Where are you along The Five Stages of Grief?
DENIAL
ANGER
BARGAINING
DEPRESSION
ACCEPTANCE
If you are in DENIAL or ANGRY at the pandemic, even after this long that is fine. There is no prescribed time for an individual to stay at any one stage; individuals will work through the steps at their own pace, and progress may not be linear. But try to acknowledge that the strong emotions that you are experiencing can hijack your thinking. It reduces your ability to reason, objectively or strategically.
Some people may be at a saturation point right now and overwhelmed with what is going on. With a shortened sense of the future, it isn't easy to feel optimistic about it.
I have previously written about The Five Stages of Grief, and how providing time, space and comfort to support my daughter in her grieving (admittedly on a trivial matter compared to the current global pandemic) helped her to move forward to acceptance.
I refer to the Stockdale Paradox each week that we are working our way through the pandemic and all it brings, whether it is bereavement, lockdown restrictions, or general uncertainty. This helps me accept the reality that we are going through and face for some time to come.
"You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end - which you can never afford to lose - with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be."
Share
If you enjoyed reading this article, then please share it with someone in your network who might appreciate it, like a friend, family member, or coworker.
Subscribe
If you liked this article, then please subscribe below for more insights like it. No spam, ever! Just great, insightful content on a weekly(ish) basis.