If you are new, the Start Here page is the best place to get oriented. It explains the Trail Markers and the larger journey behind this work.
If you’re reading in the order of my writing, I ended my last entry on a pretty (very) ominous note. I’m not some doomsayer, but the country’s been on an unusually strong employment run since the early COVID impacts—and if you take those out, it’s really been a very long employment market since we slowly pulled out of the Great Recession. We’re due. Couple that with possible AI productivity disruption and the total debt of the country and individuals, and I think we’re due for an employment recession at least, and likely a full-blown one. They aren’t anomalies—they’re part of the cycle. And while we can’t predict the exact timing, we can prepare.
Regardless, it’s always good to be prepared. So even if you don’t think we’re headed in that direction, I encourage you to continue reading. What’s the worst that could happen? You set yourself up better for the eventual downturn—because it always comes, eventually.
I want to take a second to reiterate: I’m not trying to replicate the thousands (millions?) of “what to do after a layoff” guides that focus on finances. I’m definitely NOT a financial planner and certainly haven’t made all the right decisions in my own life. What I do have is a certain expertise in recruiting and HR, a background in coaching, and my lived experience. That’s where I want to focus.
I’ll also provide links to some of the most trusted resources for people after a layoff (or let’s say “shock to the system” instead) if finances are your biggest concern. I want to help. And separately, through these articles, essays, or word dumps I’m creating, I want to build a community where folks going through difficult challenges can meet and support each other.
🧩 Sections
Before we dive in, take a breath. This isn’t a checklist to complete (I’ll have one of those shortly) it’s a mirror to hold up. You don’t have to answer everything right now. Just notice what resonates, what stings, what feels true. That’s where the work begins.
I didn’t do this inventory for years. I thought I was fine. I wasn’t. When I finally sat down and named what I’d lost—and what I still had—it changed everything. So I offer this to you not as homework, but as a lifeline.
- The Tangible Losses
- Income and benefits
- Career trajectory or professional identity
- Health or physical capacity
- Relationships or social standing
- Lifestyle and routines
Prompt: What did this shakeup take from you that you can name clearly?
- The Invisible Costs
- Confidence and self-worth
- Sense of control or predictability
- Emotional bandwidth
- Trust in systems or institutions
- Future vision or long-term plans
Prompt: What changed inside you that others might not see?
- The Residual Strengths
- Skills and experience
- Support network (even if strained)
- Values and principles
- Creativity or adaptability
- Past resilience
Prompt: What do you still carry that can help you rebuild?
- The Emotional Landscape
- Grief, anger, shame, fear, numbness, embarrassment
- Conflicting emotions (relief + guilt, hope + despair)
- Physical manifestations (sleep, appetite, energy)
Prompt: What emotions are present right now, and how do they show up in your body?
To help visualize this, I’ve included an Emotional Weather Report below.
It breaks down common emotional responses after a major disruption—like job loss or life change—using familiar weather patterns. From grief and numbness to hope and resilience, it’s a way to name what you’re feeling and start making sense of it.
- The First Truths
Sometimes the hardest truths are the simplest. Here are a few that surfaced for me—and maybe for you too.
- “I’m not where I thought I’d be.”
- “This hurts more than I expected.”
- “I’m still here.”
Prompt: What truths are surfacing that you didn’t want to admit before?
If any of these prompts stirred something in you, write it down. Or share it with someone you trust. This is how we begin to rebuild—not alone, but together.
In the next entry, I’ll share a practical checklist for navigating the early days of a layoff or life disruption. But for now, sit with this inventory. Let it breathe
If this resonated, I’d love to hear what surfaced for you. Drop a comment, send a message, or share it with someone who might need it.