What a difference a year makes

If I have to be honest, I had a completely different blog post planned for today. Typically, I write these posts on the day they go live because it feels more authentic for me, capturing the essence of the moment rather than crafting a carefully polished piece. These posts aren’t about building my personal brand, they’re my outlet for unfiltered sharing. They’re meant for those who need the company and don’t mind the occasional tangent or mistake - elements you wouldn’t typically find in a thought leadership article. This space of my LinkedIn is about connecting, expressing and finding kindred spirits who are navigating similar professional waters.

And if you’re wondering why I’m not just pouring my heart out on a personal blog - well, I am doing that too. The content there might differ, but sometimes the lines blur. I often overshare here because I believe that despite being professionals, we are all fundamentally human. This post is just a waffle of thoughts from my head today, hoping it will resonate with someone else out there and make them feel a bit less alone.

A year ago, I was walking on eggshells. I had a job I loved, at a company I loved, where I genuinely believed we were like family. It’s ironic because once I was no longer part of that ‘family,’ I began to see articles claiming that calling coworkers ‘family’ in a corporate setting could be manipulative. I wrestled with this idea because it didn’t match my feelings, but perhaps it did mirror the company’s view. This isn’t to bash my previous company that supported me for over a year - it’s more of a reflection on the past year and the complex dynamics of workplace relationships. There were definitely more good times than bad and I am eternally grateful for the lessons and opportunities they provided me. Everything was fantastic - until it wasn’t. Even though I know it wasn’t personal, it felt deeply personal when my entire career seemed to hang in the balance.

Looking back on that period of life, I realise now how much fear dominated my daily life - the fear of losing what I had worked so hard to achieve - a dream job. This fear was a product of past traumas that had left deep scars on my self-confidence. Surprisingly, or perhaps miraculously, this company believed in my abilities and welcomed me warmly, boosting my confidence and offering me hope for my future. Everyday though, I battled a nagging dread that they might eventually see through me - that they might discover I wasn’t as competent as they thought. This is the essence of imposter syndrome, and it’s a shadow that still looms over me today.

Now, I find myself in a drastically different scenario. Having been made redundant, I’m confronting the very situation I feared most. Despite this upheaval, I continue to write, reflect and inch forward, no matter how tough the mornings can feel. Getting out of bed can sometimes feel like the hardest challenge. But I do it, because I know how transformative a year can be.

In this spirit, I urge you, my friend, to embrace the present. Cherish what you have whilst you have it - not in fear of losing it, but in appreciation of its presence in your life right now. The only certainty we have is life’s unpredictability and if there’s anything my experiences have taught me, it’s that the circumstances we find ourselves in today could be entirely different in just a year’s time.

Navigating through this current chapter of uncertainty, I’m actively working to adjust the internal voices that shape my days. Choosing to be more present, to find joy in the smallest of things (for example I recently discovered TruFru - which is frozen chocolate covered strawberries, my favourite dessert ready made and sure it’s a small thing, but gave me so much joy, that’s a win). We also need to be kinder to ourselves. Instead of criticising what we’ve not done or how we’ve felt, we need to change the tone to “we are doing enough” and “we are enough”.

Looking forward, I am continuously reminded of how strong the power of change is. Instead of focusing on the fear of failing, try to remember there is the chance to rise too. Understand that this, too, shall pass and what lies ahead, could potentially be filled with new opportunities that seemed unimaginable today. Embracing the unknown can be terrifying, yet it also ignites a unique kind of energy and creativity. It compels us to think differently, to act boldly and to open ourselves to new possibilities.

In the midst of this significant change, I’ve come to realise the crucial importance of self-compassion. It’s easy to be harsh on ourselves, to replay our perceived failures and to let them define us. But practising self-compassion allows us to break free from this cycle. It enables us to acknowledge our struggles without judgement and recognise that struggling does not equate to failing.?

A year from now, we might very well be looking back on these challenging times from a happier, more content place, celebrating new successes and acknowledging how today’s struggles were essential for those achievements. What a difference a year can make.

Always hoping for your luck to turn around,

Jessy x