Emptiness Is The Voice of Grief

Do you know what we don’t talk about enough that has a major effect on the emotional and psychological health of our leaders?

In fact, I would argue that we don’t talk about it at all.

And, it’s a problem.

And I’ll tell you why—but first, what we don’t talk about.

We don’t talk about the grief that comes as we trend our lives upward.

Whether it’s a promotion, landing a dream job, scaling the organization, or even marrying your soulmate and bringing a child into the world, there is inevitable grief that comes as the byproduct of growth and change.

And, it makes sense when you think about it.

With growth, comes change. With change, comes loss. With loss, comes grief.

And, I would argue that it’s exactly why we can elevate our lives into the next evolution of success and still feel an emptiness pervading our lives.

Anyone else, or is that just me? 🙋🏻‍♂️

And this is why it’s so important that we take the time to have this conversation.

Because oftentimes, which I know from my own story and the lives of some of the leaders I’ve had a chance to work with, we misinterpret the emptiness.

We interpret the emptiness as the voice of ‘not-enough’ and it keeps us in a perpetual cycle of doing more, achieving more and trying to be more in hopes that the emptiness will dissipate one day.

But, it doesn’t.

And after our best attempts fail, our soul is tired and we’re eventually left feeling at war with our lives and somehow we’ve managed to become our worst enemy.

Or worst yet, we project this inner turmoil onto the people around us.

And this is why it’s important we talk about this more.

Because might I suggest that emptiness is not the voice of ‘not-enough’ as much as it’s the voice of grief.

And when we recognize this, it changes everything.

Yes, when we recognize that emptiness is the voice of grief, we can begin to accept that reconciling the emptiness isn’t solved by doing more, but by doing less—and creating the space to look inward.

In other words, the answer to the emptiness isn't out there but it's already within us.

And, I get it. This isn’t easy.

But, it’s important especially when it comes to our emotional and psychological health as leaders and the people we lead—at work and home.

So, let’s carve out space and talk about it more.

Because so much of our mental and emotional well-being hinges on it. ❤️

P.S. Talking about this doesn't mean you're ungrateful.

P.P.S. If this resonates with you, please feel free to share it.