Three weeks ago, I lost my corporate job unexpectedly. I was called into a meeting and told my position had been eliminated.

Stunned, I sat motionless in front of my computer at home. My mind went completely blank. When I finally regained awareness, my first thought as a single mom was: How will I raise my kids without a job? My second instinct was to cancel the trips I had planned for us this year. Then came the frantic urge to start searching for jobs immediately.

But I didn’t.

Instead, I paused. I realized these were my shock responses, triggered by the fear of the unknown.

Tears streamed down my face as I sat there.

This felt eerily familiar.

Like my divorce, the job loss came out of nowhere.

Unsure how long I sat there crying, I was woken up by an inner voice: Lisa, if you could pick yourself up from a traumatic divorce, you can overcome this, too.

Choosing A Different Approach

Unlike isolating myself during my divorce, this time, I decided to reach out. I called two women I admire—both entrepreneurs who had transformed their lives after job loss—and texted mentors and friends for insights and support.

I also made a decision that the old me wouldn’t have had the awareness or capacity to make: I allowed myself time to process this sudden change before taking action. No rushing, no forcing—just space to feel and heal first.

The First Week

I allowed myself to grieve. Some moments, I felt clear; others, I felt utterly lost.

I broke the news to my mom and reassured her I would figure things out. I booked a facial at a spa, contacted employment lawyers (more on that in a future post), scheduled a session with my therapist, and met with my coach.

I also found myself obsessively checking my bank accounts multiple times a day, trying to make sense of my financial situation.

I cried, meditated, and got lost in my thoughts, feeling like a walking zombie.

The Second Week

I felt calmer, but the waves of uncertainty still hit hard. My hair started falling out in clumps. Hello, stress!

A new set of emotions also arose: Why me? What did I do wrong? Could I have prevented this?

I immediately recognized this pattern from my divorce—the guilt, self-blame, and longing for things to be different. But instead of fighting these thoughts, I gave them permission to exist. I sat with them during meditation, yoga, and journaling.

I became an observer, recognizing that this was fear talking. This is NOT me.

Taking time off from “doing” also allowed me to understand my company’s decision: it was purely business. I didn’t have to take it personally, and I won’t.

Great, that’s progress. But what now?

The Inner Battle

Each day, I heard two voices battling within me.

One was my fearful inner child—terrified, doubting, convinced she wasn’t enough.

The other was my wise, 90-year-old self—calm, self-assured, seeing the bigger picture, gently whispering in my ear: Lisa, you are more than enough. This is just a bump in the road. You are on the path to something much larger than what you can see.

Feeling torn, I sat in deeper meditation, morning and night, moving my body in the hot room every day. I let tears, sweat, and emotions flow through me.

The longer I sat, the clearer the wise voice became.

The quieter I remained, the more I could hear her.

Fear tells you to shrink and hide,
To doubt yourself and stay inside.
But courage whispers, rise and expand,
Embrace the unknown and take life in your hand.

A job doesn’t define you, nor does a ring,
You are the fire, the force, the spring.
True security doesn’t lie within a job or a vow,
You are your safe place, right here and now.

Child, hear me out.
Go create!
All the way out!

Create a life that sets your soul on fire,
Inspire others to dream and reach higher.
Your dharma sparks transformation,
Your love ignites deep revelation.

And never forget…

Every loss entails space for something new,
A chance to build what’s truly YOU.
When all feels lost, you won’t lose the day.
Your inner compass will light the way.

If you lost a job, please remember:

1. It’s a business decision; don’t take it personally. (Yes, even if you were let go due to performance reasons.)
2. Pause and process before taking action. Give yourself space to grieve, reflect, and recalibrate.
3. Reach out for support—you don’t have to do it alone. 

Because you are not alone. I am doing the work alongside you. Whether you're facing job loss or divorce, please feel free to reach out. ❤️

Photo by Ali Kazal on Unsplash