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6-Week Update: I Quit My job Without Any Prospects and It’s Not All Ponies and Unicorns

30Even though it has been only six weeks, it feels like it has been six months.  When I decided to quit my job and relocate to my hometown after being away 10 years, I knew it would be a huge adjustment, but I didn’t think it would be THIS uncomfortable.  Since I was 16 years old I’ve worked (except the first semester of my Freshman year of college), and not having some where to “report to” is different for me.  I went from feeling a huge weight had been lifted, to feelings of regret as my bank account balance dropped.

 

Despite those feelings, I do not regret my decision and here is why:

 

I have learned so much about myself.

I have learned that I could be more self-disciplined.  I usually don’t sleep past 7:30am, still don’t watch much TV and I make a daily “to do list”, however it doesn’t always get done. Six-weeks ago, work was my excuse for EVERYTHING!  I didn’t have time to workout, cook healthy, and blog regularly because my 9-5 was often a 9-9 and I was exhausted mentally.  The feelings of exhaustion were REAL, however looking back, I feel with better planning and preparation I could have better managed my time and energy.  I have also learned that I have more confidence in myself than I thought.  Living in a mid-sized southern town is vastly different from living in the Northeast.   I feel out of place at times, but I love who I am and I know it is OK that I am a bit different than those around me.  If I would’ve never quit and moved home, I am not sure if I would have realized my lack of self-discipline or the growth in my self-confidence.

My self-worth goes beyond what I do for a living.

For as long as I can remember, I was told “Go to college so you can get a good job.”   I equated my self-worth to how I thought my family  perceived me.  They placed a high value on being a faithful Christian, succeeding in corporate America, settling down and having a family.  Well, succeeding in corporate America was the one thing I felt I would succeed with, so I ran with it.  I lived for my job, and when I didn’t do well  at work I was unbelievably hard on myself.  Mistakes were viewed as “Doomsday”, not a learning opportunity.  I let those feelings spill over into my life and how I felt about myself.  However, for the last 6-weeks I have had no job to relate my self-worth to.  Around week three I began to question my recent decisions, especially when rejection emails came in.  I had to remind myself that I was more than a job or a career.  I had to remember what I had accomplished despite the odds I faced as a child-that had little to do with my previous or current job status.  I had to remember the new goals I set for myself and the progress I  have made towards them-they had nothing to do with my current job status.  I had to remember that I had friends and family that loved and supported me despite my current employment status.

 

My aspirations have shifted.

This is the best thing I have learned, and I am grateful for it.  For years I have only had to worry about myself.  I have helped with family situations when I made time for a trip home or from a far with a check.  My time was my time and I did with it as a pleased.  Moving back to my hometown has put me at my family’s fingertips and since I am unemployed there is the perception that I have all of the time in the world or that I am available at a moments notice.  At first this frustrated me.  I was used to my simple life, then it hit me that if I ever have my own family this is how it could be, and married or not I will need a support system.  I can’t maintain a support system city-hopping, so I need to “plant some roots” as the older people say.  Racing up the corporate ladder for a company that could drop me at a moments notice, is no longer my current priority.  I still want to travel and experience different places, however I don’t want to live further than a short drive from my family. (Future vacation days will be used very carefully)  I still want (and need) a “good job” but I don’t want a job that will keep me so busy that I can’t dedicate time to my family, myself, and/or my community.  I no longer want to be see myself as the independent woman that has it all, I want to be seen as the hardworking, happy woman that welcomes support and that supports others.

 

It’s been six weeks and I am still unemployed.

I miss the hell out of having my own space.

And I’ve gained 5 pounds!!

 

BUT……. I would do it all over again!

 

Are you/Have you had a rough transition period?  Please share your tips or words of encouragement with me!!

 Christina Lattimore|Blogger & Mental Health Advocate|www.speakawaythestigma.org 

Email: SpeakAwaytheStigma@gmail.com

Twitter: @iamChrissie_K & @SPEAKawayStigma

IG:Chrissie_K

[info_box type=”alert_box”]Caring for yourself including takes care of your finances.  I encourage all ladies who are serious about self-care to go on The Happy Finances Challenge. In 42 days you can learn to make money decisions that will lead to long-term financial happiness. [/info_box]

Author Bio

Kara Stevens, founder of The Frugal Feminista, is the bestselling author of Heal Your Relationship with Money and two transformative books in her financial self-care series. A leading voice in financial wellness, Kara empowers women of color to heal financial trauma, build lasting wealth, and embrace abundance with confidence. Her work has been featured by Time, Forbes, and The Washington Post, inspiring women worldwide to rewrite their money stories. Follow Kara on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Heal Your Relationship With Money

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