DiscoverGrief GrowerE37: Ask Shelby: How Do I Answer "How Are You?" When I'm Grieving a Loss?
E37: Ask Shelby: How Do I Answer "How Are You?" When I'm Grieving a Loss?

E37: Ask Shelby: How Do I Answer "How Are You?" When I'm Grieving a Loss?

Update: 2025-11-20
Share

Description

When someone asks, "How are you?" do you freeze, fumble, or fake a smile? In this episode, I share 20 ways to respond to that loaded question while grieving—sorted from most to least personal.

You'll learn:

  • How to protect your grief without hiding it

  • When it's okay to say "I'm fine"

  • Four types of responses for different social situations

  • Why honesty isn't all-or-nothing in grief

Pre-order my new book, Of Course I'm Here Right Now: Three Actually Helpful Things to Say to Someone Grieving:
https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/of-course-im-here-right-now

Join me LIVE in LA (November) and Ohio (December):
https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/events

...

Get FREE grief workshops, quizzes, and so much more on my website:
https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/links

Keep Grief Grower ad-free by becoming a Patreon supporter:
https://www.patreon.com/shelbyforsythia 

Join my online course + community, Life After Loss Academy:
https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/life-after-loss-academy

Listen to more episodes of Grief Grower, view episode transcripts, and submit a question for the show:
https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/grief-grower-podcast

Comments 
loading
In Channel
loading
00:00
00:00
1.0x

0.5x

0.8x

1.0x

1.25x

1.5x

2.0x

3.0x

Sleep Timer

Off

End of Episode

5 Minutes

10 Minutes

15 Minutes

30 Minutes

45 Minutes

60 Minutes

120 Minutes

E37: Ask Shelby: How Do I Answer "How Are You?" When I'm Grieving a Loss?

E37: Ask Shelby: How Do I Answer "How Are You?" When I'm Grieving a Loss?

Shelby Forsythia, Grief Coach and Author