A Playlist for Healing from Loss

Songs to soothe the heart, honor your grief, and help you feel less alone

Last week, I shared some thoughts about Unspoken Grief. Since then, I’ve been remembering what it was like to be in deep grief after losing my father, and then a few years later, my mother. Especially with my father, who passed first, I experienced a strange mix of brain fog, body aches, guilt, relief, and heartache of profound loss.

I remember drifting through the grocery store's aisles in an out-of-body experience, unable to ‘feel’ my feet on the ground.

Then something unexpected happened. One of my father’s favorite songs began playing on the speaker system. A song that didn’t belong in a place filled with shopping carts, cereals, chips, and cheese.

In that moment, that song found me. I felt his presence, and my burden lifted ever so slightly. Something shifted. And I felt present again. I smiled, said hello to him, and carried on with my shopping.

Music heals

Music inspires and heals the soul. It brings us good memories and helps us process our emotions.

So I created a Spotify playlist called Healing from Loss—a collection of songs that have brought me comfort through grief of all kinds: the loss of loved ones, relationships, jobs, pets, or even old versions of myself. I cried through many of them, especially “To Where You Are” by Josh Groban, which has been reportedly written as a tribute to the thousands lost in the September 11 attacks.

Singing along with these songs is therapeutic and part of the medicine of healing. It helps release what’s stuck inside and guides us toward healing.

Other songs on the playlist include:

• ‘Supermarket Flowers’ by Ed Sheeran,

• ‘Tears in Heaven’ by Eric Clapton,

• ‘Soon You’ll Get Better’ by Taylor Swift, and

• ‘See You Again’ By Carrie Underwood.

Because healing includes moments of light, I finished the playlist with upbeat songs, including “Let It Be” and “What a Wonderful World.” Although the pain of grief may never end, we still live in a beautiful world. I wish you comfort and peace through loss and healing.

You can find the songs here.

What are your favorite songs for Healing From Loss? You can add them in the comment box below.