Grief, Healing, and Creative Expression—How Do They Intersect?
For Paula Di Marco, grief came in the form of an unimaginable loss—the death of her partner, Alex, by suicide. But her story isn’t just about loss. It’s about transformation, resilience, and the power of creative expression in healing.
In this episode of Hard Beautiful Journey, Paula shares her journey through grief, healing, and creative expression, revealing how art and writing became her lifeline after loss. She dives into the complexities of grieving someone who also caused pain, the power of creativity as a healing tool, and the importance of finding the right support system to navigate trauma.
Navigating Grief When Love and Pain Coexist
Grieving someone who hurt you is one of the most complicated emotional journeys a person can experience. Society often tells us to mourn the dead with reverence, but what if the relationship was filled with both love and trauma?
Paula shares how she held space for both love and anger, allowing herself to grieve without guilt or forced forgiveness.
"I feel I’m always going to be sad that he died. But the truth is that I feel safer in this world knowing that he’s gone. And that contradiction is something I had to learn to live with." — Paula Di Marco
This episode unpacks how to navigate grief when there’s unresolved pain, reinforcing that grief, healing, and creative expression can coexist in a way that honors every emotion.
Creativity as a Lifeline: Healing Through Art and Writing
For Paula, art and writing weren’t just outlets—they were survival tools.
Creativity became the bridge between grief and healing, giving her a space to process pain when words alone weren’t enough. Her visual art and writing practice allowed her to externalize emotions, creating something meaningful from loss.
"Writing was the thing that kept me going. It was like a shelter, a friend, and my muse. It gave me space to drop every dark thought and hold it with care." — Paula Di Marco
This episode is a powerful reminder that creative expression is more than just an artistic outlet—it’s a path to self-healing, self-discovery, and purpose.
The Importance of Finding the Right Support System
Grief can be isolating, but healing is not meant to be done alone.
Paula shares how joining a suicide grief support group gave her the safe space she needed to process her emotions without judgment. Having a community that understood her unique grief experience allowed her to navigate her emotions with more clarity and acceptance.
"I realized I don’t have to be ‘done’ with grief. And that was so freeing. I was chasing this idea of a finish line, but grief isn’t something to complete—it’s something to carry in a way that allows you to still live a meaningful life." — Paula Di Marco
This conversation reinforces that healing happens in community and that grief, healing, and creative expression can all be nurtured in the presence of others who truly understand.
Moving Forward Without "Moving On"
One of the biggest misconceptions about grief is that we are supposed to "move on" from it. Paula challenges this narrative, embracing a different perspective—one that acknowledges that grief is something we carry forward, rather than leave behind.
Through art, storytelling, and self-compassion, Paula has found a way to turn pain into purpose—proving that grief, healing, and creative expression can coexist to create something truly meaningful.
💛 If you are navigating grief, trauma, or loss, Paula’s journey is an invitation to explore your own healing through creativity, storytelling, and self-compassion.
🎧 Listen to the Full Episode on Hard Beautiful Journey:
📌 Available on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Podbean | Google Podcasts
🔗 Connect with Paula:
🌍 Website: www.pauladimarco.art
📖 Blog: Between Beauty and Pain
📷 Instagram: @pauladimarco.art
🔗 Connect with Me (Tiff Carson):
🌍 Website: www.hardbeautifuljourney.com
📷 Instagram: @iamtiffcarson | @hardbeautifuljourney
📩 Email: hello@tiffcarson.com
