Business Stress In The Midst Of Grief Stress

Business stress, financial stress, grief stress… Understanding these five changes will help you get through it and into a far brighter, lower stress life.

If the stress of grief has you in a debilitating vice grip, you really need to be aware of these Five Stages of Change, and what that means for the grief process you are experiencing. I’ve helped numerous people suffering from grief to move forward simply by making them understand that what they are feeling is normal. There’s nothing wrong with them.  It’s O.K to feel this way at this stage. And it will pass!

One late-sixties widower was even about to enter a psychiatric facility because his family thought he was stuck in too deep a depression at eight months after his wife’s death. His whole emotional state and outlook changed the very day he understood that he was O.K. He gained hope again, a brighter outlook for tomorrow, a skip in his step… all from an understanding of where he was, and that it would pass.

You see, I’ve been through those horrors with the sudden death of my husband plus much more death and destruction piled on top of each other. I know how debilitating these ultimate stressors can be.

And I know how important it is not to get stuck in any one phase, but to get through it. I love the encouraging title and substance of what Oral Roberts once wrote about going through the dark valleys of life. It’s a little booklet entitled “Don’t Park Here!”

Wow, that struck a familiar chord with me. Doesn’t that make so much sense to you, too? No, I’m NOT going to “park here” but move on toward better times!

It’s the same in business. If executive stress, professional stress - or whatever you want to call your stress in business or your own financial stress - is sucking your energy, playing havoc with your health and relationships, your moods and focus, ruining your work efficiency and productivity, then you need to understand this:

“The same Five Stages of Change apply if you want to relieve this stress and move your life and business forward. If you want finally to make a real, positive Impact on your world and life!” ~ Ken McArthur

Years ago, when I was newly recruited Senior Vice President, Corporate Planning in a major financial institution in charge of implementing massive change in the corporate culture on top of all else, I attended an intense, week-long Executive Seminar at the Darden School, University of Virginia - “Managing Organizational And Individual Change.”

That’s when I first learned about these cycles of change - the same for catastrophic illness, death, and business. I had undergone so many major changes in education, career, geography, and life, and now was a pregnant corporate executive (talk about life changes!), that the instructor enthusiastically requested to use me as a case study!

Little did I know that my greatest changes and challenges lay ahead . . . and how the five stages I learned in this business course would hold me in good stead when I later faced the overwhelming debilitation of grief stress, compounded by mega financial stress from assumption of my deceased husband’s huge business losses.

But I didn’t “park there.”

One of the best, most succinct explanations I have seen of these five phases is by Ken McArthur, a savvy advisor, internet marketer, coach, mentor, and friend at TheImpactFactor.com/blog. Ken goes on to ask this probing question:

“So where are you and what can you do to really change the results of your business, your actions and your life?”

And he gives answers. Not one to leave you hanging, but a truly caring and brilliant man who always offers solutions, Ken lists some simple steps to move you forward, so you don’t “park there!”

IMPACT - Changing Your Life For Maximum Stress Relief and Impact

It seems that nothing relieves stress more than the feeling that you are moving forward, you have a future, and you are making a difference. I highly recommend Ken’s powerful book, “IMPACT: How To Get Noticed, Motivate Millions, And Make A Difference In A Noisy World.”

It’s improved my life, as I am certain it will yours. You can get Ken McArthur’s great book “IMPACT” here.

You’ll be glad you did!

By Margaret Hampton

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