One of the biggest things my team and I hope to help widows understand is that balancing their money can greatly impact their emotional healing.

When you understand your financial situation, you are ultimately creating more choice for yourself and your next steps. This allows you to feel more in control and confident during a time that is so turbulent with grief, sadness, and overwhelm. And this choice can create curiosity. And curiosity creates courage.

Undoubtedly experiencing loss and grief is a painful process. When someone we love dies, it is natural to feel shattered; that what remains of our lives is empty and in pieces. Remember though, it is the way to healing.

Your husband’s death can leave you in uncharted waters, not only emotionally and spiritually, but financially as well. Here is a quick checklist to help you build awareness about what to avoid and what tasks to address early on: