How to pen a letter of consolation
From ArticleWorld
To Pen a Letter of Consolation is an art that requires the writer to allow their sympathy be conveyed through the words in the letter. A consolation letter should not only be a letter of consolation per se but should also reassure and help in coping with pain better. There are a few suggestions on how to go about it.
[edit]
A few thumb rules
- Begin with determining the trouble that the recipient of the letter is facing and write your letter accordingly.
- Tell them that you can understand what they are going through because you have faced similar trouble yourself (if you have) and reassure them of a human being’s ability to deal with and overcome every kind of trouble in life, however big it might seem at the present time.
- Remind them again that though it is a cliché, time is a healer and their present pain would definitely heal with time.
- Let the recipient of the letter know that you grieved for them and wished that there was something you could do to lighten their burden of sorrow. Let them know that you are always there for them in case of any need, advice or guidance.
[edit]
Do’s
- Make sure that the letter is written by hand. A hand written letter at such times communicates your personal feelings much more effectively than a typed letter would do. In fact if you do not write well then you would be better advised to take help but avoid sending an impersonal computer processed letter.
- Use simple and plain stationery to write your letter.
[edit]
Don’ts
- Don’t go so overboard with your sympathies so as to sound false. Keep the tone of your letter even and sympathetic. A maudlin letter does more harm than good to a person already grieving.
- Don’t let the tone of your letter depict pity in any way. Sympathy is welcome but pity is something that all of us can do without.