How a Job Loss Can Renew Your Life - A New Start, New Learnings and More Happiness.

A blank page gives room for God’s voice, for prayer, and for reflection.

Just over a year ago, my employer reorganized, and my role was eliminated. For the first time in my life, I faced the loss of a job. I had worked since I was 18—through college and throughout my entire adult life. My first job began in 1985, and for 35 plus years I worked steadily in a variety of roles, always with longevity, tenacity, reliability, a willingness to go the extra mile, and a commitment to excellence as my values.

This change left me feeling like I had suddenly come to a complete stop and while hard, it what I truly needed to change. Honestly, a change was something I had been praying about for a long time, but I couldn’t seem to take the step to walk away from the job that was slowly depleting me. The saying “God does for us what we cannot do ourselves” comes to mind, and I am deeply grateful He removed me from an employment situation that was no longer the best place for me in this season of life.

Facing a Fresh Start

At first, the idea of starting over was overwhelming. But soon I began to see it as a great opportunity. It gave me the rest I had been longing for—waking up without an alarm, spending more time with family, resting, and enjoying simple pleasures. It allowed me to focus more on a course I was taking and to pray, ponder, and ask God what He wanted me to do next.

After a few months, I realized how isolated I had been feeling in my work-from-home role. I craved being with people again, and even more, I longed to serve others in a hands-on way. Seven years earlier I had left the healthcare industry, and it finally dawned on me that the work I was doing no longer gave me opportunities to give and receive the kind of fulfillment that fills my cup.

I am a caretaker and empath by nature, with a compassionate and giving heart. God has shaped me this way through many circumstances in my life. I also had to face the reality that I was done working full-time—it was time to slow down into semi-retirement. I didn’t know what that would look like, but over the past year I’ve tried new things, bumped my head, learned, and grown.

The Mindset That Helped

Here are the shifts I chose to make:

• Learning to live in uncertainty and trust something bigger than myself with my life

• Letting go of work as my identity and exploring how I truly want to spend my time

• Being willing to learn new things and refusing to let age tell me I’m “too old”

• Praying for courage to stay open and take steps forward instead of staying stuck

• Setting aside the remarks and opinions of others and listening to what interests me

What Life Looks Like Now

I completed my life coaching course and have now been coaching for almost a year. I love the conversations and the solutions my clients discover—ideas they may never have considered or had the courage to try before. Watching them release fears and limitations and open their minds to new possibilities has been such a joy. This is my part-time, semi-retirement gig!

I also recognized that isolation was getting the best of me, so I applied for and accepted a job as a medication aide at a local assisted living community. For over 20 years I worked in healthcare, but never in a direct, hands-on role. With training through the SD Board of Nursing and on-the-job experience, I recently became a medication aide, caregiver, and unlicensed diabetes aide. Who knew? I love the residents and staff I work with, and I feel like I’m back with “my people.”

I now have more flexibility with my family, more time to volunteer, and more opportunities to engage in things I enjoy. I’ve become active in a weekly prayer group with women who have been such a blessing.

What I’m Learning (and Admitting) Right Now

• I still tend to book my schedule too full. My goal for 2026 is to pray for balance in this season of semi-retirement.

• I need to stop taking things so seriously and simply go with the flow. Most of the pressure I feel comes from within, not from others.

• I’ve committed to re-evaluating my values and priorities in 2025 and making adjustments in 2026 to align with what matters most.

• I’m learning to accept that while I have many good things I can do, I cannot say yes to all of them—and that’s okay.

  
  

My Goals Moving Forward

• Family: Be available to say yes, the majority of the time when my family has a need.

• Life coaching: Help others walk through life transitions of any kind, at any stage of life.

• Part-time work: Quietly and faithfully care for the residents I’m called to serve and be a team player with my co-workers.

• Volunteering: Assist others with struggles with needs that fall more into biblical counseling than coaching via my biblical counseling at church.

• Rest: Create space to recharge so I can give back in all the ways outlined above. I know I can’t say yes to everything, but I trust God to help me find balance.

  
  

An Invitation

Do you find yourself resonating with any of this life experience I’ve shared? Are you curious about how life coaching might help you navigate your own transitions?

Early on, I worked with a life coach myself to get my head pointed in a better direction. I had to lower my pride to do this, because I’ve always struggled to admit I need help. But those sessions made a difference.

I’d love to offer you a complimentary session to simply explore what life coaching could do for you. It can pack a powerful punch if you keep an open mind and are willing to step out of old, negative patterns. Simply explore my website here: www.graceu-lifecoaching.com

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With grace and gratitude,

Cindy

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