At some point, we’ve all experienced the shock of realizing you’ve been passed over! This post offers suggestions for moving forward.

The Essentials

You performed well and contributed. Unfortunately, expectations were higher, or different, than your level of contribution. I’ve been there – it hurts!

So, now what? From my experience, you have several options:

1). Stay put – play the victim

2). Continue to improve – grow your skill set so you do meet expectations

3). Move on to something different.

The option I choose has much to say about my sense of self worth, as well as my level of commitment to the vision I have for myself.

I’m convinced that it’s a high-risk strategy to define my self-worth by a single life incident or negative outcome. It’s better, I believe, to give myself other options as I seek a path forward. proverbsforprofessionals.net

The Precept

Proverbs 14.10 notes the deeply personal nature of bitterness that can reach down into my very soul. One implication, I think, is that we should not stay in that place of bitterness long. Hence, the second half of the verse that speaks of deeply personal joy.

The Precept: Both bitterness and joy are deeply felt emotions that become a component of my character development.

This proverb recognizes that life isn’t a straight line. Instead, it’s a series of highs and lows that we learn to navigate as we build traits such as self-awareness, self-worth, and self-confidence.

Apply This Today!

Well, I must admit that before I dove into the “improve” option I spent way too much time in Option 1. There, I was trapped; unable to move forward.

Guess what? Until you decide to move there is no growth, thus no progress. Instead, there’s only bitterness, resignation, self-pity, and lots of “why me” conversations in your head!

It’s Ok to be in that funk briefly, but it’s not Ok to live there!

What’s helped you get unstuck after a serious career set-back?


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