The term “Rattle your Cage” if you look in the dictionary is used when someone makes you upset or angry, and be one of those events that change everything in your life.

Well this week I had a life changing experience that “Rattled my Cage “ which depending on how you approach life can be seen as a tragedy or an opportunity.

What I speak of is the event of being let go from a company in which you have invested part of your life and that has become that certain thing in your life that you can rely on day in and out.

I mean you know that every Monday through Friday you will be there working and surrounded by familiar people that you have shared so much time with maybe do not know every single one, but you see them everyday.

I can tell you that I have gone through that experience of being let go at least three times in my career counting the most recent one and every time it has felt different in some ways and similar in others.

That first time that it happened to me, it was a shock and was struggling emotionally as I was doubting my every move and feeling like I was stuck and not advancing professionally or as a human being.Terrified of not being enough in the eyes of my wife and children and thinking that I would lose their love, because I was not able to retain my job.

However as I look back it was a blessing because thanks to that I found out how much my family and friends cared for me. Even though it took me six months to find another job, we never lacked love, food, shelter or any other things.

Second time I had a choice was either to go to one of two companies which wanted to hire me. I decided to go with the one that was a shorter commute and basically offered me the same salary and benefits as the other that was farther. To put in in perspectiva it was a daily 15 minute commute vs 75 minute commute.

However after two years of service with that company I was again let go, even though I knew I was doing well and performing, I was relieved of my duties. Yes I was upset but this time I was much more confident of how to manage being unemployed and had learned that I had the support from family and friends.

Fortunately that same exact day I received an email from a former coworker asking if I knew someone to fill a Quality Manager position that had just opened up for him and fortunately I got hired within a month of being let go.

This time after more than five years the dreaded call to that little office to meet with HR and that other high ranking person in the room and you can right away tell what is going to happen. As the message gets delivered you feel mixed emotions between anxiousness and relief. As you see things changing and wondering what will happen.

This time as I go through the thoughts and emotions what is similar from my past experiences you might ask? Mostly those negative emotions.

• Is there something that I am doing wrong?
• Maybe I am not as good as I think?
• What is going to happen to me?

You know as alll those uncertainties and doubts that we all have start to creep in.

What is diferent you might ask?

• My faith is much stronger and even though you might have some doubt, deep inside you know it will be ok specially after going through it a few times.
• Even though there are emotions, they do not hijack my life. I continue to live and enjoy life.
• I am certain that I have the support of many starting with my family and friends.
• This is an opportunity to grow, meet new people and learn much more.

And as many try to find reasons of why things happen and try to blame or make sense of why it happens to you, I find that sometimes those things are bound to happen no matter what and that you are ment to use what you learned and make the most of it as you are headed to accomplish differeng things that will make you a better person.and also because the world keeps turning and you need to move and change.

In all cases where I was let go, the fact of why it happened did not have anything to do with me, it was part of bigger changes where my work had been done at specific places, it was part of reorganizations of companies and when that happens, many people get let go.

Some people have recommended that maybe I should not aim high and that I should look for a job that is less visible and more stable.

However if you get stuck in your comfort zone, that to me is much more frightening than facing the uncertainty of being unemployed for some time.

So as I learn more, gain more experience and face this as an opportunity to seek new adventures, meet new people and meditate on how I can be a better version of myself and where I can improve , I feel that I can deal with this life changing event much more effectively.

Because we all live in a conceptual cage that might be big or small, and it will get rattled many times in life, you just need to take that experience from each one of those events and learn to let go of the past and do the things today that will prepare you for the future.

As you look back in life you will find that things in the past seem easier, but it’s because you are stronger and each challenge has become the thing that made you stronger and eventually made your life better.

E. Luna