{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"117: The Power of Presence: Supporting Those in Grief with Paula Harris","description":" \u201c\u2018Let me know if you need anything\u2019 is one of the most useless things you can say.\u201d \u2013Paula Harris Our hosts, Stephanie McCullough and Kevin Gaines, sit down with financial advisor and author Paula Harris, who shares practical insights on how to support someone grieving the loss of a spouse. Drawing on years of experience working with widowed clients and her own faith-rooted perspective, Paula shares thoughtful, actionable ways to be present during what can be one of life\u2019s most isolating seasons. Drawing from her publications Rise Up: A Widow\u2019s Journal and A Grief Journal, Paula offers a unique blend of guided writing, storytelling, and actionable tools to help people process grief on their own timeline. She urges those within a widow or widower\u2019s circle to move beyond clich\u00e9s like \u201clet me know if you need anything.\u201d Instead, she offers specific, compassionate actions\u2014from hanging Christmas lights to making a weekly check-in call. Paula also explains the dangers of isolation, the risks of financial exploitation, and how a personal touch in your condolences can go a long way. She reminds us, above all, that grief manifests differently for each and every person. And so, dealing with it requires a great deal of tact and empathy. \u201cShow up,\u201d she says. \u201cBe Present.\u201d Ask gentle questions. And never underestimate the healing power of presence, story, and a handwritten note.   Key Topics \u00b7      Why Casseroles and Flowers Aren\u2019t Enough (05:15) \u00b7      Better Ways to Show Up for a Grieving Friend (06:59) \u00b7      How Grief Evolves Over Time (20:38) \u00b7      \u201cDon\u2019t Be a Purse\u201d: Financial Boundaries for Widows (21:38) \u00b7      The Power of Handwritten Notes and Storytelling (28:42) \u00b7      How Advisors Can Ethically Support the Bereaved (35:27) \u00b7      Stephanie and Kevin\u2019s Wrap Up (39:25)   Resources: \u00b7      WHCornerstone.com \u00b7      Paula Harris\u2019 Ted Talk \u00b7      Wisdom Wednesday with Paula Harris (YouTube Channel)   If you like what you\u2019ve been hearing, we invite you to subscribe on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Tell us what you love about this episode! Or better yet, tell us what you want to hear more of in the future. stephanie@sofiafinancial.com   You can find the transcript and more information about this episode at www.takebackretirement.com.   Follow Stephanie on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn.  Follow Kevin on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn. ","author_name":"Take Back Retirement","author_url":"http:\/\/takebackretirement.com\/","html":"