Grief on Purpose: Why Laura Walton Says You Don’t Need to “Get Over” It to Heal

What if grief wasn’t something you had to get over… but something you could grow through?

That’s the powerful question Laura Walton has spent the last two decades living into.

In this deeply moving episode of Hard Beautiful Journey, I sat down with Laura Walton, a licensed therapist, grief and trauma expert, and the founder of Grief on Purpose, to explore how unimaginable loss led her to her life’s work.

Laura lost her father to suicide at 21. Five years later, her partner died of a heroin overdose. Her world shattered—twice. But in the aftermath of those losses, Laura realized something most of us never hear about grief: it doesn’t go away, and it doesn’t need to.

Instead of trying to “move on,” Laura chose to move forward—with grief as her companion, her teacher, and ultimately, her purpose.

And in doing so, she created a movement that’s helping others do the same.

“I didn’t need someone to fix me—I needed someone to sit with me.”

One of the most striking moments in this conversation came when Laura shared just how hard it was to find the right kind of support in her early grief. Like many of us, she was met with platitudes and problem-solving. People tried to fix her grief, avoid it, or rush her through it.

But grief doesn’t follow a timeline. It doesn’t respond to logic. It’s not a wound that stitches up neatly. As Laura says, “Grief is not something that ever really goes away. It just changes.”

That’s why she created Grief on Purpose—a space where grief isn’t treated like a disorder or an inconvenience, but as something worthy of attention, compassion, and intention.

What It Means to “Grieve on Purpose”

Grieving on purpose means exactly what it sounds like—creating intentional time and space for your grief. Instead of avoiding the pain or rushing to feel “better,” it’s about getting curious with what’s coming up. It’s witnessing your sorrow without judgment. And it’s learning how to live with the grief, instead of fighting against it.

In Laura’s words:

“Grieving on purpose is about letting it be part of your story—part of your life—and allowing it to change and evolve, just like you do.”

Yes, Your Relationship With Someone Can Continue After Death

One of the most profound takeaways from this episode was Laura’s perspective on spiritual connection after loss.

Eighteen years after her partner’s passing, Laura had a moment that redefined her understanding of grief. On his birthday, while listening to one of his favourite songs, she felt joy—awe, even—in the continued relationship she still had with him.

“I used to think grief was just heavy. But that moment was light. It was beautiful. And it reminded me that grief can still include joy, too.”

This evolving bond is something we both connected on deeply. My own relationship with my brother Cory continues to shift and surprise me. And the more I talk to others, the more I realize this is a part of grief we need to normalize—because love doesn’t end when a life does.

Healing Trauma Through the Body: Yoga and Somatic Practices

We also explored how Laura uses yoga for grief and trauma healing, not just as movement, but as a deeper somatic tool.

As a yoga instructor and long-time practitioner, Laura believes our bodies hold the memories and emotions that our minds don’t always know how to express. In grief, especially, emotions can get trapped. They need to move. Whether it’s through tears, breath, or a sweaty yoga session, our bodies can be powerful allies in healing.

“Grief lives in the body. Yoga helps move it through when words can’t.”

Her explanation of the eight limbs of yoga—and how self-inquiry is just as essential as movement—was such a needed reminder that healing isn’t just physical. It’s emotional, spiritual, and layered.

Why Society Still Gets Grief Wrong

Laura and I both agreed: the cultural narrative around grief still needs to change.

Despite progress, many still treat grief like a condition to treat or a phase to finish. In fact, prolonged grief disorder is listed in the DSM, which only adds to the stigma. But grief isn’t a disorder. It’s a natural, human, universal experience.

As Laura said:

“We’re getting better—but we still have a long way to go.”

That’s why her work matters so much. It’s why Hard Beautiful Journey exists. And it’s why we need more honest, soul-level conversations like this.

You’re Not Alone in Your Grief—Even If It Feels That Way

We closed the episode with a reminder that bears repeating: if you’re in the deepest part of your grief right now—if you feel like you’ll never get up off the ground—you are not alone.

There are people walking this path too. There are stories like Laura’s, and like mine, that prove it’s possible to survive—and even find joy again.

Grief changes. You change. And that’s okay.

Listen to This Episode If You’ve Ever Asked…

• “Why won’t my grief go away?”
  
  
• “Is it normal to still feel connected to someone who died?”
  
  
• “How can I support a grieving friend without saying the wrong thing?”
  
  
• “Why does my body feel like it’s holding so much sadness?”
  
  
• “Will I ever feel like myself again?”
  
  

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• Laura’s Website: www.griefonpurpose.com
  
  
• Laura’s Instagram: @grief.on.purpose
  
  
• Self-Guided Grief + Trauma Courses
  
  
• Grief + Trauma Journals
  
  
• Yoga for Mental Health and Emotional Healing
  
  
• Grief on Purpose Podcast
  
  

Final Words

This episode is more than just a conversation—it’s an invitation. To slow down. To feel. To be gentle with your broken heart. And to know that healing doesn’t mean forgetting.

If you or someone you love is navigating loss, I hope this episode with Laura Walton offers a little light in the darkness. And if it did, please share it with someone else who needs it. Let’s change the grief conversation together.