The Weight of Change: Embracing Loss, Growth and Capability

This week, we’re announcing a huge change in our business. It’s been months in the making, and while I’m now REALLY excited, the journey to this point has been both exhilarating and, at times, almost debilitating.

I’ve been reading Conflict Without Casualties by Nate Regier, PhD. In it, he states, “Making the choice to act is a powerful, scary, and exhilarating decision. Some people make it easily. Some become completely overwhelmed by the choice. There is loss associated with making a choice, and this is difficult for some.”

At first glance, you might question this—loss? How does making a decision equate to loss? But this statement immediately resonated with me because I know exactly what he’s talking about. Loss of control. Loss of options. Loss of certainty.

I’m a pretty decisive person, so making the decision isn’t the hard part. It’s the period between making the decision and implementing it. That’s when my brain starts spiraling—mapping out every task, their order, the ripple effects, the unknowns, and the impact. That’s when an elephant takes up residence on my chest, my anxiety spikes, and I’m one criticism away from crying in the bathroom.

Regier’s book continues, “Here’s the crux: loss is an emotional issue. It cannot be solved with logic. The best that Resourcefulness can do is drop you off at the bridge of loss. Only grief will take you across the bridge to Persistence. People avoid the choice to let go and move on because they don’t want to feel the discomfort of loss. Until we authentically experience and appreciate the loss associated with making the choice to let go and move on, we can’t fully transition from Resourcefulness to Persistence.”

Before owning a company, I wouldn’t have associated grief and loss with business decisions. We’ve all heard, “There’s no place for feelings in business.” But over the past year, I’ve learned that grief and loss absolutely belong in this space. Wins are usually the result of multiple failures, and failures cost time, money, and energy. So, you shift, right? But shifting time, money, and energy means taking them from somewhere—or someone—else. Real people experience real loss as a result.

It would be easy to let that loss and grief become debilitating, to let it rob me of energy, confidence, and decisiveness. And honestly, it usually does—for a time. But the thing about grief is that there’s no way around it. You have to go through it. You have to feel the pain, fear, anxiety, and weight. And then, you have to remind yourself that you are capable. Because you are.

“Resourcefulness is about recognizing that I am capable. Choosing to let go and move on is simply the next step to demonstrate to myself and others that this is true. Capability is fully manifested when I take responsibility for my choices and they are converted into action.”

That mindset shift is my deep breath amidst the anxiety. The elephant lifts off my chest, and the answer to every unknown becomes: I am capable.

Increased workload? I am capable. Navigating the impact of ripple effects? I am capable. Setting boundaries to avoid burnout? I am capable.

Decision made. Big changes coming. I am capable—and beyond excited for what’s ahead.

P.S. Want to know the huge change? Stay tuned.