Breaking the Cycle of Grief through Communication | Heather Schultz Gittens | TEDxCUNY

Grief & Healing Process - The speech emphasizes the universality of grief and highlights that the grief journey is unique for everyone [14] - It outlines a five-step process for navigating grief: communicating with oneself, communicating externally, building a community, releasing grief physically, and becoming a grief cycle breaker [15][16][17][18][20] - The speech suggests various methods for physical release of grief, including yoga, meditation, Reiki, somatic work, acupuncture, running, walking, and dancing [20] - The speaker advocates for breaking generational grief cycles by identifying and accepting the root cause of trauma [15] Personal Journey & Identity - The speaker shares their personal experience as a transracial adoptee, detailing the compounded grief of losing their birth mother and being separated from their Korean heritage [2] - The speaker's journey includes reconnecting with their Korean identity through travel, research, and eventually searching for their birth mother [24][25][26][28][29] - The speaker highlights the importance of writing as a tool for processing grief and connecting with both their deceased mother and their son [4][5][10][11][36][37] Family & Legacy - The speech underscores the potential negative impact of unhealed parental grief on children and the importance of addressing it [15] - The speaker expresses gratitude for their adoptive mother's love and support, while also acknowledging the complexities of their adoption story [13][14][27][35] - The speaker aims to create a loving and supportive environment for their son, breaking the cycle of generational grief and honoring their Korean heritage [33][34][35][36][37][38]