LinkedIn Presents. When we bond with someone, an us is created, a dynamic system of orbiting bodies. That system is ripped apart when our loved one dies, and many people feel physical symptoms as a result. If we have the courage to sit and listen to our body as we would listen to a sorrowful and wordless child, We may come to learn how our body responds to unbearable loss and how our distinctive way of being in the world initiates our body's stress response. Perhaps grieving enables us to understand and honor what the death of our one and only really means.

Happy Wednesday, friends. I'm Michael Kovnat, and this is the Next Big Idea Daily, quick masterclasses from the best new books written and read by the authors themselves. Don't forget to hit follow in your podcast player and sign up for our free newsletter using the link in the episode notes. Now, if you've ever lost a loved one, and if you haven't, I'm sorry to say you almost certainly will at some point. You know that grief isn't just something you feel in your head. It's something you carry in your body. It's physical. Your heart races. Your appetite disappears. Your limbs feel heavy. Scientists now know that bereavement can weaken the immune system, disrupt sleep, and even increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. In extreme cases, people really can die of a broken heart.