How to handle Being Fired from a gal who's been (a few times).

If you are a true free spirit, you will have gotten or will get fired at some point. If you haven't had the experience. Get on it.

It's one of those awesome stories you will tell at parties til you're 80. It's an invigorating roller coaster ride that encompasses the hair-raising highs and lows of life.

I have walked the gauntlet a few times myself. After all, as a die-hard free spirit it is my duty to lead by example... For those who need a little comfort in knowing they are not alone, here is a short recap.

In 2012, I was hired as a Business Coach by the North Ryde branch of the dodgy Brad Sugars franchise 'Action Coach'. Instead of doing actual coaching for which I am qualified to do, by the International Coach Academy, they shoved a phone book in my hand and made me cold call to sell business coaching... All Day!!

Not, what I signed up for.

They fired me two months later not being able to do a job that I hadn't even applied for - sell $4000-a-month 'business coaching' to a completely cold market. Hmmm, they must have thought they hired a magician?!?

Two years later, I found myself working for a design studio. They did not train me but expected me to fill the shoes of a senior director that had been there for 9 years. Yes... I seem to have a knack for attracting these magician hopefuls.

After that I said good-bye to corporate for a while and worked on the high seas as a Superyacht Stewardess. I landed a job writing for a magazine. I stayed for six months then, ran for my life voluntarily, after being bullied by one o the Editors who had some serious psychological issues....

Much like Jada down here.

Apart from fearing for my life, I also quit because I was offered a seemingly better job, with another company which performed probably one of the most unconscionable firings. Letting me go after a week saying they couldn't afford to pay me, even though they knew that I had left my previous job for their gig.

So if you've just been fired, take heart.

I've been through it too and I'm still alive and kicking.

It's life-changing but not lethal.

Here a little treatment plan to see you through:

1. Accept that you will feel pretty shit the first few days.

Immediately get to doing things you couldn't do if you had to go to work.

I live in Sydney and love getting fired in the Summer. After my first cry, I usually pack a bag and head off to the beach.

Go to the gym in the middle of the day (it's surprising how many people do), go to the park, heck ... go to the circus, if it's in town.

Do something to make you appreciate you new found daylight-hour-freedom.

The tears and anger might come. Let it come. Emotions are energies that come for a visit, not to stay.

2. Don't give in to the temptation to frantically look for a job.

Hopefully, you would have saved a bit of money while you were working, so allow yourself to live off that for a bit. Map out a budget to see where your border of homelessness is and work backwards from that. Then allow yourself some time to relax and sort through your emotions.

Even better, be a true free spirit and go overseas if you can - somewhere cheap, like Bali (not Norway, like I did ... Nooooo.)

3. See a Counsellor.

Nope it doesn't mean you're a weakling or you've got issues. You're going to have a lot of tumultuous thoughts and emotions going on inside you. Work it out and talk it out with a professional. It will help you get clarity and find direction moving forward. I've seen counsellors on and off over the years and I've always found the experience helpful. Seeing a counsellor can be free or low cost, if accessed through public services, so look into it. Hillsong Church's City Care offers counselling for free. Find them in your area.

4. Tell Your Friends and Family.

That's the last thing you wanted to hear, right?

I know you might be a bit embarrassed about being fired but don't let that make you bury it. Tell people you trust and whom you know love you.

They will want to support you. They will be encouraging and helpful during this time. So allow them to do that. Receiving help is just as wonderful as giving it. If people know you are out of work, then they can also keep you in mind if they hear of any jobs in their networks.

5. Use the time-off to do some soul searching about what you really want to do.

The Universe always acts in your best interest. Closed doors rally do lead to open ones. Reflect and journal on whether or not that job really made you happy. Is it what you really wanted to do?

These things are God's way of showing you that you were heading in the wrong direction. Take heed.

I wouldn't be writing this blog post right now if any of those jobs had worked out. Now I'm doing work that's really in line with my spiritual well-being and life purpose. Yeah, I don't have the security of a monthly salary, but I have the joy and fulfilment of being myself and using my gifts. And that is Priceless!

After you've done all this and given yourself some time to heal, then go-ahead and jump into a job search. But do so with a sense of lightness and curiosity. You might notice roles that wouldn't have otherwise considered in the past. Only apply to jobs that really get you excited. Before you know it, you'll be back in the saddle. Most likely, you will find yourself in a refreshing new direction. One day, you may even look back and be grateful that you got fired in the first place.

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