Let’s be honest — losing a job can feel a lot like going through a breakup.
Whether you quit, got laid off, retired, or were “restructured out,” it’s a loss. Sometimes it’s sudden; other times, you see it coming for months. Either way, it stirs up all the feelings — confusion, relief, sadness, anger, and sometimes shame.
Even when we choose to leave a job, especially from a toxic environment, it can still be a mixed bag. Like any breakup, it’s easy to romanticize the good parts and forget the bad ones.
The question that always comes up: Who am I without this job? We don’t talk about it enough, but work becomes a huge part of our identity.
When that disappears — whether you’re 25 or 65 — it can leave you feeling unmoored. You might find yourself grieving not just the paycheck or the title, but the sense of purpose, belonging, and validation that came with it. So how do we navigate it when it happens to us?
First: Allow the feelings—all of them.
Give yourself permission to mourn. If you left by choice, let yourself feel both the relief and the longing. You can miss what was familiar while still knowing you’re moving toward something better.
Second: Get back to basics.
-Get rest.
-Move your body.
-Eat food that nourishes you.
-Do things that remind you who you are outside of work.
Third: Find support.
That might mean a therapist, a coach, or a mentor — someone who can help you unpack the emotions and start to rebuild what’s next.
Your worth doesn’t vanish when your title does. The talents, ideas, and heart that you brought to that role — they’re still yours. They’re just waiting to be expressed in a new way.
If you are going through a transition — wondering what’s next, rebuilding confidence, or searching for meaning after a big change — you don’t have to navigate it alone. I can help you rediscover your purpose, confidence, and the work values that truly align with the next chapter of your life.
Schedule your free call with me here.
You got this!
-Jackie
