When Closure Isn't Possible: How to Find a Way Forward Through Grief
Fri Feb 06 2026
We’re often told that "closure" is the final goal of grief—the moment we finally close the door on the past. But what if that door doesn't close? What if it shouldn't?
In S6E45, we’re challenging the cultural rush to find an ending. We discuss "Ambiguous Loss" and why reframing your perspective is more healing than waiting for an answer that may never arrive.
Healing isn’t about closing the door; it’s about learning how to live with it open. https://bit.ly/3ZQBqWG
What You'll Learn:
What psychologists mean by “closure”Why some people need certainty more than othersWhen closure helps—and when it hurtsWhy do some losses never provide answersHow meaning can exist without resolutionKey Takeaways:
Closure is not a requirement for healingSome grief is ongoing, not solvableWaiting for answers can keep us stuckMeaning can evolve even without resolutionIn this Episode:
00:00 - Intro03:54 - How Goals Change as Circumstances Change - An Excerpt from We Are Not Ourselves06:48 - Is Closure Always Necessary? Is It Always Possible?07:42 - What Is Closure?09:04 - Is Closure a Good Thing?10:45 - Can You Ever Really Get Closure?12:41 - Discussion - How Perception Changes Over Time, Tragic Loss22:16 - Ambiguous Loss - Can it Extend to Society?24:35 - Outro#GriefAndLoss #Closure #AmbiguousLoss #UnresolvedGrief #MentalHealthEducation #PsychologyOfGrief #EveryoneDiesPodcast #LifeAfterLoss #BereavementSupport #AmbiguousGrief
Support the show
Get show notes and resources at our website: every1dies.org.
Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | mail@every1dies.org
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We’re often told that "closure" is the final goal of grief—the moment we finally close the door on the past. But what if that door doesn't close? What if it shouldn't? In S6E45, we’re challenging the cultural rush to find an ending. We discuss "Ambiguous Loss" and why reframing your perspective is more healing than waiting for an answer that may never arrive. Healing isn’t about closing the door; it’s about learning how to live with it open. https://bit.ly/3ZQBqWG What You'll Learn: What psychologists mean by “closure”Why some people need certainty more than othersWhen closure helps—and when it hurtsWhy do some losses never provide answersHow meaning can exist without resolutionKey Takeaways: Closure is not a requirement for healingSome grief is ongoing, not solvableWaiting for answers can keep us stuckMeaning can evolve even without resolutionIn this Episode: 00:00 - Intro03:54 - How Goals Change as Circumstances Change - An Excerpt from We Are Not Ourselves06:48 - Is Closure Always Necessary? Is It Always Possible?07:42 - What Is Closure?09:04 - Is Closure a Good Thing?10:45 - Can You Ever Really Get Closure?12:41 - Discussion - How Perception Changes Over Time, Tragic Loss22:16 - Ambiguous Loss - Can it Extend to Society?24:35 - Outro#GriefAndLoss #Closure #AmbiguousLoss #UnresolvedGrief #MentalHealthEducation #PsychologyOfGrief #EveryoneDiesPodcast #LifeAfterLoss #BereavementSupport #AmbiguousGrief Support the show Get show notes and resources at our website: every1dies.org. Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | mail@every1dies.org