Everyone who has lost a loved one knows the overwhelming pain of this loss. As a reaction, we often slow down in our grief to adjust to a new reality and its intense emotions.

Grief expert David Kessler has come up with 10 things you can do now to keep moving forward despite your deep grief.

#1 Take a walk and grieve

You need to keep moving not only symbolically but also physically and emotionally while you are grieving.

#2 Name 3 things you were able to do today.

Focus on what you can still do in your loss and name three simple things at bedtime.

#3 Engage in the bigger world.

You need to see that the world is continuing. Watch the world and/or local news for 30 minutes or read the newspaper.

#4 Send love to the person who died.

When you feel helpless, you need to do something active. It will help you shift your mind away from thinking about their death or surrounding circumstances.

#5 Distract yourself.

You can't stay in the pain all the time. Your mind needs a break. So whatever activity brings you relief, engage in it.

#6 Talk about your loss to someone else.

Have a conversation with a friend you can go deep and who may listen and not give solutions. The truth is grief must be witnessed.

#7 Recognize something in your life that continues even after the loss.

It might be your work, or it may be something else. In your deep grief, you may feel that things have come to a halt. Also, think of your continued love for the person who died.

#8 Do something nice for yourself.

Recognize you've been through a lot. It might even be something you wouldn't normally do. 

#9 Write down three things you wanted to do in your life before they died.

It could be something you wanted to do with them or even before they were in your life but never had the chance (trip, hobby, show, etc.) 

#10 Do something for someone else.

It may not be time for you to do this in your first year of grief. But if you're in your second year or longer, a simple, small gesture can connect you outward and make you feel better.

These ten things - one at a time – can help us move forward in our grieving and healing process while honoring our loved ones at the same time.