The Resilience Of Loss And Codestiny Sheryl Sandberg

By Ann Allen


In life, there are times when most people go through a hardship of one kind or another. For many, this can be in relation to the loss of a loved one. In the case of Facebook CEO and Lean In Founder and expert in codestiny Sheryl Sandberg, it was in relation to the loss of a husband and father of the Sandberg children.

In the days following the loss, devastation and destruction were the only emotions which Ms. Sandberg felt at the time. As such, the Facebook CEO and founder of Lean In decided to document those feelings. Now, the businesswoman and widow shares the story of loss, grief and the ability to rebuild in a new book called Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience and Finding Joy.

One of the main points the author wishes to make is that people are right in that grief can never be replaced. Although, while there continues to be sadness in the absence of a loved one, life can and often does get better over time. The title of the book was born out of an early Facebook post which was written shortly after the loss of Mr. Sandberg.

While most people would rather a loved one be present after death, this is not an option. As such, Sheryl calls this Option A. Whereas, Option B allows for others to substitute or sit in for the lost loved one. As Option A is not available, then Option B becomes the only possibility. So, after using Option B as a mantra, Sheryl began to face the adversity head on in the realization that nothing could replace that which the businesswoman had lost.

As with the first book Ms. Sandberg authored which was a best seller in 2013, Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead, the new book also has an online counterpart. Ms. Sandberg is donating all proceeds from the book to OptionB.org, which is a nonprofit initiative of the Sandberg family foundation. The organizational website and online discussion forum works to help individuals build resilience and discover meaning while going through adversity.

Whether facing a hardship due to the loss of a loved one, friendship, relationship or job, it can often be important to find support. In many cases, there are groups in most areas which provide ongoing support groups related to these type losses. Most often, these groups are listed on social networking websites and through a number of social service platforms.

As anyone who has lost a loved one knows, one often feels isolated, alone and like nothing can make things better at the initial time of loss. In fact, even when others whom have experienced such loss suggest that life will get better in time, individuals have a hard time believing this to be the case. Whereas, with the right amount love and support, most people can and do move forward, once again finding joy and happiness in life.

Eventually, most people realize that moving on and moving forward in life is okay. In many cases, memories of those lost becomes a mainstay for overcoming grief while processing the loss. In doing so, many have reported having the ability to build a strong resilience to grief during the process.




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