Feeling lost after a layoff? A grounded guide to your next step

I’ve been there. The layoff was my Tower moment; it was fast, shocking, and (eventually) a gift. If you’re staring at a screen wondering what now?, this is for you.

If you’re feeling lost after a layoff, this guide will steady your energy, give you clear next steps, and offer a simple tarot spread to help you move forward.

If you’re in a bigger season of change, here’s how tarot helps during major life transitions.

What to do first when you’re feeling lost after a layoff.

Stabilize your nervous system (today)

• Feet + breath (2 minutes). Sit, plant your feet, inhale for 4, hold 2, exhale for 6. Repeat x6.

• Name the truth. Say out loud: “I lost my job. I’m safe in this moment.” (Truth + safety calms the body.)

• Call one person. Ask for listening, not fixing. People will say, “You just need to move on.” In my experience, that doesn’t help. What helps is someone who can hold space for you, no advice, just presence.

You don’t have to “be positive.” You do need to come back into your body.

Triage the practical (within 48–72 hours)

• Money map: what’s in, what’s out, what’s essential for 30 days.

• Benefits: apply for unemployment/health coverage if relevant.

• Ask for references: while it’s fresh.

• Create a tiny structure: 1 “life” task + 1 “search” task per weekday.

Small structure = fewer spirals.

The part no one talks about: identity grief

A layoff can feel like losing a version of yourself. Shame, anger, relief, totally normal. In my case, I felt betrayed and disposable. The corporate world can be savage, and it’s okay for sensitive people to grieve after something like this. I share more about my own layoff (my ‘Tower moment’) on my About page.

Set a 15-minute timer. Write exactly what you feel: messy, unfiltered. Don’t reread or pretty it up. When the timer ends:

• Underline one sentence that feels most true.

• Write one compassionate line to yourself (e.g., “What happened was not my fault, and I’m allowed to be upset.”)

• Do one small somatic release: shake your hands, sigh out loud, or take three slow exhales.

Journal prompts:

• What did that job give me (skills, identity, safety)?

• What did it cost me?

• Who am I without it, today?

Tarot for feeling lost after a layoff: A simple 5-card spread (use today)

The “After the Fall” 5-Card Spread

1. Where I am right now

2. What’s actually blocking me

3. What needs releasing (belief, habit, pressure)

4. My most aligned next step (7–14 days)

5. What to lean on (support, energy, mindset)

Read it like a conversation, not a sentence. Write one honest line per card.

How I read tarot: it shows the most likely path now and what to shift so you can change it (timing, boundaries, energy clears, one real action).

New to Tarot and energy healing? Here’s how to prepare for your tarot & energy session so the insight actually lands.”

Micro-actions that rebuild momentum (this week)

• Update your resume/LinkedIn header just enough to send one application.

• Text 3 people: “I’m exploring new roles in ___. If anything comes up, think of me.”

• Do one portfolio/skills refresh task (60 minutes max).

• 10-minute daily “walk + voice note” to yourself: what you want more/less of next role.

When to book support (and which session)

• One decision or next fast step? Try Snapshot Check-In → clear the noise, get one action.

• In the thick of it, grief + “what now?” Turning Point: Rebuild → name what’s blocking you, clear energy, leave with a plan.

• Feeling untethered, need a full reset? The Realignment (Signature) → deep clarity + energy clearing + roadmap.

Not sure? Book a free discovery call and I’ll help you choose.

What not to do (learned the hard way)

• Don’t apply to 40 jobs in one sitting. Scatter ≠ strategy.

• Don’t isolate. Shame grows in silence.

• Don’t let a single “no” redefine you. It’s data, not identity.

You’re allowed to want something better

Maybe the layoff wasn’t a detour, maybe it’s the door. If you’re ready to look at what’s next with honesty and a real plan, I’m here.

Next step: pick a session above or book a discovery call. You don’t have to do this alone.