Blessings to the Brokenhearted: Holding Space for Heartbreak

If I could wave a magic wand and take away your pain, I would do it in a heartbeat. No matter the source—a lost loved one, a beloved pet, a relationship that ended, the job you poured your soul into, or a dream that never came true—heartbreak is heartbreak. And it hurts.

I know, because I've been there. So many times, in fact, that sometimes I feel like my heart is just a pile of dust. But still, I keep loving. And so do you. That’s the miracle of a brave heart—it doesn’t let the break break you. It may shatter, but it never gives up. It finds ways to shine through the rubble, to keep seeing beauty, love, and hope in the world—and in itself.

The Many Faces of Heartbreak

There’s no such thing as a “small” heartbreak. Grief doesn’t come with a ruler. Whether your loss was expected or sudden, the pain can be deep and disorienting. You may feel like the moment everything changed is a black hole in time, threatening to swallow you whole.

If you’ve lost someone you loved—a parent, a partner, a child, a friend, a pet—the void they leave behind can feel unbearable. It’s because you loved so big. And while love fills us over years or even decades, the moment it’s gone is just that—a moment. A fracture in time. But one that echoes endlessly in the heart.

Some people heal slowly. Some never quite stop aching. That pain becomes part of their inner landscape, a scar that tells a story of how deeply they loved. If this is you, I see you. I honor that ache.

And what about the heartbreak of relationships ending? It’s just one person, right? Out of billions? So why does it hurt so much? Because love doesn’t follow logic. It moves in. It builds a home in your heart. And when that love leaves—whether by choice or circumstance—it takes the air with it. The attachment, the dreams, the laughter… gone. But love is a basic human need. We are wired for it, and its absence shakes our foundation.

There’s also heartbreak that comes from losing a job you loved. You gave your time, your talent, your heart—and suddenly, it’s gone. You lose not just income, but identity, community, routine, and purpose. That’s a real kind of grief.

And then there are the quiet heartbreaks—dreams deferred or denied. The book you didn’t write. The house you never built in the mountains. The marathon you never ran. These losses of imagined futures can be soul-crushing, because they represent parts of you that never got to live fully.

You Are Not Alone

If you’ve felt any of these heartbreaks—or all of them—you’re not alone. In fact, you’re deeply human. You’ve dared to love. You’ve dared to dream. And yes, you’ve dared to hurt. That’s the cost of living with your heart wide open.

But please, don’t close it.

Love even bigger next time. Love wilder. Love more freely. Because no matter how broken your heart may feel right now, at its center there is a light—a spark of truth and love—that cannot be destroyed. It may be buried under rubble, but it still shines. That spark is the real you. The divine you.

Breathe Into the Love That Surrounds You

Right now, try this:

Close your eyes.

Put your hand gently on your heart.

Breathe.

Feel the strength of your heart, even as it aches.

Thank it for beating, for loving, for enduring.

Now breathe in the love that surrounds you—not just from people, but from nature, from the earth, from the universe. The trees, the oceans, the sky, the animals, the unseen beings of light—they are all holding space for you. You are that cherished. That sacred.

Loss is hard. Rejection is hard. Feeling abandoned or invisible is hard. But you are never truly alone. You are wrapped in a love that does not leave. And more than anything, I want to remind you:You are love.

Reach Out if You Need Support

If you’re struggling, please don’t isolate. Reach out to a friend, a family member, or a therapist. There is help and there is healing. Sometimes just sharing your story can begin to loosen the pain.

Here are a few resources to support your healing:

• National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 or 988lifeline.org

• GriefShare Support Groups: griefshare.org

• Pet Loss Support Hotline (Cornell University): 607-218-7457

  
  

A Final Blessing for the Brokenhearted

To all the broken hearts out there, I see you. I’m waving my imaginary magic wand right now, hoping to sprinkle some healing dust your way. I love you. You are loved. And in the words of Audrey Hepburn:

“For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.”

You’re allowed to cry. To scream. To mourn. To feel all the feels. That’s what healing looks like. Be tender with your process. Be human.

You are not broken. You are becoming.

With all my love,

Karin

Firefly Within