How do you deal with disappointments that hurt badly?

January 2, 2008 by Isaac Madengu | Tell a friend | Printer version

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The worst feeling I have ever had was when I was retrenched, the company thought it best to let go all the new boys who would not cost much in the take away packages and this was my first job ever. I cannot even express the feeling of loneliness that I felt, I was at the lowest, and this to me was rejection at its worst.

It took me a month before I came to terms with the loss of my first job; I had been with the company for two years and getting to really enjoy my job and even getting involved in the industry more than anyone expected. Rumors started floating from the bosses offices and sources close to the board that the company was not making any profits and it had to let some people go. During the first three months the board and management denied these allegations and advised us not to worry. This blew up one day when creditors came in seeking payment otherwise they were going to seize some property. The noise caused all of us to stop working and go out to see what it was all about, the problem was more than highlighted and the board had to come clean. They could not afford to pay creditors because of the bad business so they were going to sell some parts of the group and also let go of some employees.

Everything was kept as a secret and no-one knew who was going to go and how they would pick those to be laid off. Anxious times they were, we all had to be at our best thinking that good behavior would save our skin, this was far from the truth. We had management and staff meetings where the board tried to reassure us that we were all going to be taken care of and we would be OK, I was part of the group that went home.

During these meetings with the board we asked questions about how they would lay off people and we were made to believe that they would start with those that are near retiring age and the oldest in the company, how untrue was that? even today I wonder how they picked those who were laid off and what criteria was used because I was not old nor was I near the age to retire. Being laid off took the buzz out of my wings and just sent a message to me saying that I had done all the work in vain. I felt like a loser and had no motivation to do anything for a good month.

I had to dig deep to pick me up, told myself that this was just a set back and nothing more. I had to go back out and get another job that I was fired from after two months because I was late once. Again I had to tell myself that no matter what the employers say, I am much better than that and I can be a success in life.

This has become my personal pick me up line in life, I am better than what the situations say and I can make it in life as long as I wake up in the morning. Life is a journey not a trip so as long as I live, I will purpose to make it. This motto has caused me now make it in life, I am now an accomplished mentor and I have made it in life after missing out from two jobs early in my life.

I can stand on my feet and have stood on my feet after being fired and being retrenched had knocked me down. It has not been easy but I am on my own feet and loving life. I can only look back at the jobs I lost and say that they were good life teachers on never giving up and looking forward to life challenges. Nothing is impossible, I can achieve anything I want to achieve and I can never let a job loss determine how far I go in life, only I get to put that determination on how far I want to go and achieve.

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