Less than a year since his wife, actor Kelly Preston, died from breast cancer, John Travolta opened up about his grieving process to Esquire Spain.
In the story, originally written in Spanish, he explained that "living in mourning is something personal."
"Mourning is individual and experiencing your own journey is what can lead to healing," he told the outlet. "The most important thing you can do to help another when they are in mourning is to allow them to live it and not complicate it with yours."
Travolta, 67, explained that he had struggled to cope with other people's grief after losing his wife.
"Even though it's great to have company, sometimes it becomes like you're helping them rather than putting yourself to work overcoming feelings of loss and grief," he said, adding he felt so "saturated" with everyone else's sadness that he "didn't know what to do."
"The first thing you should do when you experience grief is to go to a place where you can mourn, without any interference," he said, adding otherwise you're like two ships who will both sink. "If I die tomorrow, the last thing I want to see is that everyone around is sunk."
Preston died in July at the age of 57 after a two-year battle with breast cancer. She was an actor and former model who appeared in more than 60 TV shows and movies, most notably "Jerry Maguire" in 1996 and "Twins" in 1988.
Preston and Travolta met shooting the 1989 comedy "The Experts" and married in 1991. They have three children: Jett, who died in 2009, Ella, 21, and Benjamin, 10. Jett died at 16 after having a seizure while on a family vacation in the Bahamas.
In a statement at the time of Preston's death, Travolta said her "love and life will always be remembered."
"She fought a courageous fight with the love and support of so many," he said. "My family and I will forever be grateful to her doctors and nurses at MD Anderson Cancer Center, all the medical centers that have helped, as well as her many friends and loved ones who have been by her side."
In a message on Instagram at the time of her mother's death, Ella Travolta remembered Preston as possessing "a light that never ceases to shine."
"I have never met anyone as courageous, strong, beautiful and loving as you," she wrote.
"You have made life so beautiful and I know you will continue to do so always," she added. "I love you so much mama."
