Many people associate the feelings of longing with an unresolved trauma. They find this feeling exists because they are broken and need fixing. But this feeling of longing is not just limited to pain. Feelings of longing are something deeper, like a natural pull towards some kind of connection. Experts reveal this longing is intertwined with grief because it is the body’s way to release stress. The ache in my chest is one response. The body also let’s go of the build-up of cortisol in the form of tears. Instead of seeing longing as a problem, people should feel honored to have experienced this.

Heal in Connection

Healing from this feeling of longing does not happen alone. You heal by getting into different relationships in life. The connections we build with family, friends, and even partners are all essential to our overall well-being. But longing does not mean losing yourself.

It is okay to desire a deep connection by living in the present. You need to be in a romantic relationship for love and not simply because you don’t want to miss out on it. An ache for companionship does not mean you are incomplete without your partner. It simply shows you are human.

Longing Is a Positive Way to Heal

Longing does not mean you have to engage in unhealthy habits. Healing from longing definitely does not mean you are waiting for someone to fill the void. Healing comes from recognizing there is nothing to fix but something to feel.

So, instead of questioning your feelings of longing, you should ask yourself why you still feel the same way. Are you still not over the past trauma?

Why to Recognize Feelings of Longing

Allow yourself to feel longing. The overall goal is not to eliminate longing but to hold it in the present. Healing is all about feeling the ache as well as the beauty of longing. You can learn the real difference between gratitude and grief and joy and longing at the same time.

Acknowledge your emotions and feelings of longing rather than suppressing them. Use the feelings of longing to recognize you need healing. Reach out to close friends as well as therapists to process your feelings. Longing is definitely not a flaw but completely human. Longing reminds us of connection, desires, and how to grow our capacity. Embrace a relationship with longing to transform your personal journey.