Two years ago, I had a stable job that paid the bills, but I was a bit bored and felt unchallenged in my current role. However, I had low expectations from my manager, worked remotely, and could maintain a decent living by just doing the minimal tasks each day, like attending meetings and handling specific responsibilities. On an average day, I probably worked 1-3 hours, including meetings. Growing up from a poor background, I felt this was the ultimate luxury.
Then, a headhunter for a startup reached out to me on LinkedIn about an opportunity. It was still remote, with a significant pay increase. Naturally, I was interested, not expecting anything to come of it, but somehow, I managed to get an offer.
I took it immediately, leaving my stable, easy, and comfortable job with the idea that I could have the same thing but with a 160% increase in salary.
Time flew by. I worked a bit more than I had in my previous role. I could no longer do the bare minimum, but it was still comparatively a comfortable job.
Ten months later, I got a call from the president and HR. They said they were letting go of half their employees, and I was one of them. There was a small severance, but I needed to look for my next role.
I was crushed—almost crippled by anxiety, shame, and fear. Friends and family showed their support on social media, but to me, it only confirmed that I was a failure. That wasn’t even the worst of it. The worst part was the things I told myself—things I would never say to anyone else, not even to criminals or the so-called evils of the world. Yet it felt so natural to be so harsh on myself.
TL;DR: I found another role a couple of months later. Life went on, and things were fine.
I’d like to tell you this is a happily-ever-after story, but it’s not. Two months ago, in this new role, I was laid off again due to downsizing. While the fear, anxiety, and shame returned, this time, I didn’t torture myself like before. And that’s huge. Somehow, this time, I knew how long my severance would last, cut my expenses to a minimum, and began looking for my next role the very next day.
Guess what—two weeks ago, I got a job offer, and I accepted it. I still have some of my severance left, and now I feel a bit more secure, knowing I can pay my bills for the foreseeable future.
Sorry for the long-winded story, but all of this is to say that after these experiences, I’ve stopped questioning why life leads me down certain paths. It’s just the path—it’s neither good nor bad. You just keep moving forward and tackle the next thing. You learn to adapt to your new reality eventually. In my case, things somehow worked themselves out. I suspect that if you focus on what’s in front of you, look for your next role with optimism and energy, life will move on for you too.
Good luck.
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