It's Time To Move Forward

The hardest things to do is to accept the fact that something that you have worked so hard at has now come to an end. To many people it comes as a shock, to others, they could actually see it coming. I am sure that for USC coach Lane Kiffin who was terminated Sunday by USC athletic director, Pat Haden, it was something that he could probably see coming after the 7th loss out of 11 games. 

He should know, as well as you, that regardless of the turn tables that brought you to this point, reality has to sit in as you come to the conclusion that you have just been terminated from your job. Now what? Where do you go from here? How did this happen? Who is to blame? So many questions without knowing all the answers... but guess what... it's not the end of the world! As devastating as this situation may seem, you have the inner strength to move on and to rise above this circumstance and make the decision to move past this obstacle. 

Having the right mind set in times of opposition is very important and will help you to move pass unwelcome circumstances. If you have just been terminated from your job or laid off unexpectedly, the following mental exercises will release you from the mental stress that will try to hinder you from taking the next step of moving on to bigger and better things.

Exercise #1: Don't Blame Yourself

Whether you recognize that there are things that you did to contribute to your termination or whether your employer just decided that you were not the right person for the job, don't spend another second beating yourself up about it. What is done is done! I advise you to look at the circumstances surrounding your

situation and take note of all the mistakes that you may have made to contribute to your termination and then turn those same mistakes into an opportunity for self-improvement to help you to become a better employee for your next employer.

Exercise #2: Don't Blame the Employer

The first thing that comes to mind for many of us when faced with a termination or lay off is to blame the company for maybe being too strict on their policies, or not being compassionate enough towards personal issues; maybe they didn't appreciate you like they should have or maybe they placed too many responsibilities on you without providing the proper support... all of the above plus more. It is sometimes hard to look at things in the eyes of the employer. Blaming your past employer will only set you up for having an unstinting attitude towards your new employer. This is not fair! Let go of the past and appreciate all the skills that you were allowed to take away from your former employer that can be used to benefit your new employer.

Exercise #3: Be Determined!

Now is the time to make the decision to place one foot in front of the other and move forward. Without blaming yourself or your former employer, you need to prepare to put your efforts into action for your next employment opportunity. Update your resume and create cover letters that speak on your strength as a competitive candidate for the positions that you are applying for.