Monthly Reflection: Grief

Quote

"Grief is the price we pay for love."

Loss is an intense emotional experience. It reveals in new ways what we once had. Appreciation for “what was” deepens when it is no longer.
When something ends, the better it was, the more it hurts. Nothing will erase the pain of grief, but it can serve as a reminder of the gifts we’ve received.

When was the last time you grieved?

Everyone, at some point, will experience loss. None of us can outrun grief. When it strikes, sometimes it’s unexpected. Anticipated or not, the human experience of loss is powerful.
Grief isn’t always related to death. We can grieve the death of hopes, expectations, or opportunities. Sometimes, we have to bury dreams.
Our lives are littered with intangible and invisible losses that may not register to the people around us. Seen to the outside world or not, these experiences of grief mark us.

Economic Components of Grief by Anne Corden & Michael Hirst

Bereavement marks a significant life transition. When someone dies, a distinct “before” and “after” is demarcated in their existence.
Death in a family often ushers in changes in a person’s financial circumstances. Some clients may be contending with the complex emotions that can accompany receiving a large sum of money from an insurance policy. Other individuals may experience elevated anxiety as they face increased financial pressures and economic uncertainty.
In this transition, financial advisors are uniquely positioned to provide families with practical support. In order to intervene effectively, it is important to appreciate the ways in which a client’s grief process can impact their financial perceptions and decisions as well as the ways in which financial stress can impact a client’s emotional wellbeing.