Katharine Smith, MA, CPCC, ACC, CH’s Post

Wisdom From The Woods: The World Needs More Compassion The new year often brings hope—new intentions, fresh goals, and the excitement of possibilities. But for many, this time feels far from positive. Job loss can feel like losing a part of one’s identity. It can trigger feelings of shame, guilt, and uncertainty about the future. The holiday season, often portrayed as joyful, may have been filled with stress and emotional exhaustion for those in career transitions. Imagine being asked repeatedly, “How’s the job search going?”—revisiting rejections and struggles each time. It can be overwhelming. If you have friends or family members navigating job loss, remember: ✅ They might be feeling anxious, stressed, or even depressed. ✅ They may be working hard to mask their emotions. ✅ They need support, not solutions. Here’s how you can truly help: ✨ Be kind. ✨ Be empathetic. ✨ Be compassionate. ✨ Most of all, just listen—without offering unsolicited advice. Sometimes, the most powerful gift you can give is your presence and understanding. Let’s create a culture where people feel supported, valued, and heard—especially during life’s challenging transitions. #CompassionMatters #CareerTransition #SupportOthers #Kindness #EmpathyInAction #MentalHealthAwareness #JobLossSupport #ListenToUnderstand #BeThere #PersonalGrowth #WisdomFromTheWoods

In a world where work-related stress and anxiety seem to be an inevitable part of our lives, it's easy to feel trapped, suffocated by the weight of it all. However, your future does not have to be defined by the stress that haunts you. It's time to reclaim your joy, your peace, and your confidence. Don't let stress steal away the essence of who you are and what you are capable of. You deserve to thrive, to flourish in your professional life, and it starts by acknowledging that you need support. If you find yourself struggling with workplace anxiety, know that you are not alone. There are others who understand and are ready to help you break free from this suffocating cycle. Let's take that first step together, and work towards dealing with work-related stress and anxiety, creating a future that is filled with fulfillment, success, and happiness.

Trust Yourself ✨ Don’t let everyone’s advice dictate your decisions. People share their perspectives based on their unique life journeys and circumstances, which might not align with yours. Even if a situation seems similar, the outcomes can differ. When I decided to switch my job, I discovered I was pregnant. I was torn and unsure of what to do. The thought of changing jobs during such a pivotal time scared me. I had a three-month notice period to serve, and I worried about whether my new job would provide the flexibility and time off I needed for this new chapter. Most people advised me to prioritize my baby over my career. But I didn’t want to choose—I wanted both. I wasn’t ready to give up either. Eventually, I turned to my husband, who is much calmer and more composed than I am. He asked me, "What’s the worst that could happen if you switch ?" I told him I might struggle to balance work and motherhood. His response was simple yet reassuring: “If it becomes too much, you can always step back. Focus on our baby, and we’ll manage together.” He believed in me, and his confidence gave me strength. I listened to everyone’s advice, prepared myself for potential challenges, and hoped for the best. Today, I’m thriving, both as a mother and in my career. P.S. Deep down, you always know what you truly want and how far you’re willing to go to achieve it. Trust yourself. #career #womenempowerment #womenincorporate #worklifebalance #trustyourself #growth #selfenhancement #remotejobs #selfcare #mentalhealth

People often ask me; "When you loose your job, it is the Psychological equivalent of losing a loved one. How do we heal? What have you learned in your own journey?" Here it is: It is absolutely a loss. The 5 stages of grief. It can cause a lot of emotions, but you can heal and move forward after a layoff/termination. You have to choose to face the negative emotions head on and take back control of your career. Compartmentalizing it and saying it didn't happen. It's fine. It's just ignoring the elephant in the room. You have to go into that space and really like feel emotions and process it. That's healthy to do that. But it's not healthy to continue to hold that energy for too terribly long. When I lost my job, I went through that whole period, probably condensed. One day, I just woke up and said, "I'm not going to feel sorry for myself. I'm going to take ownership. I'm going to take control back." I decided at that point that I'm going to reclaim control of my career. I'm no longer going to be the victim in my career. I'm going to be in the driver's seat and no longer going to let somebody else determine that. You can do this, and you will succeed again. #CareerTransition #JobLossSupport #MentalHealthMatters #Resilience #GriefInTheWorkplace #CareerGrowth #EmotionalIntelligence #OvercomingObstacles #SelfEmpowerment #JobSearchTips #ProfessionalDevelopment #MindsetShift #ReclaimYourCareer #Leadership #PersonalGrowth #CareerChange #JobSeeker #LifeAfterLayoff #WorkplaceWellness #CareerResilience #CareerAdvice #EmotionalHealing #PositiveMindset #FutureOfWork #Mindfulness #NavigatingChange #ProfessionalResilience #SelfDiscovery #JobMarket #ThriveAfterLayoff

