What to do When You’re Laid Off: Clarify Your Purpose

There are moments in our lives when extenuating circumstances force us into a position to re-evaluate. It’s always something that will serve a higher purpose in the long run. But in the meantime, it’s usually something that will change our day-to-day significantly. Situations that force these moments of quiet contemplation are like hitting a hard reset. They are an opportunity to begin anew. When you google “What to do when you’re laid off,” a laundry list of action items comes up—things you need to take care of, like filing for unemployment, insurance, severance, etc. But what about your mindset? If you’re already a part of this spiritual conversation, you know that being laid off was likely something you manifested. You weren’t laid off because you aren’t good enough; you were laid off because you’re meant to be doing something else.

A friend of mine, very close to me, just recently lost her job, someone I know to be incredibly smart, capable, and talented. And although she sits in this very same spiritual conversation as I do, she is not immune to the worry, doubt, and fears that come with losing a significant piece of stability in your life. After several days of contemplation, she realized just how much she had been manifesting this. She’s ready for something more fulfilling in her life, a career she’s excited to pursue. But, even still, the fear and discomfort are scary. I thought it would be beneficial to share some of the advice I offered her for those of you who may be in a similar situation, feeling lost and unsure which direction is forward.

What to do When You’re Laid Off

If you sit within the ‘type A’ box, you’re likely someone who feels they need to take action immediately. Of course, it’s productive to get that laundry list of tasks done. Things like your severance package, insurance, etc., are essential. But, if you’re in a position where you’ve saved a bit to allow yourself to breathe, I truly think it’s prudent to take advantage of that breather. Even if you give yourself two weeks, let yourself take a step back and re-evaluate. Do you think applying to similar jobs is productive if you hated where you were? I understand how scary it may seem to give yourself that period of rest. But I assure you, in the long run, it will have far greater benefits than getting any job you can immediately.

As a coach, it’s my job to help you see beyond the surface and dive deeper into your conscious mind. It’s easy (and usually the instinct) to see something like being let go as a reflection of your value. But what if it’s something you’ve actually invited in? Everyone deserves to be happy with what they do. So, if you’re someone consistently practicing thoughts like “I hate my job,” you’re inviting the circumstance to change. But, just as we continue to establish, if it is fear keeping you safe in a job you don’t like, it is fear that will also force you out. It’s the Universe conspiring to help you grow and change your circumstances to live a happier life. In this time, when you’re hitting the reset, there are a few basic exercises you can practice to re-evaluate the path you’re on and, most importantly, where you’re heading.

Activities that will Help you Clarify Your Mindset

Controls list

When I began my intentional living journey, I made a list. In this list, I wrote down the things I was in control of in my life and all of the things out of my control. I wrote these lists on two separate sheets of paper. Once I was done, I took the list of ‘couldn’t control’ and ripped it to shreds, throwing it away. Then, I took the list of ‘could control’ and started to work my way down that list. I wrote down everything I could think of. Because even if the circumstances of my life weren’t “perfect,” that didn’t mean everything had to be horrible. To name a few among this list, I took control of: my spirituality, my body/health, how I spent my time, cut out friends, took a course, got a coach, invested all of my money in myself, and the list goes on and on.

Ask those you love and trust

So often, those who love us can see our superpowers far beyond what we believe ourselves capable of. A wildly helpful (and quite enlightening) task to do is asking those you love and trust what they see you doing. Ask your friends and family where they see you succeeding. What skills do they see you have that are unique? What skills can you leverage into a job or new passion? Sometimes, specifically in moments where we’re more vulnerable, we can’t see beyond the present circumstances. We see only with black and white vision in moments of pain and vulnerability. But those who love us can see far beyond those moments.

Seek a Coach or Counselor

Having an objective eye in moments like these can be enormously beneficial. If you’ve ever worked with a career coach or life coach, you know that once they get to know you, like the people you’d thought of in the above suggestion, they can see your true abilities. A career/life coach can help you flesh out what feels unnecessary and move forward toward your purpose. And what’s even better? If you’re working with a life/mindset coach, not only are they someone who can help you discover your true purpose, but they can help you heal your past. I always encourage people to find a life/mindset coach that can help them simultaneously weed through unnecessary baggage and find their purpose moving forward.

Head over to Universe if you’re interested in booking a coaching package, or book a discovery call to see how life coaching could help you! Being laid off is simply a step in a new direction. It’s the Universe and your subconscious mind pushing you into a moment of fear to help you discover where your true passion and purpose lie.