In big and small ways, we all experience loss: whether it's the passing of a loved one, the close of a career or even the end of a dream. Explaining how to process many types of sorrow, marriage and family therapist Nina Westbrook highlights the importance of grief as a natural emotion and a powerful lens to help you imagine new futures -- and shares ways to support yourself and others through difficult times. (This conversation, hosted by TED curator Cloe Shasha Brooks, is part of TED's "How to Deal with Difficult Feelings" series.)

Nina Westbrook: How to support yourself (and others) through grief

How to support yourself (and others) through grief

Grief's reach extends beyond loss of loved ones to unfulfilled dreams, impacting our choices and emotional state deeply.

Permission to grieve, proactive mourning, and setting new goals enable emotional detachment from loss, opening new dream paths.

Loss of dreams, like careers or relationships, ignites grief, necessitating proactive coping strategies and emotional support.