Day 10 - Two Little Words - Theme Song!

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As we journey through the next few weeks, many of us will flow in and out of various states of consciousness.
 
More to the point: the nation and the world are actually going through a transition.
 
And even if we are not personally touched by the ultimate tragedy of a loss of life, we are ALL dealing with the loss of the old way of living.
 
Accordingly, you, he, she, and me – we should ALL pay attention to the various stages of grief.
 
In psychological terms, the 5 stages of grief are:
 
- Denial;
- Anger;
- Bargaining;
- Depression; and
- Acceptance.
 
This framework forms the transitory process of emotional activity that helps us cope with losing something of great value.
 
And, to be sure, the world has changed forever.  Along with that change, we have lost a sort of romanticized innocence in how things used to be.
 
As you pass from yesterday into tomorrow, please set aside a few minutes each day to think about – and ask yourself – “Where am I in these 5 stages of grief?”
 
Indeed, most people who have not lost a loved one to this ongoing tragedy are likely to respond with the first stage… Denial.
 
It’s only natural.
 
But then comes the Anger.
 
This, too, is natural.  

But unlike Denial, Anger can facilitate unhealthy consequences.  

Hence, my request that you, my friend, INVEST some to time to really ponder where YOU are… and process through the Denial.  We, as a society have lost much.  And we, as individuals, have lost much, much more than we currently realize.
 
The next phase, Bargaining, is usually manifest in the form of “making deals with oneself or God.” If only "this" could happen, then I will do "that."  If only "that" happens, I will do "this."  Unfortunately, this phase, too, can facilitate unhealthy consequences if left unchecked.  One of the worst manifestations of this phase is when individuals start Bargaining about what caused this or that.  Then... neighbors start blaming neighbors. And remember:

...we are ALL neighbors in this worldwide community.
 
With so much loss of employment, income, socialization, and, quite simply, the loss of a sense of community, a looming emotional and economic depression has the power to exacerbate our tendency toward Bargaining and potentially twist our worlds into a downward spiral of despair and dread, fed by more dread and despair... and, ironically, a voracious appetite for more dread and despair.
 
Whoa!
 
What happened?
 
Wasn’t this supposed to be a Two-Word Journey outside the lines of the real-world monster that lies outside our doorstep?
 
Isn’t this blog supposed to help us think beyond the headlines?
 
Yes – it is.
 
And that is exactly what I am doing.
 
It’s also why I am asking you to take THIS day, THIS moment, THIS opportunity to come to some form of “acceptance."

This Acceptance is the last phase of the processing of grief.
 
Though everyone deals with grief a tad bit differently than you and me, I am asking YOU to at least consider the process – and the question…
 
Where are you in the 5 phases of processing this grief?
 
As you pull back from the headlines and the flurry of numbers and the evolving, if not contradicting, advice that spews from the television, media, and social media, give yourself some time to process this remarkable shift in our everyday lives.
 
As you do this, I ask that you please do me a favor:
 
Pick a theme song and let it take you to wherever you want to go.
 
Whether it’s Percy Faith’s “Theme from a Summer Place,” Bill Conti’s “Theme from 'Rocky (Gonna Fly Now)'” Shawn Mendes’ “Señorita,” or that classic, “The Electric Slide,” immerse yourself in the wonderful confines of your favorite song and embrace this ever-evolving new world into which we are entering.
 
Me?
 
I’ll be listening to Elvis Presley’s version of “The Impossible Dream.”
 
As I discussed in yesterday's post, we can all borrow the theme song from the 'Super Friends.'

In the meantime, tell me: what’s your…
 
THEME SONG?
 
Oh, and…
 
Accept what is.
 
Adapt to a changing landscape.
 
Achieve the best possible outcome.
 
Aloha,
John
 
Accept. Adapt. Achieve. ®

John H. Clark III is an optimistic realist.

Principal consultant at The PIE Group, and Executive Director of TeenBuilding USA, [a non-profit 501c(3)], John believes better development of leaders is what we (all) need.  And to be better organizations, we need more good leaders, not followers. To build better leaders, we must start with the individual (you, she, he, and me).
 
Described as “an innovative leader,” John teaches leaders, organizations, and individuals how to inspire each other. With a bold goal to inspire a worldwide community of optimistic realists who continuously accept, adapt to, and achieve the bold and beautiful concept of The Ideal Life, John is leading a movement to inspire people to apply his trademarked mantra {Accept. Adapt. Achieve! ®}.
 
An innovative business manager and retired naval officer, John is fascinated by leaders and organizations that make the greatest impact within their organizational culture and within the “real” world — people who “get it.” Over the course of his life as a military leader, corporate mentor, and innovative content creator, John has discovered a wealth of insight about how we think, act and communicate within our respective work/life environments. As a career naval officer, mentor, educator, and optimistic realist, he has devoted his life to sharing insights to assist in our quests to become better at what we all do – live @ work!
 
An optimist with a penchant for writing about realistic solutions to the challenges of everyday life, John is the author of 3 books: a leadership-development insider, The Ideal: Your guide to An Ideal Life, a teen-focused guide, Getting Out: Expert Advice for Today’s Teens, and the Christian-based book, God’s Heartbeat: A Powerful Premise for Leading a Christian Life.
 
He delivers a unique and refreshing point of view to life's seemingly overwhelming situations. 
 
Through books, blogs, and everyday conversation, John's message resonates with an empowering blend of ideals that enrich, uplift, and “authorize” people to set and achieve goals far beyond current mindsets.  His trademarked phrase is a winner: