In this guest blog I am sharing the wisdom of Grief Recovery Specialist, Russell Friedman, from The Grief Recovery Institute. I hope you find this blog helpful. While written in 2022, the information continues to apply to our current financial market.
In the past couple weeks we have seen tens of thousands of words written in major publications about the plight of retirees and others who depend on investments to support their golden years. Relatively little has been written about recovering from the emotional wounds that invariably accompany financial loss and insecurity. Most people associate the word grief primarily with death, but it actually applies to more than forty human loss experiences.
High on the list of emotion-producing losses are major financial changes. Fear is a prime motivator. Nothing creates more fear than the fear of financial insecurity. This is always true but becomes exponentially accurate for those who have retired from work and rely on investments and retirement funds for their daily bread and their ongoing sense of security. Events of the past ten months have joined to produce very strong emotions about our financial and physical security. The confluence of the current stock market/corporate confidence debacle with its lingering impact fostered a new and ubiquitous level of fear.
Financial Grief
The fear that is produced by the combination of losses generates a wide range of feelings, which we refer to as a roller coaster of emotions. That language also fits the incredible highs and lows exhibited of late by the stock market and all its leading indicators. The fact that the real business indicators are stable and good has not stemmed the emotional tides being experienced by all.
Sadly, people’s emotions are not being addressed. In our society there is a tendency to try to redirect people’s naturally occurring emotions from their hearts to their intellects. Best example, “Don’t Feel Bad, She’s in a Better Place,” said in an attempt to soothe. But it backfires because it is the griever who is not in a better place. Also, saying “Don’t Feel Bad, It’s Only Money,” is not going to be very comforting to a senior whose earning days are behind, and whose emotions about life and lifestyle have been permanently altered or who are on the roller coaster of fear about what the future holds.
In our culture, the cradle is the ultimate symbol of safety, trust, and security. With it comes the image of a crying baby being soothed by the rocking motion and the attention of its caretakers. The baby may be having a little moment of sadness, a mini-grief, or fear over things we cannot see or comprehend. With adult grievers, rocking the cradle may not soothe them and it certainly will not restore their nest eggs. But listening to their feelings and recognizing their pain will help.
Retrieved from https://www.griefrecoverymethod.com/blog/2002/07/financial-grief-can-downturn-create-grief
Canadian Advanced Grief Recovery Method Specialist, Tammy Adams, loves to problem solve, inspire and motivate others who are ready and committed to change. Tammy has spent over 30 years in the field of education and as a Certified Life and Executive Coach Tammy teaches individuals to challenge and conquer their limiting beliefs and insecurities to create the life of their choosing. As a Grief Recovery Method Specialist Tammy understands that unresolved grief can limit an individual’s capacity for happiness and is gifted at supporting individuals through the pain and isolation cause by an emotional loss, of any kind, to a place of happiness they believed no longer existed. A Tammy client testimonial, “Tammy helped me unpack the baggage and put a smile on my face in the process. It’s a rare quality for someone to fully listen without judgement yet still steer you in the right direction.”
To learn more about Intuitive Understanding please visit www.tadams.ca or contact Tammy by email at tdadams@rogers.com