Thriving in Unemployment and Redefining Success and Progress

Unemployment Journal Day 90: Balancing Job Search with Creative Pursuits

Today marks day 90 of my unemployment journey. It’s incredible to say, but it doesn’t seem like it’s been that long. I am less anxious about my future on day 90 than I was on day 9, 19, or 39. That seems counterintuitive, but when you lean into what is instead of what isn’t and start each day with gratitude, your mindset can shift quickly.

At first, panic was a constant companion. I couldn’t imagine what my life would look like without the bi-weekly bank deposit from my former employer. The first two weeks were rough, trying to establish a routine that would balance job searching with my side hustle and provide quality of life. I felt like I had to do ALL the things.

The advice from other job seekers and job coaches goes like this: Your new job is finding a job. Commit to it 5 days a week, 8 hours a day, like you did when you had a job. Let me tell you if you don’t already know it — this is BAD advice.

If you think working 40–50 hours a week is hard, try job hunting and networking for that amount of time. It just feels gross. It’s discouraging; one can only handle so many rejection letters daily and weekly. It’s a recipe for burnout and can really shake your confidence.

Once I updated my LinkedIn profile and resume, I settled into a rhythm. I still dedicate a portion of each day to job hunting, but it’s not the majority of my day — not by a long shot.

My passion for the search wanes with every passing week. That tells me something about where my heart is. I am leaning into that awareness, listening to my intuition, and focusing more time and energy on life-giving things instead of life-draining tasks.

Looking at this time as a gift

I’ve been writing on Medium for several years but was never able or willing to commit to the consistency I needed to move the needle. That has changed. I wrote about my process and progress here. (psst…it’s working!)

I’ve been planning to launch a membership for a while but always felt distracted by the demands of my full-time job. The membership has launched! I wrote about that process and the results here.

I also started writing a book and was making significant strides in the months prior to my layoff. I hope to have more updates on this soon.

I’ve had a small Facebook group that I’ve nurtured over the years, but now I can devote more time to those members. I offer a lot of free content, including Monday Morning Meditations with Mary and free decluttering coaching calls.

I once grew an Instagram account to about 1,500 followers but got burned out because I didn’t have a strategy. I now have a strategy and a schedule for all my social media content, including Medium and newsletters. Sticking to this schedule helps me stay focused. I am being consistent — the most important rule to follow when developing an online platform.

Aligning myself with what matters NOW

It was easy to push these goals and dreams aside or kick them down the road because the job was paying well, and there was always retirement to look forward to. I kept trying to convince myself I could pursue all these dreams once I retired. I just needed to hang on for a few more years.

But once that option was taken away from me, I wasted no time getting serious about my goals. We all know the saying: nobody is guaranteed tomorrow, so why put what matters to you on hold?

Since getting the this-is-your-last-day-with-the-company call, I’ve accomplished a lot, and I am enjoying my freedom.

Please don’t remind me about the downside of being unemployed. I am working on my abundance mindset and aligning my purpose with my actions. I am all in and believe that alignment brings abundance, as Intuitive Joy so eloquently writes about in her article about accessing true abundance.

Most people take time to mourn their job loss and ruminate in anger or bitterness. I knew I didn’t have the luxury to waste time on that. I trust this truth and affirm it to myself every morning:

When something leaves my life, it is to make room for something new and better.

I jumped right into chasing my dream — again. And I wrote about it to give myself public accountability so I won’t turn back. This time, I’ll trust the process. Since I wrote that article less than one month ago, my faith in what I am doing, my purpose, and my confidence has grown.

That stone in the pit of my stomach grows smaller day by day. I feel my courage catching up with my passion.

I’m still sending out job apps because unemployment requires it. I am also looking for some part-time or contract work so I don’t put too much pressure on myself as I begin to bring in income from my creative pursuits.

Instead of viewing each rejection letter as a disappointment, I see each no, thank you, as God refining my place in the world. With each job application that gets thrown into the No pile, I grow stronger in my faith that I am in the right place, doing what I am supposed to do.

This place where you are now, God circled on a map for you. — Hafiz (see the complete poem here)

Inspired by a reader commenting on my article on 65 things to do between jobs, I started this journal. There are no articles before day 90 because I didn’t think of writing about this journey until this kind reader suggested it. Thank you, The Idealist, for this idea!

This entry checks off #14 on my list. I’ll keep working my way through the list and journaling about my progress.

Until next time, keep your eyes on your own paper, focus on the dream, and believe that you are in the right place and doing the right thing for yourself.