Do you know people who seem to have a very logical day? They get up, get dressed, take the kids to school, get to the office, create spreadsheets, make appointments, see clients, go home. Then one day it is very illogical – they are laid off. Suddenly their day shifts from logical motions to less-logical emotions. They feel rejected, hurt, sad, disappointed, even angry.
In my role as a career coach, I’ve seen clients work their whole lives for a dream. They have suddenly had to regroup and shift their goals or change how they achieved those goals. I’ve heard about unbelievably toxic work environments with far-too demanding managers and co-workers who stab each other in the back. I’ve seen clients given projects that are overwhelming, leading them down the painful road to burn out.
All of these situations leave a mark on a person’s well-being. Going through a rough experience at work can affect your confidence. It can lead to mentally beating yourself up. You might shut down and avoid sharing what you’ve been through with others.
Free yourself from your emotional burden and move forward with two simple concepts: compassion and forgiveness.
Before you can think about what is next, you need compassion for what happened to you. Find a friend, loved one, or professional who will listen and have compassion for you, too. Talk out the situation and what you have learned from it. If you had a friend in a situation like yours, wouldn’t you have compassion for them? Try to feel compassion for yourself.
Then attempt to forgive yourself. Forgive yourself for that mistake you made or that thing that you did or did not do. Forgive yourself for getting into this career field in the first place. Forgive yourself for not being perfect and for life not being perfect.
Remind yourself that this happens in careers – you are not alone in your emotions. You are not the first person to have gone through a rough career spot and you will not be the last. There are people who have walked through terrible situations and come out the other side a better employee, worker, and person. Call yourself a phoenix and rise up out of the ashes.
Are you still dealing with the emotions from a past job or career choice? Offer yourself compassion and forgiveness. To help, I have posted a Compassion and Forgiveness meditation below. Take a few moments and clear away the junk and negativity in your mind and replace it with quiet, calm forgiveness.
Forgiveness/ Compassion Meditation
Bring your wisest, kindest self to mind. Bring to mind a difficult time in your career and take a look at yourself at this time with this loving presence. Send your old self some love and compassion. Offer this old self forgiveness for anything he/she did or didn’t do. Let your old self know that they’ll make it through. Sit with your old self and give him/her comfort. Do this for two minutes with your eyes closed.
Where in your life do you need to show yourself some compassion and forgiveness? What else is holding you back from forgiveness? Who can you speak with to help show you some compassion and ultimately help you find forgiveness for yourself?
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