For many, offering condolences for whatever the reason may be can be a pretty hit-or-miss job. While it comes easily for some, for others, conveying this sort of emotion while remaining understated and genuinely concerned simply doesn’t come easily.
Fortunately, we are offering a few tips that anyone can use for those moments when nonchalance is not needed, and a little more sympathy and emotion are.
Choose The Right Medium
Choosing a medium with which to offer your consolations is part of the process. Choose wisely, and you’ll make a real impact. On the other hand, if you don’t pay heed to what the moment entails, you risk making yourself look like a fool and possibly even making things worse than they already are. One option that usually works regardless of the scenario is flowers. A sympathy flowers delivery package, along with a heartfelt note, can do more than any other platitude ever could. Moreover, there are numerous species of flower to select, making it possible to personalize your choice more than you think. Finding out what the recipient likes or what flowers were the preferred ones of the deceased can make someone’s day with a simple bunch of their favorites.
Acknowledge Their Loss Directly
When it comes to this situation, there is no point in beating around the bush. They know the score, you know what’s happened, and so trying to remain evasive will do nothing more than make everyone feel awkward. Instead, be upfront with your condolences and try to address the situation with tact. The way you go about this will obviously depend on who dies, their age, the connection to the person you’re speaking with, and more, but the point is that being open with what has happened can often be more cathartic for all involved.
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Select A Personal Note, Message, Or Call
If you’re unable to send your condolences in person, or if you can but want to communicate a deeper level of understanding, then you can’t beat a personalized, handwritten note. The way you go about this will be based on the situation (as is the running theme throughout this post), but it should always be handwritten if possible. So the next question that typically arises is how do you lay out such a note? Well, if the person is incredibly close to you and knows them into melty, this should come quickly, and no matter what you include, it will usually be appreciated. Moreover, for someone who may be a couple of steps removed from you, it should contain an acknowledgment of the loss, a gesture of sympathy, and an offer of support in some way (if possible).
Avoid Cliches And Platitudes
There is nothing worse than experiencing a loss of some description, only to be met by someone offering you a range of wishy-washy words that don’t really mean anything. As per the second point, if you’re not going to address the situation directly, there is no point in wasting everyone’s time. Try to be sincere with the terms you use and avoid any unnecessary and useless terms that do nothing but make you look foolish.
Many people find it challenging to share condolences for a loss. However, by using these tips, you should be better able to craft something that makes an impact and has meaning.
