In my second We Are Women posting, this week’s quote is…
“Remember, we all stumble, every one of us. That’s why it’s a comfort to go hand in hand.”
-Emily Kimbrough
How important it is to have a support group around you when you go through a tough time. Your true friends are there with you when you are at your worst, but are also there when it’s time to celebrate. They are the ones who will drop everything to help out, and are truly happy for you when good things come your way.
uring the times you stumble in life, you will have grief to deal with. It’s important to realize this, and not shut down completely. Allow yourself to grieve at your own pace, and don’t let anyone tell you how you should feel. I will say to wait on any big decisions for about a year after your tough time. There will be items to take care of immediately of course, but give yourself time to process the major change in your life. When you are grieving, you won’t make the best decision for your life, sorry but you won’t. You might rush through the decision, you might make the choice out of anger, but whatever happens, you will likely regret it down the road.
When you make a decision based on such high emotions, you are making a rash decision. This choice will feel great in the short term, but that feeling doesn’t last. And the feelings you will get in return, are regret and disappointment. So whether you are suddenly single from divorce or losing your spouse, take time before you completely change your life.
One woman, we can call her Sally, lost her husband very expectantly in a car accident. She seemed ready to move forward very quickly, and called us up to meet to go through all the paperwork within the first two weeks of his passing. Sally was ready to get everything transferred, make some quick decisions, and mark it off her to do list. A few weeks after meeting with her, we received calls from her sister. It seems like Sally was falling more apart day by day, completely stressed out about the money, and acting very irrationally. She put up quite a front to us, we would have never thought this was going to happen.
We took extra time with her to make sure she understands everything, let her ask questions whenever they come up, and address any concerns she has for the future. When you put up a front, people don’t know you are still hurting inside. They won’t offer to help because to them you seem fine and tell them you are fine. They won’t know you are terrified inside and have no idea what to do. They will expect you back at work like your old self, and ready to move on.
Now when you are ready to move on to the next stage of your life, here is a quick checklist to help get you moving forward:
- Write down your new life goals and money goals.
- Put together a cash flow statement and net worth statement to see where you stand today.
- Review your investment accounts, savings, and withdrawals.
- Review your estate documents: wills, power of attorneys, and living wills.
- Review your insurance coverage: life, disability, and health insurance.
- Get a plan in place by talking with a professional, it can give you so much comfort in knowing someone has your back and confidence you will not only hit your goals but surpass them!
Any opinions are those of Jessica Weaver and not necessarily those of Raymond James.