Rediscovering Joy and Purpose: How Creativity Can Heal After Loss

Grief changes you. It shakes your identity, disrupts your routine, and turns familiar days into foreign territory. For widows and widowers, that journey can feel unbearable. But somewhere within the deep ache, there’s a whisper of rediscovery—a quiet invitation to heal, grow, and create again.

Creativity isn’t just a hobby. It’s therapy. It’s ministry. It’s survival. In this blog, I’ll share how embracing creativity has helped me in my own grief, and how it can help you too.

Reflecting through words: journaling moments of inspiration and thought.

27 Days In – A Glimpse Back

I want to share something I wrote just 27 days after losing my husband. I haven’t touched it much, because it captures the rawness I was living in.

Now, 8 months later, I look back with both sorrow and strength. I’m not where I was—but I honour where I’ve come from. And maybe, just maybe, this glimpse into that early pain will help someone else feel seen.

"I'm Here Again..."

It’s been 27 days since that day. The day I lost my husband. And I’m still here, still processing, still holding on by grace. Yesterday was rough—I didn’t have the strength to write. I prayed, I worshipped, I read the Word, and yet the tears didn’t stop. The guilt. The anger. The “what ifs.”

Have you ever found yourself replaying moments again and again, wondering, "What could I have done differently?" I have. But I know deep down—there’s nothing I could have changed. Still, the mind loops through every detail like a broken record.

We had breakfast that morning. We laughed. We dreamed about the future. We spoke about the church event coming up—Five Nights of Glory. Everything felt normal. Until it wasn’t.

One moment I’m working remotely and cooking for the kids. The next, I’m waking up from a nap to my son’s cries and hearing those haunting words: “Mum, just come.” I opened the door to a stranger. “He collapsed,” the man said. My world stopped. From that moment, chaos. The hospital. The phone calls. The denial. And finally, the confirmation from the police officer. “I’m coming to you,” she said—and I already knew. My husband was gone.

Since then, I’ve been surviving off grace. Appointments, school runs, tears in the doctor’s office, and the surreal task of calling companies to tell them my husband died. Through it all, my children have been my strength. We've laughed. We've cooked. We've mowed the lawn. Somehow, life continues.

And that’s why I’m writing this. Because even in pain, even when you feel like you’re drowning, there’s still something inside you that can create beauty from ashes.

8 Months On – Why Creativity Matters More Than Ever

Looking back now—8 months into this journey—I see how creativity became a lifeline. I didn’t plan it that way. I wasn’t trying to be productive. I was trying to breathe. But in writing, cooking, designing, mothering, even making grief resources—I discovered something.

A serene depiction of a woman nurturing growth beside the empowering words "You Don't Bury Purpose," symbolizing resilience and the flourishing of one’s true calling.

Grief is a thief, but creativity is a restorer.

Grief silences. Creativity speaks. Grief isolates. Creativity connects. Grief wounds. Creativity heals.

And that’s what this blog is about—how you, too, can begin again. Not by forgetting, but by creating forward.

The Healing Power of Creativity

Creativity is more than expression—it’s medicine for the soul.

Grief often silences us. But art, writing, gardening, and crafting can speak when words fail. Studies show creative activity lowers stress by up to 31% and boosts emotional well-being. It’s not about talent. It’s about exploration, release, and healing.

Creativity becomes a sacred space—where you can be vulnerable, honest, and whole again.

Finding Your Craft

There’s no one way to create. You just start where you are. Here are some gentle options to explore:

1. Writing

Writing saved me.

Journaling gives your thoughts a home. Poetry gives structure to chaos. Even writing letters to your loved one can feel like balm for your heart. According to a University of Texas study, expressive writing reduces symptoms of depression by 20%.

You don’t have to be a writer—just be real. Pour it out.

2. Visual Arts

Painting, photography, drawing—these invite you to feel with your eyes and hands.

One widow I know painted vibrant landscapes to honour her husband’s love for nature. The act of creating helped her transform pain into something meaningful and beautiful.

3. Crafts

Crocheting (really want to learn). Pottery. Home décor.

Hands-on creativity is so healing. I’ve found peace cooking with my children, each meal a quiet tribute to the life we shared. It’s simple, but it’s powerful. Be on the look out for more food content on the At Home With Mama - YouTube

Community and Connection

You weren’t made to grieve alone.

Join an art group, attend a workshop, or even start a creative healing circle. When I started sharing my journey, other widows reached out. We cried. We laughed. Art brought us closer than words ever could. You’ll be amazed how healing multiplies in community. The morning prayers has also given me a new sense of community too.

Embracing healing moments with the "I Am Fruitful" daily prayer podcast, creating a serene and focused atmosphere.

Mindfulness Through Creation

Grief makes us time-travel—reliving the past or fearing the future.

But creativity pulls us back to the present. When you paint or write, feel the textures, notice the sounds, embrace the silence. It’s a form of active prayer. A way to be still and let God speak through colours and canvas.

Setting Goals and Celebrating Progress

Even small wins matter (Remember to say what you are grateful for daily, as we do on the i am fruitful morning prayers). Maybe you complete your first journal entry. Maybe you finish a sketch. Celebrate it. These moments are seeds of hope. They’re signs that joy and sorrow can exist side by side.

Each creative act becomes a declaration: I’m still here. I’m still healing.

Drawing Inspiration from Others

Find comfort in those who’ve turned grief into greatness.

Mary Oliver’s poetry, for example, speaks deeply to those navigating loss. Others have written books, created music, or launched nonprofits—all from a place of pain. Let their journeys remind you that your pain has purpose too. Scriptures also tells us stories of widows too and how God kept them.

Making Space for Creativity in Life

Even 10 minutes a day helps.

Light a candle. Play worship music. Grab a journal or paintbrush. Set aside time and make space for your soul to breathe. This isn’t a performance—it’s self-care. It’s worship. It’s healing.

Embracing New Beginnings

Grief may never fully go away—but joy does return. Purpose can rise again.

For me, creating helps me honour my husband’s memory while building a future for my children. Through journaling, cooking, and storytelling, I’m learning to live again. And you can too.

Let every creative act be a love letter to what was, and a prophecy for what is to come.

🌸 Need Help Navigating Your Own Grief Journey?

I know what it’s like to feel lost in the aftermath. That’s why I created the Free “I Am Fruitful” 30-Day Declaration Guide—a resource filled with biblical truth, daily declarations, and space to journal your healing process. It’s completely free and available on my website.

🔗 Download your free guide here.

And if you feel like you’re drowning in grief and don’t know where to begin, I offer 1:1 grief support and creative healing sessions for women walking through loss. Together, we’ll rediscover your joy, rebuild your identity, and honour your story.

💌 Book your session today or email me at support@josephineenumah.org. You're not alone—and you don't have to heal alone either.