Life After Redundancy – Courageously Embracing The Possibilities

“I’m faced with redundancy after many years in a similar role and I want to treat this time as a positive opportunity to re-evaluate what I really want for my life.  I’m really not that happy with my employer anyway and their values clash with mine so this could be a great time of change.  The trouble is I’m feeling a bit subdued, hurt and frankly a bit nervous about the future.  I really want to do X but I just don’t think it will pay the bills.” 

If you recognise some or all of this paraphrasing, then we’d firstly like to reassure you that you are not alone.  You may feel like you are staring into the abyss with limited options.  You may feel like you’ve got too many options but you’re nervous in case you miss “the right one”. Feeling overwhelmed by everything in front of you is something most people we’ve spoken with can identify with. 

Where To Start

The best first step from here is to simply STOP. Notice your inner voice. What’s it telling you and how is its tone is affecting you?  It can also be especially helpful to create some time out of the busy “hamster wheel” of life to take stock, re-centre yourself and think through in detail what’s important to you. What do you really want?

It’s a tough question to answer and it’s one we often shy away from. A lot of people feel like its selfish to focus on themselves and think about what’s important to them. Perhaps you can relate?

At Crossroads we certainly don’t think you’re being selfish for asking yourself that question. Just by asking it, you’re taking a first courageous step that just might set you an a new and fulfilling path.  That question, “what do you really want?” is a fundamental part of our guided retreat programmes. We’ve seen how big an impact the answer can have.

What If?

When we let ourselves be unconstrained for a while, allow ourselves to bring to life possibility, ignore the inner critic and ask “what if?”, we can start to energise ourselves towards a direction. 

“Whoa there”, you might say. “I couldn’t possibly do that as I have a family to support, kids to bring up, a husband to care for, a wife who needs me…” The answers you come up with, the things you really want, don’t have to be at conflict with your situation or your responsibilities, even if they appear to be at first. There is the right time in your life for everything, and some of the things we really want we need to work towards over a period of time. This isn’t about instant change, it’s about movement towards a life we want.

What’s really important is that we start to be able to take agency for our life, notice that we do have options and choices in order that we can start to write the story we would like for ourselves.  When we are able to express ourselves more fully, it gives those around us the chance to do the same.  It also helps those that want to help to provide more intentional support to us instead of just advice from their own perspective.

So are you taking the opportunity to stop, reflect and ask the courageous question “what is it I really want for my life?”. Crossroads Retreats can offer you the time & space to explore that question more fully.

One day available – our Career Crossroads Retreat Day may be for you, our next day will hopefully be in London in the spring.

Two days available – a guided retreat might be a good fit for you and you’ll find more information about our retreats here,

If you’d prefer, you can get in touch with us to discuss your options here.