An Evening with Ligia M. Houben

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***Please note: This event will take place at the Books & Books in Coral Gables at 265 Aragon Ave. Tickets are FREE and books will be available for purchase at the event. Want your copy early or can't make it in-person?

Ligia M. Houben’s Allow Me to Live My Grief... and Heal from the Inside Out is a deeply moving and transformative guide, inspired by her personal experience of losing her mother. This book is not only a heartfelt tribute to her mother’s memory but also a compassionate companion for anyone navigating the painful journey of grief. Houben shares her personal story, offering her own vulnerability as a way to connect with readers, while also providing essential tools that help the bereaved feel validated and supported.

The central theme of the book is the importance of living through grief rather than avoiding it. Houben presents her 11 Principles of Transformation—a powerful methodology she developed to guide individuals through their grief while helping them transform it into an opportunity for personal and spiritual growth. These principles include accepting the loss, expressing feelings, and engaging in rituals, all of which are designed to help individuals face their grief and begin the healing process from the inside out. Houben emphasizes that grief is a natural and unique experience for everyone, and there is no right or wrong way to grieve.

Through personal reflections, client stories, and practical exercises, Houben skillfully guides readers on how to process their grief. Each chapter offers not only emotional validation but also concrete tools for healing. For instance, in the chapter Live Your Grief, Houben encourages readers to embrace their pain instead of hiding from it, stating, “We must face it to live it to the fullest. What we ignore does not cease to exist, it is repressed.” This resonates with her overarching message that confronting grief head-on allows for deeper healing and transformation.
In another chapter, The Morning After, Houben explores the immediate aftermath of loss, describing the overwhelming sense of emptiness that can accompany it. She recounts her personal experience of waking up the day after her mother’s passing, feeling disoriented and struggling with the reality of her absence. This chapter not only offers solace to those in the early stages of grief but also provides practical advice on managing day-to-day responsibilities that can feel unbearable during such times.
A key aspect of the book is Houben’s focus on rituals and their healing power. In the chapter Using Rituals, she explains how creating meaningful actions can help the bereaved feel connected to their loved ones, even after they’ve passed. This chapter offers various suggestions for incorporating rituals into the grieving process, such as lighting candles, writing letters, or creating memory boxes, all of which can provide comfort and a sense of continuity with the loved one who has died.
One of the most poignant lessons in the book is Houben’s assertion that grief does not have a fixed timeline, and it is essential to honor one’s own pace of healing. In The Relationship Does Not End, It Transforms, she shares how the love we have for those who have passed away continues to evolve, reminding readers that although the physical presence of a loved one may be gone, the emotional bond remains intact. She writes, “Just as I have a right to grieve, you also have a right to grieve,” a powerful reminder that every individual’s grief is unique and valid.

The final sections of the book provide readers with different ideas and suggestions for how to heal from the inside out, focusing on holistic self-care and spiritual exploration. Houben introduces practices such as mindfulness, meditation, and journaling as tools for inner healing. These practices encourage readers to reconnect with themselves and their own resilience as they navigate the journey of loss. The book closes with Healing from the Inside Out, offering reflections and exercises that help readers rebuild their lives with hope and purpose.
Allow Me to Live My Grief... and Heal from the Inside Out is a profoundly healing book that not only provides readers with a sense of companionship during their darkest moments but also empowers them to transform their grief into growth. Through her personal story and professional expertise, Ligia M. Houben delivers a compassionate, supportive, and practical guide for anyone experiencing loss, offering them the tools they need to heal from within while honoring the memory of their loved ones.
Notable quotes:
1. “We must face it to live it to the fullest. What we ignore does not cease to exist, it is simply repressed.”2. “Just as I have a right to grieve, you also have a right to grieve.”
This book is an invaluable resource for both individuals and professionals in the field of grief support, as it tenderly bridges personal experience with therapeutic insight. It is a must-read for anyone seeking solace and practical strategies for healing after loss.

Ligia M. Houben is a grief and life transitions expert, author, and inspirational speaker dedicated to empowering individuals to transform their pain into personal growth and healing. Ligia holds a BA in Psychology, a double major in Psychology and Religious Studies, a Master's in Positive Psychology, a Master's in Religious Studies, and Graduate Certificates in Gerontology and Loss and Healing. As a Fellow in Thanatology, she specializes in understanding death and grief as part of our human experience. She is the founder of The Center for Transforming Lives in Miami, where she offers workshops, support groups, and one-on-one coaching. Through her bilingual podcast Transformando el Duelo/Transforming Grief, a weekly radio program on Radio Paz, and nationwide seminars, Ligia inspires countless individuals to honor their loved ones, embrace healing, and transform their lives.

Host or Publisher Books & Books