We can't have change without loss.

Grief is not exclusively associated with death. We witness that in organisations when change transpires, how people manage change resembles how they deal with grief and loss. We forfeit something whenever things change. We must accept an ending and a new beginning, and there are no absolute norms; grief is a unique experience for everyone.

Four emotional positions

1) Shock and denial phase this stage may last a few minutes, days or weeks. During this phase, the person has difficulty believing or denying reality and may be unable to react.

2) Protest phase this stage may last a few weeks or months. During this phase, the person may experience anger, incomprehension, a feeling of injustice, guilt varying degrees, and a search for a culprit and a meaning to the loss.

3) Disorganisation phase this stage may last a few weeks or months. The person may feel very sad, anxious and helpless. They may also withdraw themselves and lose interest in their usual activities.

4) Reorganisation and adaptation phase this stage can last from a few months to a few years. After that, the person is less overwhelmed by the loss and gradually regains the ability to have fun.

Resistance to acceptance

Accepting grief does not mean resigning oneself to losing what one has failed. Instead, it is to open up and welcome the emotions in me. Acknowledging your feelings (grief, hurt, fear, boredom, anger, etc.) and admitting that they are part of you as if you were in physical pain. If you were in pain, you would analyse when it happens and what you have eaten. You would listen to your body and pay attention to the physical symptoms, wouldn’t you? Grief is more abstract, but the principle is similar. Experiencing emotions related to this adaptation process (anger, sadness, boredom, etc.) allows you to internalise and gradually reorganise yourself. Part of the evolution of this process often takes place without our knowledge. If we try to bury or daze our emotions, they remain stored inside us and can cause problems in our lives, relationships, and physical health.

We all know that life is full of ups and downs. The more we accept this fact, the easier life becomes. It is simpler because instead of seeing the pitfalls and resistance, we can see the moments to learn, grow and develop. Keep in mind that organisational life is without obstacles; although the suffering is real, these events are there to allow us to continue our evolution."

*Grief can be anything from leaving a job to losing a loved one. It doesn't have to be linked to death in particular. I am someone who hates change with everything in me. When I graduated college and moved back home, I grieved. I wasn't living on my own anymore and I wasn't constantly surrounded by friends. It was an everyday change a lot of people go through, but it was still grief. I'm here to remind you that you are allowed to grieve anything anyway you need to. Change is hard and it can really suck sometimes, but it's essential to growing as a person. I always try to remember that if you are grieving, that means you were happy! Do you still with change? How do you cope when you are grieving?*

#Grief #Change #Loss

Please find the full article at Thrive Global.