There it is…I’ve admitted it. It still hurts, but I accept it now. I was heartbroken.💔 It really happened. I lost my dream job. Just thinking about this fact is difficult, but it happened whether I liked it or not.
When I started this blog, I was in the throes of anxiety and immense sadness that I hadn’t experienced before. Ever since my mom passed, I had felt stuck, but this was different.
I became desperate. I needed therapy, and I got help. Behind the scenes, I quit the bakery clerk job that contributed to my massive anxiety 😬 and wrote an email to a publishing company near me.
It was a few years later that the senior editor contacted me. They needed an editor for a new project. She suggested I submit my resume.
They hired someone else for the job. BUT my work was impressive and created a job opening just for me to be an associate writer!
I was Overjoyed!
Someone finally picked me. I was overcome with excitement and gratitude. The dream lasted for two years. I became the courageous person I always wanted to be, and my coworkers (by miracle) were awesome. I really, really loved my job. A new side of me felt like it was being honored, and it felt nice.
But the company was small, and they had a budget. They had to lay me off, along with about a quarter of the company. Last hired, first fired, they say.
Grief. It took over again. The creativity, the consistent paycheck, and the feeling of making a difference (beyond my family) were all gone overnight. I lost my dream job, and didn’t know if I’d ever find a steady, fulfilling job like that again.
The company didn’t want to let me go. We separated on good terms. It felt like a lousy, weird breakup that took a while to accept. Honestly, I was mainly just grateful. But yes, hurt. The rejection hit hard, even though I knew I wasn’t let go for poor performance.
Trying to Move Forward
But that amazing experience was meant to end. Earlier than I hoped, yes. But time works in a way that most of us could never understand. That job came at a time when I desperately needed it, and it turns out, when my husband needed it. I was able to cover us financially while he transitioned into a healthier job.
God’s timing worked in such a beautiful way. It is time for me to move on, and it’s hard. That’s okay. The grief needs to happen, but healing also happens day by day. Now, mainly, gratitude fills my thoughts. But it’s okay that some confusion and anger come up, too. It’s part of being human.
If You Lost Your Job and Feel Lost Too
(You’re not alone. Truly.)
Losing a job—especially one you loved—can shake your identity, your confidence, and your sense of direction. If you’re reading this because you’re going through it too, here are a few things that helped me (and might help you):
1. Let yourself grieve, even if it feels dramatic.
I was surprised to learn that grief comes in many forms. Job loss is a real emotional loss. Your routine changes. Your purpose shifts. Your security disappears. It’s normal to feel sad, scared, angry, or numb.
2. Remember: layoffs aren’t personal.
Most layoffs aren’t a reflection of your value or talent, even if your brain insists otherwise.
3. Do one grounding thing a day.
A short walk. A journal entry. Washing your face. Sending one job application. Anything that helps you feel like a human being again.
4. Reach out—professionally and personally.
Tell trusted friends, mentors, former coworkers, even old bosses. People often want to help more than you expect. A simple, “I’m navigating a transition and would appreciate any support or connections,” goes a long way.
5. Revisit the skills the job helped you build.
Even if the job ended, the growth didn’t. Your experience didn’t vanish. The courage, creativity, and resilience you built are still yours.
6. Let the next chapter unfold slowly.
You don’t need a five-step plan today. You don’t have to “bounce back” instantly. You’re allowed to rest while you figure it out.
You may feel completely lost right now—but feeling lost doesn’t mean you are. It just means you’re between chapters, and the next one hasn’t been revealed yet.
And that’s where I am too.
Moving Forward (Even When It Feels Impossible)
I don’t have all the answers—not for my own life or for anyone else’s. But what I do know is this: losing my dream job didn’t erase my worth, my creativity, or the path ahead. It simply changed the direction.
If you’re in the same place, you deserve compassion, patience, and room to rebuild. We’ll figure this out at our own pace, with whatever courage we can muster on any given day.
For now, I am filled with gratitude—for the job I had, the people I worked with, the timing I didn’t understand at first, and the possibility that something new is coming.
And if you’re walking this road too, I’m right here with you.
Further Reading: Coping With Job Loss, Anxiety, and Major Life Transitions
If you’re navigating job loss, uncertainty, or emotional burnout, these resources offer compassionate, practical guidance:
Coping With Job Loss & Unemployment Stress
- HelpGuide – Job Loss and Unemployment Stress
A research-based guide on managing emotional fallout, rebuilding confidence, and staying grounded during job transitions. - PsychCentral – Job Loss: 7 Tips to Cope
A gentle, step-by-step breakdown of healthy coping strategies, self-care, and ways to manage the anxiety that comes with sudden change. - Indeed Career Guide – How To Cope With the Stress of Losing Your Job
Actionable tips for creating structure, handling finances, rebuilding routines, and staying mentally steady while job searching.
Mental Health & Emotional Well-Being
- HealthShots – How Layoffs Impact Mental Health and Ways to Cope
Validates the grief of layoffs and offers strategies for managing rejection, emotional overload, and sudden identity shifts. - Forbes – The Mental Health Impact of Job Layoffs and 7 Ways To Bounce Back
Insightful advice on resilience, creating healthy daily systems, and navigating the psychological aspects of job loss.
Finding Stability During Transition
- Verywell Mind – How to Rebuild Your Identity After a Job Loss
An empathetic resource about rediscovering purpose, managing fear, and finding new direction. - American Psychological Association (APA) – Dealing With Unexpected Change
Tips from psychologists on coping with abrupt life shifts, uncertainty, and the emotional weight of transitions.
Note: If you or someone you know is in immediate distress, please reach out for professional help. You can call or text 988 in the US and Canada to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at any time.
Some Topics for Discussion
Have you been disappointed by a job loss? How have you coped since things have changed? Leave a comment below ⬇️
A Lil’ Disclaimer about comments:
This blog is meant to be a springboard for discussions on some tough topics. It’s so easy to feel alone, but you’re not!
That hurt you feel? Someone knows it, too.
It doesn’t mean your hurt is less important. It means that you’ve got someone out there that is bound to understand. At least a little.
Things can get tricky. Not all people are kind. But most are just trying to survive.
It’s important to honor the nuances in what someone else is going through, too. Your experience is your own.
It’s complicated, yes.
I’m happy to encourage others to share their stories. Like on any other platform, vulnerability comes with risks. Don’t share unless you feel comfortable. You can count on me in the meantime to put it all out there. 😅
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