You're nobody, till somebody loves you...or so the song goes.

With the recent wave of layoffs affecting many industries, it's a challenging time for those of us who find deep meaning and identity in our work. For many, a job isn't just a source of income; it's a part of who we are. I know this feeling all too well.

When I took time off to be at home with my baby, I experienced a profound shift. The calls stopped, the invites disappeared, and the connections faded. Despite still being me and retaining all my knowledge and skills, I was no longer "Aysha the VP"—I was just Aysha. Suddenly, I felt ordinary, unimportant even...it wasn't fun. I couldn’t understand how (seemingly overnight) I went from not being able to answer the phone fast enough, to not having the phone ring at all… This was a real kick in the gut.

I struggled with this new reality and if I am being honest, questioned my value. After weeks of feeling terrible, I decided I wouldn’t let myself continue to feel down, so I began to make a conscious effort to journal and examine my feelings daily (while my son was napping). It took a lot of reflection and time to come to terms with the fact that the world would go on without me, and to many, I was only valuable because of my job. I had to teach myself that I was valuable to me, because of ME. Recreating my identity and how I viewed myself was HARD. But I had a strong why: my son. He was more important than any job, and I knew my skills and knowledge would still be there when I was ready to return to work.

Now I know that not everyone leaves their job for the same reason. Many people, especially in this current environment, don't have a choice. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of early 2024, approximately 6.7 million people are unemployed in the United States, reflecting significant job loss across various sectors. On average, it takes about 22.8 weeks for an individual to find a new job after being laid off... that's about 160 days or 3,830 hours of anxiety!

There is no reality where I can sugarcoat this nor do I want to, but I am a deep believer in mindset shifts. The reason I am writing this is to remind you, and myself that your job is just a job. It's perfectly okay to care about it deeply and feel that it's a part of your identity, but it's not all that you are. The only thing we control, ever, is our mindset. How are we going to react to things, or how long are we going to let them live in our heads?

My advice to everyone, regardless of your employment situation, is to take time to get to know yourself AND pick up a hobby (or multiple hobbies!). Cultivate the person you are beyond your job title. As you begin to learn about yourself, your job becomes less burdensome, because while you can love it, it no longer is the only thing you have. And quite frankly, you start to have much more to offer.

Whether you've been laid off, taken time to care for a loved one, or simply needed a break, your worth isn't tied to your job title. Your job may shape parts of your identity, but it doesn't define your entire being. Your experiences, your knowledge, and your personal attributes remain with you, regardless of your employment status. Embrace your unique self, and remember that your worth is inherent, not contingent on a job title.

You are valuable because you are you. As Dr. Seuss wisely said, "There is no one alive who is you-er than you."