Tech Mindfulness: Navigating Job Loss with Sharpened Consciousness

Ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation.

– Khalil Gibran

Everyone reading this article has probably experienced some kind of loss and grief at one point. For some it is vivid and fresh and for some, it is a past memory.

Layoffs are an unfortunate side-effect of our ever-evolving tech industry. They can elicit feelings of anxiety, confusion, guilt, and even fear. There's no hiding these feelings. They are real.

In these uncertain times, experiencing grief has become a common emotional response for many, particularly within the tech industry, as copious layoffs are sadly occurring. As a former executive having spent 15 years in tech and now, an executive leadership coach and advisor, I wish to share some insights about sharpening consciousness to help navigate these unsettling times.

What if I told you there's a way to manage these difficult emotions? And no, it's not about masking them, but rather refining our reactions to them. It's about sharpening our consciousness through mindfulness.

What is consciousness? It's our awareness, being present in the moment. It's about fully engaging with what is unfolding in front of us rather than getting lost in past regrets or future worries.

This is not some esoteric, mystical concept. It's a data-backed practice that science has shown creates physiological changes in our brain, enhancing our ability to weather any storm, including job loss.

When faced with job loss, it is not uncommon to experience a sensation similar to the process of grieving. This is something I’m seeing many of my tech colleagues and clients going through. It even is a grieving or traumatic experience for leaders initiating and executing layoffs.

?So how about we address this? Yes, it’s a tricky subject. But hear me out.

Just imagine for a moment, if you had a shield, a resilience toolkit that allowed you to navigate through this tumultuous sea of emotions, what would that feel like? This is where 'sharpening consciousness' comes into play. Mindfulness, the practice of being present in the moment, enables us to cultivate an accepting and nurturing relationship with all our feelings, difficult or otherwise. By acknowledging and feeling our emotions fully, rather than avoiding or repressing them, we create space for healing to occur.

?This approach uncovers strength within us, we didn't know we had; to deal with challenges such as those deeply unsettling feelings that come with job loss. It equips us not only to bounce back, but come out of the experience more resilient and better able to handle similar situations in the future.

?In my work at Heart Mind Tuning, I teach tech professionals mindfulness based leadership practices that help them increase emotional intelligence, build resilience, sharpen consciousness, and yes, even embrace their irritatingly difficult feelings.

?I invite you to start acknowledging emotions, whether it’s fear, anger, sadness, or confusion. Be present with them. By doing so, you'll find that they have less power over you.

Recently I was a guest of the Lost Traveler Podcast. Henry-Cameron Allen, ICGC, CTAA, IHTCP , Podcast host and I went on a journey of exploring different views and lenses that shaped my practice of mindfulness and helping me sharpen my ability to be with life as it happens. Exploring the relationship between consciousness and grief, we landed on Henry's journey of using consciousness to shift from grief of a difficult loss into resilience and flourishing a space of support within the Lost Travelers Club. A space that offers healing and support to grieving dads. I invite you to listen to our conversation: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-mindfulness/id1509110420?i=1000627109535

If you're interested in learning more about how you can build resilience and cope with job loss or changes, I invite you to join me in some reflective practices. We have groups and recurring spaces that offer the opportunity of starting a practice tailored specifically for fellow techies and engineers. Let's navigate through this journey together, growing our consciousness, mindful moment by mindful moment.

Stay strong, breathe, and remember: Grief may be a thing we all have in common, but it looks different on everyone. It’s okay not to be okay and let us remember:

Don’t grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form. – Rumi

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