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👏 Today, in 5 Minutes or Less, you’ll Learn

1. The Importance of Acknowledging and Processing Loss: Loss can profoundly affect professional or personal creativity, so allow time to rest and process emotions for your well-being.

2. Practical Strategies for Coping and Healing: Use these four strategies to navigate emotional turmoil and healing.

3. Self-Care as an Investment in Creative Leadership: Learn about the seven pillars of self-care and maintain strength and creative output even in the face of challenges.


🧐 Did You Know?

The saying goes, "You only change when you hurt enough to have to." It's a harsh truth, echoing a sentiment expressed by Dr. John Maxwell. Change, though often painful, can be a catalyst for growth.

Layoffs are devastating. According to Layoffs.fyi, 219 companies laid off 50,481 tech employees in the first year’s quarter. Whether you've been on the giving or receiving end of these difficult decisions, the pain is real, and its impacts can be far-reaching.

The Toll of Loss

Impact on Creativity and Productivity

Loss, whether professional or personal, can leave us feeling unmoored. The resulting grief, fear, and uncertainty can cripple creative output and make even routine tasks feel insurmountable. The very nature of creative leadership demands focus and mental clarity – resources that often become scarce after a significant loss.

My Story

I, too, have walked this path. Four layoffs over a 25-year career have given me a deep understanding of the emotional turmoil these events bring. The weight of job loss feels even heavier when compounded by personal loss, as it was in my case when my father passed away. In such moments, even survival seems difficult.

But survival isn't enough. How do we move from mere existence to thriving again?

Methods for Coping and Regaining Perspective

While I believe we change most profoundly when faced with extreme adversity, I've also learned there are proactive steps we can take to mitigate the most destructive effects of loss:

Emotional Transcendence: Find solace in activities that uplift you. Nature, art, music, poetry, or spiritual practices can help you connect to something larger than your pain, shifting your emotional state toward peace and acceptance. 19th-century naturalist and essayist John Burroughs said: “I go to nature to be soothed and healed and to have my senses put in order.” Walking in the Redwood Forests restores my senses in California and along the winding river banks of the River Eden when I’m in Cumbria, England. 


Label Your Emotions: Naming your feelings—fear, anger, sadness—lessens their grip on your mind. The Feelings Wheel is a helpful tool to build this emotional vocabulary and restore equilibrium. I recorded this YouTube guide to using the Feelings Wheel as part of my coping strategy when the fear of COVID-19 left me afraid I’d die.

Morning Pages for Clarity: “The bedrock tool of a creative recovery is a daily practice called Morning Pages.” This is from Julia Cameron's book The Artists Way. You write three pages of longhand, stream-of-consciousness writing first thing in the morning, and it helps you clarify, comfort, cajole, prioritize, and synchronize the day free of emotional clutter.

Find Your Community: Support and understanding from others are crucial for healing. Don't hesitate to seek out therapy, coaching, or support groups where you can process your pain in a safe space. 


Caring for Yourself is Caring for Your Career

Prioritizing self-care after a loss might seem counterintuitive, especially for driven creative leaders. But remember, neglecting your well-being further diminishes your creativity and capacity for leadership. Dr. Sanjay Gupta notes, “When you care for yourself, you care for everyone.” Here are some ideas on how to do that.

🤑 How to Apply This

Seven Pillars of Self-care (Beard, 2022).

1. Mental: Focus on stimulating your mind, learning, and engaging in thought-provoking activities to engage your brain in a new way. For example, read books or articles, solve puzzles, or learn a new skill or language. Taking an intentional break away from technology/the internet.

2. Emotional: Being aware of your emotions, processing them, and developing healthy coping mechanisms. For example, journaling, talking to a therapist, coach, or trusted friend, asking for what you need, setting healthy boundaries, and practicing self-compassion.

3. Physical: Taking care of your body through movement, nutrition, and quality rest increases your energy and self-esteem. For example, regular exercise (walking, dancing, sports). Eating nourishing foods. Taking vitamins daily. Drinking more water. Getting enough sleep. Getting regular medical check-ups

4. Environmental: Creating a peaceful and harmonious environment around you at home and in the broader world to help you thrive and feel a sense of belonging where you are. For example, keep your space clean and organized. Surround yourself with things that bring you joy. Spend time in nature.

5. Spiritual: Involves connecting with something larger than yourself and cultivating a sense of purpose and meaning. I can help you find meaning in life and feel more grounded. For example, practicing meditation, pranayama, and prayer, reflecting on your values and what’s meaningful to you, practicing gratitude, and connecting with a higher power (whatever that means for you).

6. Recreational: Engage in activities you find fun, relaxing, and rejuvenating. Get away from the pressure of your to-do list and enjoy the pleasures life has to offer. For example, pursue hobbies (painting, playing music, playing board or video games, etc.). Take time to do absolutely nothing (and enjoy it!). Travel and explore. Allow yourself time to relax.

7. Social: Nurture healthy relationships and foster a sense of connection, belonging, and acceptance. For example, make time for friends and family. Join clubs or groups—volunteer in your community. Practice good communication and listening skills. Write a letter to a friend or former coworker.

💥 The Short Of It

If you're struggling with the lingering effects of job loss or other personal crises, don't let the stigma of business decisions or cultural expectations around 'toughing it out' prevent you from getting support. Consider scheduling a complimentary coaching call with me.

Let's talk about turning your pain into fuel for resilience and ensuring your creative brilliance survives and thrives.

With strength and solidarity,

With ❤️ from Sally

PS: I will take a break from publishing this newsletter to write the first draft of my book for creative leaders, which I will be back in May.

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