The truth is, I spent April going through the “fun” of redundancy… again.

Am I getting more practiced at it? Yes.

Was I more prepared to handle that experience than last time 3 years ago? 1000% yes.

Were there plenty of tears? Yep.

Was it still really, really shit? Afraid so.

Even though it’s not my first rodeo with redundancy, and I now spend time coaching others through the same situation, it’s still a shock. It still hurts. It still turns your life upside down in an instant. I found it triggering some very well-worn neural pathways of loss and grief.

The “funny” thing is, since the start of this year, the winds were already shifting for me. My energy and ability to focus forward had been returning after a tough year. Really special opportunities were gaining momentum. I felt like I was entering my Spring. I wanted more time and space to really chase after my dreams.

I guess the universe heard and thought it was time to force a move.

So, I wanted to share some of the things that helped me work through those really tough weeks, in case they help someone else.

• Dialled up the self-care. Hello emotional-support puzzle.
• Did lots of things that WERE in my control. I nurtured my plants. I made tasty food.
• Activated my support network. Therapy. Lawyer. Mentors. Friends.
• Once again turned to “Why Losing Your Job Could Be the Best Thing That Ever Happened to You” and ordered Eleanor’s new book, “Another Door Opens: Five steps for navigating change in work and life”.
• Set an intention for how I wanted to be through this time. For example:
  • “Protect your peace.”
  • “Exit with grace.”
• Let myself feel ALL the emotions. Surf those emotional waves.
• Journalled. A lot. It helped get things out of my head and onto paper where they felt far less powerful.
• Reconnected with my mindfulness practice. Headspace was useful way back in, and honestly, it often seemed to know exactly what I needed to hear on exactly the right day.
  • Mindfulness teaches us to notice our thoughts without immediately believing them.
    • Is this true? Is this helpful? Is this the whole picture?
    • It helped me slow down. I made no big decisions quickly and checked my responses. Was this what I really wanted, or was I being hijacked by emotion?
  • Check out the Parable of the Two Arrows. It was a powerful reminder that redundancy was painful enough without me adding a whole extra layer of suffering through the stories I was telling myself about what it meant.
• Kept moving my body moving. Walks. Workouts. Yoga. Your body is keeping score of all that emotion. Yes, I did find myself sobbing on my yoga mat after finally letting some of it go. Getting outside for some perspective.
• As my last few days approached, I consciously made space to acknowledge the end of the chapter.
  • What am I thankful for?  What were the highlights? What (and who) am I saying goodbye to?
• Asked for feedback.
  • What did people really value about working with me?
  • In moments where your confidence takes a knock, it’s amazing what hearing the impact you’ve had can do.

One of the strangest things about this experience was holding two truths at the same time.

I knew it was time. Since the start of the year, I’d felt the momentum building. I wanted more space to pursue my dreams, and I genuinely believed this ending was creating room for something bigger.

And yet, I was sad to close this chapter and still incredibly proud of what I’d built during this chapter.

Knowing it was the right time to leave didn’t make it any easier to say goodbye.

Maybe that’s what growth often looks like. Holding excitement and sadness in the same hand. Being grateful for what was while being curious about what’s next.

And if nothing else, I discovered exactly what my soul needed on one of the harder days: a Martini and a Rhubarb Crumble.

If you’re going through redundancy and any of this resonated, I’ve previously written about some practical tips for navigating redundancy. And if you need a coach who genuinely gets what you’re going through, reach out to me anytime.