Understanding When Others Don't: How to Help Those Hurting from Loss (And Maybe Learn Something about Your Own Losses Too)

To whatever extent our dreams, expectations, and plans fall short of our reality, there is loss.

Our idealized dream of life may include avoiding abuse and tragedy, marrying once to the "right" person, having successful careers, having children who mirror our values, and after a long and healthy life, dying peacefully in our sleep.

But life doesn’t always go that way.

Life often includes abuse, divorce, premature death, illness, financial setbacks, and unfulfilled dreams. In each situation...