How to Survive Being Fired Without Your Self-Esteem Taking a Dive

Losing your job doesn't have to hurt your psyche.

The words "you're fired" are not ones that any worker hopes to hear coming out of the mouth of his boss. When these words are fired at you it is easy to take them as more than just an indication that you are out of a job, but instead as a sign that you are lacking as an individual. Instead of allowing your job loss to create emotional scars, deal with your firing effectively.

Instructions

1. Give yourself some time. Regardless of the circumstances surrounding your firing, it is sure to sting at least a little. Don't expect this hurt to subside right away. Just like when you burn your finger, you will need time for your wounds to heal before you will be at 100 percent again. Allow for this time and don't push yourself to just "suck it up."

2. Surround yourself with people who care. Instead of locking yourself in your room after the firing and tearing yourself down mentally, get out and hit the town with people who will build you up. Ask friends or family members who are consistently supportive to join you in coping with this trauma. Head out for a meal, take in a movie or visit your favorite watering hole and spend time having fun and remembering what's most important in life.

3. Reconsider your goals. If the career goals you had set for yourself were in part dependent upon maintaining the job you lost, revisit them. Don't allow yourself to feel like your future has been ruined because you were a bit unlucky. Instead, consider how you could modify these goals. Once you create a new road map for career success, handling the firing will likely prove easier.

4. Create an ego-massage list. While you may normally be hesitant to sing your own praises too loudly, when you are trying to recover from a firing, doing so won't hurt anything. On a sheet of paper, list at least 10 things that are wonderful about you. As you make this list, you will see that despite the fact that your last attempt at employment didn't work out as you had hoped, you still have a lot to offer.

References

• CNN Money; How to Deal with "You're Fired!"; Gerri Willis; April 2004
• "USA Today"; A Survival Guide for The Recently Fired; Sascha Cohen; November 2002