When Grief Makes You Cynical

Grief has a way of sneaking into places you don’t expect. For me, it sometimes shows up as cynicism.

I notice it when life feels heavy—because let’s be honest, every day has some element of hard. In those moments, I can be quick to think, what’s the point? or no matter how hard I try, it doesn’t matter. The temptation is to throw my arms up in defeat, resolve to just exist, and let cynicism set up camp in my heart.

These feelings creep in even more now that I’ve put myself out there with What If God’s Got Me? Widowed, Not Invisible. Being visible with my story is vulnerable. It means I’m offering my heart to the world, and when I’m tired or insecure, it feels easier to hide. But here’s the thing: if I withdraw, let the lies of I’m not enough take root, or hide myself behind cynicism, I’m actually making myself invisible. And that’s the very opposite of what I long for—not just for me, but for every widow.

That’s where RISE comes in.

RISE isn’t just a pretty acronym or an inspirational idea—it’s becoming a lifeline for me. A filter for how I show up. A practical framework that helps me climb out of the depths of cynicism when I want to give up.

RISE reminds me to be Resilient when I’d rather retreat. To live with Intention when I’m tempted to drift. To stand Strong when I feel shaky. To step into being Empowered even when everything whispers I’m not enough.

It’s like a rest stop for my soul—where I can fuel up, re-center, and remember I’m still becoming.

Because grief may tempt me to cynicism, but RISE anchors me to life. To purpose. To becoming visible again, even when it costs me courage.

Maybe you’ve felt that too—whether as a widow or just as a human being. Cynicism whispers defeat, but hope whispers rise.