THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN GRIEF, EXISTENTIAL CRISIS, AND CAREER FULFILLMENT

In my last blog post I explore the topic of grief. Although I barely skim the surface of this huge topic, my goal is to shed some light on a human experience that is typically avoided in our culture because it makes people uncomfortable. But I think that by turning away from this discomfort we are missing an opportunity to build a more fulfilling life. 

Life is always changing, and with any change comes loss. When we lose someone or something that was a significant part of our lives, we feel grief. And a natural response to grief is to experience an existential crisis, when the meaning and purpose of life is called into question.

The uncertainty and fragility of life, brought  front and center with the pandemic, has made it impossible to ignore the bigger “what is my purpose” picture. As a response to feeling this existential angst some people are seeking out more human-centered company cultures, and others are even embarking on life-long dreams of starting their own business.

In order to answer Mary Oliver’s question, “what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?,“ we must turn towards our discomfort. Our biggest losses, hardest challenges, and darkest nights, are always the most influential catalysts for realigning life priorities.

It is in the existential crisis that our ego is stripped away and we uncover our core values, which become the framework for building a fulfilling career and life.