Ep 48: The Grief Inside of Growth w/ Stephanie Simpson

Growth isn’t just about what we’re building, it’s also about what we’re letting go.

In this episode, Indra and Stephanie examine the hidden grief that can accompany promotions, career pivots, restructures, and identity shifts. They talk about grieving what you thought would be, survivor’s guilt in the workplace, and why ignoring emotions doesn’t make them disappear. This conversation offers language, perspective, and practical tools for moving through change without bypassing yourself, or your team.

Takeaways

• Grief can show up in unexpected ways, even during positive changes.
• The 'goo stage' represents the messy transformation process.
• Letting go of past identities is crucial for growth.
• Community plays a significant role in our emotional well-being.
• Grief is not just about loss; it can be about change and transition.
• Acknowledging grief in the workplace is essential for a healthy culture.
• Emotions are energy in motion; they need to be allowed to flow.
• Grief is not linear; it can resurface at any time.
• Building a supportive community can help navigate grief.
• Compassion for oneself is key during times of transition.

Follow Stephanie:

• Stephanie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniesimpsoncoaching/
• Stephanie’s Website: https://www.stephanie-simpson.com/
• Stephanie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephaniesimpsoncoaching/

More from Indra and The Messy Middle Matters

• Indra on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/indrak/
• Indra’s Blog: https://peopleprocessthings.substack.com
• The Messy Middle Matters on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themessymiddlematters/
• Feedback for The Messy Middle Matters: https://messymiddlematters.com/feedback
• The Messy Middle Matters Merch https://messymiddlemerch.com

Keywords

grief, change, transformation, identity, workplace culture, emotional intelligence, goo stage, community, leadership, burnout