"Grief is just love with nowhere to go."
It's a phrase I return to often because grief is a tough feeling to sit with. But like with most feelings, the only way out is through.
And grief is a frequent visitor throughout our job search.
That's because, during the job search, our self-love often has nowhere to go. We know we're capable of great work, we just need someone to give us a chance. And until that happens, we grieve:
- The potential futures destroyed by each rejection.
- The inability to contribute to fulfilling passions and goals.
- Limited access to belonging, connection, and community.
- Our worth and talent not being recognized.
- Being in survival mode, when we deserve to thrive.
If you struggle with anything on this list, please know you're in good company. And more importantly, it means that you know your worth.
Your self-love and your grief deserve a place to go - and I've found that one of the best homes you can give them is music. I encourage you to make a resilience playlist and fill it with songs that offer the messages you need most. This tool has been a game-changer for me, especially when paired with a neighborhood walk. But it's not just me - science brings the receipts! Music benefits us on a physical level- including our limbic system and neurotransmitters.
Here's the resilience playlist that I've cultivated over many years. May it help you move through big feelings and reconnect with your strength, worth, and hope. If you decide to make one of your own, I hope you'll consider sharing it with me - I'm always looking for new music!
In solidarity,
Katie
P.S. A note on language: the word "resilience" means different things to different people and is often associated with racial trauma. I use the birthright definition from Prentis Hemphill and Alta Starr.
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