🌍 In today’s world, where changing long-term relationships is common, quitting a job shouldn’t feel monumental. This morning, I came across some heartbreaking news on LinkedIn, which coincided with a video I watched yesterday about prioritizing our own lives over external circumstances. It’s disheartening to see someone step away from a life they love, reminding me of the bigger picture: life itself. It struck me how little we’re taught about the importance of our own well-being. We often hear stories of accomplished individuals, but we rarely reflect on our own journeys. Just to clarify that I’m not supporting anyone’s act of pressure. Instead, I want to remind myself and all of you that something becomes important when we choose to give it that importance; otherwise, everything is just a part of this life journey. We have one life filled with endless choices, and it’s crucial that those choices align with our true desires—not just a sense of resignation. Remember, the power to choose always rests with you. Prioritize what truly matters! ✨ #LifeChoices #CareerGrowth

🩺 This doctor showed much courage in booking some sessions with me to work out why she felt burnt out and demoralised.  She felt lost yet was looking for change. 💡She mastered managing her inner critic, worked out her values, her strengths and what mattered to her. These enabled her confidence to flourish. 💡She had the self-confidence to decide on the next right step for her. She choose the career path that would help her avoid future burnout. One that would nourish and protect her wellbeing going forwards. ❓How wonderful would that feel to have confidence in the decisions you make about your life and career? ❓How would it feel to “lead by your values and play to your strengths”? Would you like to know more? Link to my diary in the chat box 😊

Feeling overwhelmed by career demands and family stress? I've walked that path and can help you rediscover clarity, purpose, and joy. Whether it's a career transition or strengthening family ties, let's embark on this transformative journey together. Dive into my story and see how we can make meaningful changes. #CareerGrowth #MentalWellness #LeadershipTransformation

No one talks about the grief of leaving your job—but we should. The other day I had a conversation with someone who recently left their job. They were saying how depressed they felt about the career transition. This isn’t uncommon. I’ve had countless similar conversations after leaving my corporate job. While the focus is often on “what’s next,” these conversations quickly turn deeper. Grief. Shame. A sense of not being "enough." Understandably so since our jobs are tied to our identity. We pour our heart and soul into our work and feel pride for the titles we’ve earned and the company we have been a part of. Not to mention the work family we develop. For a long time, I thought I was the only one feeling this way but I've come to realize how common it is. Whether someone leaves a job on their own or not, the emotional toll is real, yet rarely discussed. We need to normalize the human and emotional aspects of it. So here’s a reminder for you: You are enough! Your job is NOT the definition of your value. And if you need a vent session or to chat with someone who has been there, feel free to reach out! #CareerTransitions #GriefAndGrowth #Enoughness #CareerChange #SelfWorth

𝗜 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗜 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻'𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻. I would watch others talk about their jobs with such excitement and enthusiasm, and wonder: Why don’t I feel that way about work? Is it even possible to feel that way about a job? Fast-forward to today: I wake up each morning and spring out of bed with a sense of excitement and energy to start my day. I know now that's what intrinsic motivation feels like. I’m grateful to be working with a full diary of clients who are making profound shifts in their lives—aligning with their values, finding deeper fulfilment, letting go of limitations, and stepping into their own version of success. The turning point for me? Realising that I had a choice. I could accept my current, limited circumstance, or decide to create the life I wanted to live. That one decision changed everything. It opened the door to a life that I once envied—and it can do the same for you. #careergrowth #careerdevelopment #careeropportunities #careerguidance #careerchange #careerpivot #valuesalignment

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗼 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀. Your spending of 𝟵+ 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 won't give you the satisfaction that these moments will give you & make you feel that you have lived 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆. 1. 𝘔𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 - Offer a genuine appreciation or compliment. 😊 2. 𝘔𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 - Bring a cup of coffee or tea with a smile on your face for them. 🤗 3. 𝘔𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 & 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 - Give someone money or a packet of food on the road, smile & say ... 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 🥲 I bet you will have a wonderful sleep. 💗 💗 💗 Good Luck! 👍 Happy Friday. #SumanPachigulla On A Mission To Impact 5 Million Lives Through Recruiters #perfectday #happiness #joy #money #care #compliment #work #job #career #help #offerhelp #feelgood #sleep #lifehacks #SumanPachigulla IT Recruiting Mentor 𝘐𝘯𝘧𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳 | 𝘈𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 | 𝘊𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩 | 𝘔𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘰𝘳 On A Mission To Impact 5 Million Lives Through Recruiters #recruiter #benchsales #staffing #careerhacks #money #success #joy