Why 'I've Been Made Redundant' Shouldn't Be A Shameful Thing To Say

This is something I've been meaning to talk about for some time now. But I haven't. Why? Shame probably. I'm doing really well running my own business, so why would I want to draw attention to the fact that over six years ago, I got made redundant? Well, because, if I'm totally honest, it still affects me today.

Right now I'm considering pressing the delete button and scrapping this post altogether for fear of what people might think. But I'm not going to. I need to get my message out there not only for those who are struggling after being made redundant but also for myself, as a way of processing these feelings I've kept pent up for years.

No matter how successful I am, there's still this nagging voice in the back of my head that says 'you weren't good enough'.

Even though I was made redundant through no fault of my own, the company I worked for was making lots of redundancies at the time. A few years after I left, it sensationally went bust and was surrounded by plenty of controversy, shocker.

If only I'd known that at the time, on the day that HR walked me into a meeting out the blue that I thought was about my team, sat me down, and told me I was losing my job. Sure, I could apply for another random role that I wasn't experienced in, but that didn't soften the blow.

I never expected it to happen, and when it did, I wasn't as strong as I would have wanted to be. I've got a lot of pride, I work hard, and I'm very competitive. It did not go down well. I fell apart, and for weeks, I kept having intense moments of despair and panic.

I felt like utter crap, but being the resilient, determined person I am, I was on the job hunt straight away, and I ended up getting an exciting role within a few short weeks.

It shaped my career, and it shaped who I am today. Yet I still remember the deep shame I felt that day, my disgust at how the situation was handled, and the embarrassment that lasted months and months.

I honestly don't think I would have become a freelance writer if I hadn't got made redundant, then gone on to do a much more suited job, which pointed me in the right direction.

So in way, I'd like to say thank you to those who instigated my redundancy, because you fuelled my career. You gave me the ammunition to eventually go it alone, to decide I didn't want to answer to anyone else again. Now I'm freelance, I don't have to worry about going into work one day and having someone tell me I'm out of a job. My fate is in my hands only. Sure, I might lose a client or two every now and then, but my business keeps ticking along, and I keep on fighting.

It's a shame that it has taken me so long to voice my feelings and get this off my chest. But I see why I've had my reservations. Being made redundant is surrounded by a cloud of shamefulness when it shouldn't be. It doesn't mean you aren't good at your job. It doesn't mean you aren't talented. What it does mean, is that either someone isn't smart enough to see your potential, or you're working for a business that is struggling to cover costs.

So if you do get made redundant, don't be afraid to talk about it. If someone asks you about it in an interview, explain how it has shaped you and what you've learned.

Use it as an opportunity to get out of the rat race and start your own business, get a job in a company where you feel more secure and valued, or try something completely new.

I think even today I'm still caught up on what ex-colleagues might have thought of me, and how angry I am at those who bet against me. But that doesn't help me now, it only holds me back.

There are days where I sit there and doubt myself. Those voices in my head reappear, the ones that say 'you're not good enough', 'you're going to fail'. If I'm honest, there are moments where these feelings overcome me and I succumb to the cruel beliefs that being made redundant drilled into my head. Though it's only temporary, and I quickly get back on track, it's still frustrating.

I shouldn't have to wait until I get an amazing bit of feedback or write an epic article to believe in myself again. Deep down I know that I must have a certain amount of talent if I've been running a successful content creation company for nearly five years. But all that goes out of the window when the nightmares haunt me.

I need to let all this go and realise that this chance event in my life has helped me to thrive. It has lead me to my happy place.

Without the disappointment and rage I might not have had the guts to do what I do now.

So here's to others like me who have also been made redundant. It happens to the best of us, and it happens to SO MANY PEOPLE. It's a normal part of business and it's most certainly not something to be ashamed of. So lets get rid of those pesky storm clouds that surround us and reach for the light in front of us.

Lets celebrate life's ups and downs and the fact that we were presented with an unexpected challenge, and regardless of how hard it was at the time, we've come out the other side and won.

'I was made redundant' isn't a naughty phrase. Saying it shouldn't make you feel like a school kid that got detention or picked last in PE.

It's just a fact of life and it's no reflection on your capabilities.

I hope this article resonates with people and helps anyone dealing with a similar situation. For more lifestyle tips and advice on how to generally be happier, check out my blog www.thecontentwolf.com