I received the following e-mail this week, and I thought my readers might be able to sympathize with the young woman’s situation.

Dear Alexandra:  I was laid off from my job in November, right after I completed a really successful project.  The day that I came into the office and was called immediately into the conference room was a total shock, and for the last few months, I’ve been replaying it over and over again in my mind.  I know I should just pick myself up and look for a new job, but I’m so depressed and unmotivated.  I just feel like a total failure, and I worry that I’m going to take whatever is wrong with me into my next employment situation.  – Laura, Orlando, FL

Here was my response, which I think is applicable to most people who are the victims of misfortune at work or otherwise.

Dear Laura, thanks for writing, and I’m sorry to hear about your situation.  It’s true that when something terrible and unexpected happens, the tendency is to feel cursed and unlucky.  But it’s important that you treat this layoff as the isolated incident that it was.  Based on the fact that you had just finished a project with flying colors, I’m inclined to believe that the decision to let you go was purely financial and had nothing to do with your personal reputation or your performance.  You need to constantly remind yourself of that fact. 

In a year, when you’re happily ensconced in a job that you love (maybe even more than the one you were laid off from), you’ll look upon this situation as a vaguely unpleasant memory.  But it takes some time for the sting to fade, so be patient with yourself.  Although it’s understandable to be depressed, you’ll feel better if you take proactive steps to overcome the hurdle.  If launching a job search is something that will motivate you, then by all means go for it, but if you can afford it you might spend some time pursuing a hobby or personal project you’ve been dying to make time for.  Engaging in activities you enjoy will provide fresh perspective, as well as the enthusiasm you need to get back in the game of life.  And although you might feel like withdrawing, now’s the time to take advantage of the support of your friends and family.  If you haven’t already, reach out to them and talk about how you’re feeling.  You’re not looking for answers, just comfort.  The answers will come to you on their own in time.