I recently spoke with a prospective client who had been laid off. Generous severance. Strong network. Recruiters already circling. On paper, they had a clear path forward.

But what they said was: "I should feel relieved. Instead, I'm terrified I will land right back where I was."

They knew something had been off, even if they couldn't name it yet. And now, with space to think, the layoff didn't feel like failure. It felt like an answer to a question they'd been too afraid to ask.

What scared them wasn't finding work. It was choosing wrong again. Ending up in another role that looked impressive but felt hollow.

I imagine a lot of people are sitting with that same fear right now.

If that's you, what you're feeling isn't evidence that something is wrong with you. It's evidence that something wasn't aligned.

The restlessness, the emptiness, even the quiet relief—that's not weakness. It's your internal alarm system doing what it's designed to do.

You're not crazy for feeling relieved in the middle of a life event most people associate with stress. It's human to feel relief when something draining you is suddenly gone.

And you're right to see this as an opportunity to reset with intention. If you approach it strategically, it can be.

I also understand the fear of choosing something that lands you right back in the same situation. I've been there.

For years, I felt misaligned. I would identify the problem, make a change, land a new role—and then a few months later, that same feeling would return. Each time, I got more discouraged. With each cycle, it got harder to show up.

What I eventually learned was that discomfort was a signal, not a sentence.

It's absolutely possible to approach your next chapter in a way that helps you avoid ending up back where you started. It comes down to identifying your unique combination of conditions that make you feel alive and energized by your work.

Start with your core values, intrinsic motivators, interests, and personality. These four elements form a system. When they interact in the right environment, they create alignment. When they don't, you feel the friction.

That's what I did. And it changed everything. Not just how I felt, but how I showed up—in a role that finally fit who I was becoming, not just what I'd already built.

If you're unsure where to start, begin with data. Take a values assessment. Try a personality test. Start gathering information to build a clearer picture of what alignment looks like.

If you're in a role where you feel restless or empty, this is the path I'd take. And if you've recently been laid off and are feeling that strange mix of relief and fear—you're not alone. You're not broken.

This transition doesn't have to feel like survival. It can feel like clarity arriving.

If this resonates, feel free to send me a message by clicking on the button below. I'd be happy to jump on a call and talk through it.