After the Layoff – Part 2: Why You Can’t Skip the Grief
In Episode 3, Part 2 of the After the Layoff series on Your Next Success, I explore what happens when the urge to bounce back quickly is actually keeping you stuck.
When you've been laid off or thrust into a transition you didn’t choose, there's often pressure to look strong—to say “I’ve got this,” to rush resume updates, to start hustling again. But what if that push to power through isn’t strength at all, but spiritual suppression?
Skipping grief doesn’t save time. It steals clarity.
I’ve sat with that fog—staring at my screen for hours, numb, untethered, ashamed. I expected job loss to be logistical. Instead, I found emotion—a rupture in identity, routine, community, safety, momentum. I learned that grief isn’t just for death—it’s for anything that mattered.
Here’s what this episode helped me—and countless others—really understand:
1. Grief Has Five Hidden Layers
Losing identity – “What did I do? Who am I now?”
Losing routine – “Days feel empty, hours stretch.”
Losing community – “No coworkers, no casual connection.”
Losing status/safety – “Work grounded me—I feel exposed.”
Losing momentum – “My roadmap vanished.”
That disorientation? That's grief knocking, and it deserves attention.
2. The Five Stages Appear in Career Loss
Denial protects you—your system saying, “Not yet.”
Anger reveals passion—the fire of what mattered.
Bargaining is your mind seeking anchor—grounding you again.
Depression signals deep processing—a necessary clearing.
Acceptance emerges when clarity replaces resistance, and you choose the next chapter.
These stages aren’t linear. You might circle back—and that’s okay. As long as you keep showing up.
3. Reflection Builds Your Next Chapter
You don’t need a 12-step plan. You need a moment.
Grab your journal or download the free workbook linked in this episode.
Write a letter to yourself:
Then: “Before the layoff, I was…”
Now: “After the layoff, I feel…”
Forward: “Going forward, I want…”
This simple, soulful exercise names your grief—and gives you back direction.
Why this matters now
When we silence our grief, we risk carrying unresolved pain into the next job. We may make decisions based on discomfort, not clarity. But when we allow grief, we open space for insight, compassion, and self-trust.
So please: don’t rush to bounce back. Instead, recognize what’s present. Feel the grief. And give yourself permission to heal—with all its messy, human beauty.
The support you deserve
To help you honor this process, I created The Pause —a gentle reflection guide designed for moments like this. It’s not a hack. It’s a soft landing for your heart, your clarity, and your next step.
Because your grief isn’t weakness. It’s the bridge between who you were and who you’re becoming.
🎧 Ready to explore this alongside me? Listen to “After the Layoff – Part 2: Why You Can’t Skip the Grief” on Your Next Success. It’s one part of a multi-episode journey designed to rebuild from the inside out.
