ANGELIQUE ELECTRA
In the course of a career, it is more likely than not, you will be subject to a layoff or a an elimination of your position — due to company restructures, financial losses, bankruptcies, divestitures or mergers. It happens. It’s business, they say. Then, there are also the effects of the recent pandemic and government actions. Shocks to the system. Anger bone deep. Frustrations and fear mount.
It comes as a shock as there may be little or no severance, or the pain of being walked out the door the very day the news is received, without even the opportunity to say good-bye to colleagues with whom you’ve shared a healthy percentage of their daily lives. It’s a deafening blow to lose a job when you don’t expect it, are not financially prepared for it, and now face the difficult process of obtaining another one — especially with so much at stake for you and your family.
It’s also easy to interpret the messaging of job loss as “You’re just not valuable enough for us any more.” Our egos get deeply bruised. We can be very hurt by the rejection. When those remaining colleagues are uncomfortable and awkward in saying good-bye and wishing us well, it’s sometimes more painful than comforting.
It’s also easy to fall into deep fear, and even terror…the new uncertainty can become almost paralyzing. To have your world, in a matter of minutes, turn upside down, without an instruction manual to follow to guarantee quickly a happy alternative. The overwhelm of it all can present a black box when you ask yourself, “what am I going to do?”
Quiet Your Mind and Allow Yourself to be Guided
The energy of Fear becomes noisy in the Mind. When everything changes, the one thing that never does is the part of you that stands ready to serve you — sitting in the Quiet and the Still. regard the Inner Voice that feeds love, support and guidance from the Divine. Taking time for quiet contemplation, meditation, nature walks and even prayer, will calm the mind and allow your next inspirations to calm, soothe or illumine the next step you should take. Sitting quietly for a few moments every day in gratitude for the blessings you are enjoying can also lift you toward clear-headed thinking and action.
Very early mornings are my own best times, before there is noise in the household. I meditate and I journal all the inklings I receive from the Divine, and then allow them to percolate throughout the day. When I ask for insights, they always come. I also know that when they do, they are ideas and thoughts that never would have occurred to me in my own self reliance.
Take the time every day to stay in the quiet and receive your next set of “instructions” for your good.
Your Empowerment Center Lies in Your Mind — Manage It Like a CEO
The one thing that is uncertain when all else feels uncertain is your ability to manage and redirect your thoughts. Your thoughts contain the source of all your empowerment — to trust in a positive outcome, to gain resilience, to access answers, to advise you, and most of all, to manage your emotions and your stress. To take the leash off your mind to travel to the most fearful of places means that you are more at risk to manifest what you most fear. If you cease to be present and in control of the quality of your thoughts, they will overwhelm and disable you. How to do that?
One Door Closed. Now, allow Light to Stream into the Opening Windows
There are no real accidents. Something so much better is ahead…and when it happens, you’ll know that all the interim pain and discomfort had a reason. Job losses can mean it’s time to move into the direction of your dreams, find the next opportunity worthy of your larger talents, reinvent your work identity, or start your own business. Job losses can create huge growth opportunities our Spirits have craved, but our Minds were too afraid to pursue. We can get pushed out of the nest — the comfort zone of our steady jobs — to fulfill more of our potential. Staying in trust that the job loss has a larger meaning for your good is essential to the journey of transition.
Stay in the Present
What’s true right now? Instead of allowing yourself to live in your vision of your worst fears, focus on the present moment, present day, present week. At any given moment, what’s the very next step to focus on to meet the most important priority? How do you set yourself up to success? What are the basics? Chunk down what has to be addressed in face of the big, obvious goal of “I need a new job. I need more money. I need…..” In this present moment, contemplate all that is fine right then — it could be a fully stocked kitchen, the roof over your head. In the moment, are you really okay? What is your present blessing for which you are grateful.
Stay Clear of “Chicken Littles” and Create the Support Team Right for You
Others in your life can stir up panic and fear as well. This can become distracting and unhelpful. If it is a spouse, it’s time to become completely aligned and help one another manage your collective thoughts and stay in the present. While this can be challenging, it is critical to address the process of shifting into meaningful next steps or way of being. Your children require your confidence and your belief that like any other challenge, it will be conquered; all will be well. Those well-meaning friends who negligently throw water on seeds of fear — kindly back away.
Consider that you do need a team of supporters, whose support you ask for, and manage. You can pull together those family members and friends who are your go-to’s for positive encouragement and help. Enable people to help you — decide in advance what you really need and let them know. Help others help you. Sometimes the help is simply to ask for positive thoughts and prayers, to check in weekly for encouragement or a bit of social time with some laughter thrown in to ease the stress. You can give them the ability to help you search for your next opportunity by giving them research tasks, share your resume with others, or simply offer meals from time to time to ease the stress of shopping, cooking or ordering out.
Stay in Thoughtful Action
Do not sit and stew. Set a new work schedule to follow. Keep those same routines to stay healthy. Continue to exercise, spend regular time with your children, and reserve time to de-stress and relax. The mind and body need it to revive and thrive. Make a list of meaningful to do’s. This could include assessing your current expenditures and removing all the non-essentials.There are usually a lot of hidden costs, like subscriptions you don’t need. Reset your budget. Get a budget tracker (like Mint) to make expenses consistently visible. If you have financial or tax advisors, inform them of your situation to get their best advice. Set a scheduled time to review those new opportunities and to network. Get the guidance you need for using job sites, and setting up your self-marketing materials — use YouTube and other advisory sources to get instructions on optimizing LinkedIn and other job sites. If you have been offered placement, take full advantage of their services. Stay in scheduled, meaningful action. Then, take the breaks you need to revitalize your spirit, your body and your mind.
You Got This.
All will be well. It’s not magical thinking, but a grand allowance of trust and faith, that you are being pulled by the future to a newer, bigger place that, from where you sit right now, will blow your mind.
Listen for your Divine Guidance who is murmuring to you: “You Got This, because I Got You.”