Being laid off aka losing your job hits differently when you’ve spent more than a decade building your identity around it.
If you’re new here, hi — I’m the creator behind Magnolia & Opal, and earlier this year I was laid off after 11 ½ years with the same organization. I had grown from an entry level manager to Chief Operating Officer and even served as Interim CEO for a period of time. My career was a huge part of my life, my routine, my confidence, and honestly… my sense of stability.
So when the layoff happened, it wasn’t just the loss of a paycheck.
It was the loss of structure. The loss of purpose. The loss of the community you see every day.
And for me — as a single woman supporting myself and my two dogs on one income — it triggered a level of emotional overwhelm I didn’t expect.
That’s why I created something that has genuinely helped me stay grounded through the hardest weeks:
✨ The Emotional Reset Journal — and you can download it free midway through this post.
But first, let me share the part of the story that led to its creation.
The Day Everything Changed
I found out I was being laid off on my mom’s 65th birthday — a detail that still feels bizarrely poetic. After 11 ½ years of giving everything I had to the organization, the news came in a way that felt abrupt but not entirely surprising. Leadership had shifted, the culture had changed, and I had sensed for months that something was off.
What I didn’t expect was the emotional crash that followed.
At first, people reached out. Questions, check-ins, the usual initial wave.
But as days turned into weeks, the noise quieted. Suddenly the routine I had known for over a decade vanished… and I was left with long quiet days filled with job hunting, writing, worrying, and trying very hard not to cry into my dogs’ fur.
I realized I wasn’t eating regularly. I wasn’t doing anything purely for joy. I wasn’t processing my feelings — I was just surviving them.
So I decided something needed to change.
The Simplest Hobby That Brought Me Back to Myself
Long before the layoff, I had ordered a paint-by-numbers kit on Amazon — people had been telling me to get a “hobby” and this was my big attempt. Something I figured I’d get to “eventually.”
That “eventually” turned into exactly when I needed it most.
This one:
👉 Ninonly 4-Pack Paint by Numbers for Adults (beginner-friendly and surprisingly calming)
The quiet, repetitive brushstrokes… the slow transformation of blank canvas into something beautiful… it became a safe place for my mind to land on the days when job searching and financial planning felt too heavy.
It reminded me that healing can happen in small quiet moments.
And that’s what inspired the journal.
Introducing: The Emotional Reset Journal
A 5-day guided practice to help you process your emotions, rebuild confidence, and reconnect with yourself after a layoff.
Whether you’re newly laid off, supporting someone who is, or simply navigating a season of uncertainty, this journal is my personal roadmap for emotional survival.
👉 Download your free Emotional Reset Journal here
This 5-page printable includes:
- Gentle daily prompts
- Space to process your thoughts
- Encouragement written in my voice (the same way I talk to myself on hard days)
- A structure you can repeat anytime life feels heavy
Why Emotional Processing Matters After Job Loss
Most financial guides tell you to pause spending, apply for unemployment, and review your budget (all important things — I did them too).
But almost no one talks about the emotional fallout.
Here’s what I’ve learned:
1. Job loss is trauma.
Your brain registers it similarly to grief or breakup. You lose routine, identity, and security in one blow.
2. Busywork isn’t healing.
I buried myself in looking for jobs, cleaning out my closets, tasks around the house, heck I even built this website— but it only numbed me temporarily.
3. Sitting with your emotions is uncomfortable but necessary.
Writing out what I was feeling — embarrassment, fear, anger, relief — helped me release it instead of carrying it.
4. You need small sparks of joy.
For me? Painting. Long dog walks. Coffee outside. Weekends with my parents. Things that cost nothing but give everything.
5. Structure gives you back your power.
Wake up. Brush your teeth. Get dressed. Write. Move. Eat.
Simple, but grounding.
That’s why the journal uses a 5-day rhythm — enough structure to feel guided, without overwhelming you.
What’s Next for Magnolia & Opal
I’m using this season to redefine what self-care looks like when you’re:
- On a single income
- Navigating uncertainty
- Trying to stay mentally and emotionally well
- Rebuilding identity outside of a job title
I’m committed to sharing tools that helped me — whether it’s printable journals, budgeting templates, Amazon finds that genuinely bring calm, or wellness routines that don’t cost a fortune.
If you’re in a similar season, know this:
You are NOT alone.
There is life after the layoff.
And you’re allowed to take care of your emotional self just as much as your financial self.
Final Thoughts
Losing my job after 11 ½ years shook me.
But it also gave me a moment to pause and ask:
Who am I without the title?
What do I actually want next?
What do I need emotionally to get there?
The Emotional Reset Journal isn’t a magic fix, but it is a supportive starting point — one I hope brings you clarity, compassion, and a little bit of comfort.
👉 Download your free Emotional Reset Journal here
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And if you try the paint-by-numbers kit, let me know — it truly has been a tranquility saver for me.
You’ve got this.
And I’m right here with you. 💗
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