People all over the world lose their jobs every day.
Whether the victim of a headcount reduction, business closure, poor performance, professional slip up or otherwise, the end result is you are out of work.
The first thoughts are usually ones of fear, anger, regret, panic or a mixture of all the above. You may even feel relieved in some ways.
I’ve run the gamut of thoughts and emotions this past week.
I was stressed about money.
I was angry with myself for blowing a great opportunity.
I’m nervous about finding a new job.
I’ve even worried about what folks are saying about me now that I’m gone.
So, what is one to do when you’re wrestling with a mixture of thoughts and emotions. When you feel like your whole world is about to implode?
First, take a step back. Breathe. Relax.
Think about all the good things you still have in life.
You have family. You have friends. You’ve awoken to another day above ground. Be grateful for that.
Acknowledge. Acknowledge the fact that you are out of work and you are maybe more than a little afraid. If you made a mistake, acknowledge that too. Own it and forgive yourself. You screwed up and landed in a mess. Fine. Ruminating on it for days, weeks or months on end will not get you out of this hole.
Reach out for support. Call family, friends, a therapist. Call someone and get it out of your system. Keeping it inside is only going to eat you alive and prevent you from moving forward.
Pay attention to your sleep and your nutrition. Eating a barrel full of Twinkies and washing them down with multiple beers might feel good in the short term, but I assure you it won’t for long.
Nor will staying up all night binge-watching the latest and greatest “reality” show or scrolling Instagram for hours on end just to look enviously at people who (you think) have it far better than you. Maybe they do and maybe they don’t.
Maintaining a regular eating and sleeping schedule will be far more beneficial in the long run. You have a lot on your mind, and you need your mental and physical strength for the challenges that lie ahead.
Exercise. One of the things I let fall to the wayside was my exercise regimen. Gradually, I looked and felt worse for each day I neglected it. One of the first things I did when I was let go was resume my workouts. Exercise is a great way to relieve stress and generally feel better.
It doesn’t matter if you lift weights, run, bodyweight exercises, a brisk walk, etc. Just do something. Just move.
Practice mindfulness and gratitude. Yes, life sucks right now. Yes, the future may be a complete unknown at the moment. That said, I am sure there’s at least three things you’re grateful for. Start and end your day thinking of three things you are grateful for and you will see your outlook greatly improve.
Practice meditation, mental distancing and controlled breathing (4, 7, 8 breathing). A few of the things I learned when I called an EAP counselor were the aforementioned coping techniques. Disclaimer: I am NOT a certified healthcare professional. I am merely telling you what helps for me. A cursory Google search should give you the basics on these mechanisms. They are not difficult to implement.
I used to think they were all spiritual mumbo-jumbo, but I’ve found they are effective if practiced regularly.
Take action. The first couple days after I was informed I had been fired, I did not do much at all. I was mostly paralyzed.
By day three I had reached out to multiple friends (and many had reached out to me as well), who offered their friendship, support and assistance. I left these conversations with offers of letters of recommendation, requests for my resume, and permission to give names as references. The support was overwhelming and I am eternally grateful to all the people who are here for me.
I also got off my rear end and cold called a business recruiter. I went to their office, introduced myself and explained my situation. They took my info, my resume and are prepping it to shop around. They told me I had a very marketable skillset, and I walked out of there feeling far, far better than I did sitting home on my tail.
I also had to make several calls regarding insurance, money management, etc. There’s lots to do, so get to doing it. You’ll feel far more productive if you do, I promise you that.
Realize now that this is the beginning, not the end. This is your chance for that “clean slate” you’ve been dying for. This is your chance to shake off that old skin and be the person you are truly meant to be.
Own it. Live it. Love it.
The Beginning At Last 
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