What to do if you are standing in the corridor
Last week, I posted about the saying ‘one door shuts another opens but standing in the corridor is THE WORST’ and lots of you felt that resonated.
So this week, I wanted to follow up and talk about what to do if you suddenly find yourself in that corridor - through job loss or any other change in circumstance.
Standing in the corridor can be a wretched, scary and lonely experience. Here’s what I recommend:
Pause & Breathe. Easier said than done when your mind is whirling but try to take a conscious pause and connect with your breathing. Inhale, exhale. I find that actually saying those words inside my head push out other thoughts. Breathing deeper and more fully is proven to calm you down so slow down your breath. If you find it hard to sit still, you can do this as a walking exercise. Inhale for 4 steps and exhale for 4. In fact, getting out and about for a walk is also a great pause.
Process Your Emotions. Standing in the corridor can raise a whole whirlwind of emotions: shock, anger, grief, fear. Take time to process them. Name what you are feeling: “I am feeling despondent", "I am feeling forlorn." Really unpack them and lay them out.
Practice compassion for yourself. If you had a thorn jabbed into your thumb, you’d take it out, clean it out and dress the wound. So do the same thing with feelings. Show yourself some care. So, ‘this is a tough time and it’s painful. I’m going to give it the time and attention it needs.’
Talk it out. Don’t suffer in silence. Get it off your chest. Don’t bottle it up. Find someone you trust, a good listening ear and pour it out. They may not have all the answers but it’s good to share and get some comfort.
Take a look from the balcony view (this was my last week’s topic) and get some perspective. Your life and career will have many ups and downs, twists and turns. You will have navigated many so far, and right now, you find yourself right in the crux of one. From the balcony, what’s important and what do you see? From a future balcony, what do you see? This will be a time in your life you look back on as one of those sharp bends that you navigated.
Remember, we human beings are adaptable, resourceful, problem-solvers. We deal with the things that are sent to try us. And the corridor always leads somewhere and often to great opportunities and better times.
Take heart, have faith in yourself.
Tracy
