It’s shocking.
It hit me like a ton of bricks while sitting in church recently: when peace is absent, the costs are staggering—across governments, national security, businesses, and in our personal lives and families.
We see it on the global stage. Conflict, like the ongoing tensions with Iran, is a vivid reminder of the immense cost of war—measured in time, resources, destruction, and most tragically, lives that can never be replaced.
At home, the cost shows up differently, but it’s just as real.
Tax dollars are stretched and often wasted as political parties battle for power. Some organizations even thrive on creating chaos to push their agendas.
In business, a lack of peace among leadership and staff drains productivity, wastes resources, and fractures partnerships. When conflicts escalate to legal battles, the financial toll is high—but the damage to long-term relationships can be even greater.
In families, the cost becomes deeply personal. Divorce can impact financial security, emotional well-being, and relationships for years—sometimes generations.
And beyond all of this, there is a quieter, often overlooked cost: the internal toll. When peace is missing, it affects our mental and emotional well-being in ways that ripple through every part of our lives.
Every day, we are exposed to situations and information that can steal our peace—many of which we cannot control. The challenge, and the opportunity, is to focus on what we can control: our choices, our actions, and how we respond.
Peace doesn’t happen by accident. It requires intention.
This is why the work we do matters. Helping families gain clarity and take action allows them to move forward with confidence—knowing they are making decisions that support a more secure and peaceful future.
*Thomas Herlong is Financial Adviser offering investment advisory services through Eagle Strategies LLC, a Registered Investment Adviser and a Registered Representative offering securities through NYLIFE Securities LLC (member FINRA/SIPC), 424 Calhoun Street, Johnston SC, 29832, 803-275-5090. A Licensed Insurance Agency. Eagle Strategies and NYLIFE Securities are New York Life Companies. Thomas Herlong does not provide individualized tax or legal advice. Please consult with your tax advisor or attorney regarding your individual circumstances.
