There were at least 228,000 layoffs from more than 1,000 tech companies in the past year, according to Layoffs.fyi, a website that has been tracking tech layoffs since 2022. The website's tallies are likely an undercount since most layoffs don't get reported.

I myself was part of my former company's 8th layoff cycle as of last week Friday after 7 years of strong performance. Losing a job is never easy, but handling it with class can make a significant difference in overall well-being and in your future career prospects.

I've had some time now to reflect on my own state of being as I processed through my career transition, and during that time, I wrote down 8 simple steps to help myself manage being laid off with dignity and grace.

Here's what I wrote.

Accept the reality: The first step in dealing with a layoff is to accept that it has happened. During this first stage, feel whatever emotions you need to feel through. If you're angry, accept the emotion and move through it. If you're feeling sad, allow the emotions to flow through you. This is the hardest stage to move through, but that's why it's the first step. It's important to acknowledge the situation, your emotions, and then move forward.

Stay calm: Prolonging anger or frustration won't help you in the long run. Instead, once you've moved through step one, now it's time to remain calm and professional during the transition. This will help you plan out your next steps clearly.

Take care of yourself: It's important to prioritize your mental and physical health during this time. Exercise, eat well, and take time for self-care. Seek support from friends and family if needed. Don't be afraid to treat yourself. Just because you received some bad news doesn't mean you don't deserve to still feel good about yourself.

Gather information: Ask your former employer about severance packages, unemployment benefits, and any other support available. Make sure you understand what resources are available to you and how to access them.

Update your resume and online profiles: Take advantage of this time to update your resume and online profiles. Highlight your accomplishments and skills, and focus on how your experience can benefit future employers.

Network: Reach out to former colleagues and connections in your industry. Attend networking events and conferences. Keep a positive attitude and be open to opportunities. You may be approached with opportunities you've never considered before, be open to everything the universe has in store for you.

Stay positive: Being laid off is discouraging, but it's important to stay positive and optimistic. Focus on the opportunities that lie ahead and be open to new possibilities. There is so much opportunity out there, it might be hard to imagine right now, but it's true. You will find a new opportunity. Rest assured there is something out there for you.

Seek professional help: If you are struggling with the stress and emotional impact of being laid off, don't hesitate to seek the help of a professional. A therapist, career counselor, or life coach can provide valuable support and guidance during this time.

Handling a layoff with class will help you regulate your thoughts and emotions, maintain your reputation, and make a smooth transition to your next opportunity. By accepting the reality, staying calm, taking care of yourself, and remaining positive, you will demonstrate your resilience and strength. You will remind yourself how powerful you really are, and future employers will feel that strength in you and move forward with confidence.

And as always, please remember that you are worth more than your title, your salary, and your career history.

On this International Women's Day, I want to highlight the importance of honoring the diverse experiences of women in the workplace and share my own experience over the past decade. We've made progress, but we still have a long way to go and I can personally attest to that. Women make up nearly half of the workforce, but only 7.4% of Fortune 500 companies have female CEOs. Women are also more likely to experience gender discrimination and sexual harassment at work, with 42% of women reporting experiencing gender discrimination and 81% reporting experiencing sexual harassment.

Even among women, those who display more feminine or masculine traits may face unique challenges in the workplace. A study conducted by Catalyst found that women who display feminine traits, such as being nurturing and empathetic, are often perceived as being less competent and are less likely to be promoted.

On the other hand, more androgynous or masculine women may also face discrimination and challenges in the workplace. A study by the University of Surrey found that women who display more masculine traits, such as being competitive and dominant, are often perceived as being less likable and less socially skilled.

Queer women also face obstacles in the workplace. According to a report by the Human Rights Campaign, 46% of LGBTQ employees in the US are not out at work, with many fearing discrimination and negative consequences for their career. This can lead to feelings of isolation and invisibility in the workplace.

Women of color also experience significant challenges in corporate America. They are more likely to experience discrimination and harassment at work and are underrepresented in leadership positions, with just 4% of C-suite positions being held by women of color, a study by LeanIn.Org and McKinsey & Company found.

As an LGBTQ woman of color, I've always felt like I had to work harder than anyone else to prove my worth in the workplace. And when I became a senior leader, that feeling only intensified. Despite working my way up the ladder, receiving top marks on all performance reviews, and having metrics to back up my accomplishments, I was still constantly sized up by my peers, both male and female.

I know that many women, regardless of their background or identity, have had similar experiences in the workplace. That's why it's so important for us to remind each other that we're all on the same team. Together, we can create a more equitable and supportive work environment for everyone.It's not easy, but it's necessary if we want to break down the barriers and create a more equitable workplace for all.

So on this International Women's Day, let's honor the diverse experiences of women and work towards a more inclusive and supportive environment for everyone. As Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie famously said, "We should all be feminists." Let's live that truth and create a better future for ourselves and the generations of women who will come after us.

If you're looking for a personal or professional coach to help you reach your goals, I provide personalized coaching services to help you find your voice and unlock your full potential. I also offer consulting services to companies looking to create more inclusive and productive work environments. By focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion, I help businesses cultivate a workplace culture where everyone feels valued and empowered to succeed.

And for those seeking to explore their spirituality and practice self-care, be sure to check out Our Highest Mantra, my platform for empowering people to reach their higher selves.

Personal growth and self-improvement often focus on achieving, doing, and being more. But my success wasn’t founded on my external pleasures; it was the quiet, introspective moments of Conscious Self-care that brought me here today. My shift into daily mindful self-observation is the basis for my personal and professional transformation.

For years, fun for me meant external excess. I lived a life many envied, surrounded by aesthetic pleasures and relative financial autonomy. Spending $15,000 on birthday celebrations in my early twenties was normal. On the surface, it was fun. But beneath that, I was using these distractions to avoid facing an internal void that I didn’t even know existed.

Realizing I was numbing myself with substances and superficial engagements was a turning point. Success isn’t measured by the ability to spend money or the beautiful company that surrounds you. True success is the ability to enjoy one’s own company, to be alone and celebrate.

This realization led me to Conscious Self-care, a deliberate practice of simplifying my life to focus on what matters. This wasn’t about giving up worldly pleasures but about changing my relationship with them. It meant transforming chaotic parties into harmonious gatherings of thought and reflection.

The shift from hedonism to conscious self-care was gradual. It required commitment to introspection and the courage to face parts of myself I had ignored. But the rewards have been immense and amplified day by day. Simplifying my life has taught me to appreciate the present moment, the true value of people around me, and my own worth.

Conscious self-care is not a luxury but a necessity, the foundation for true transformation. It's about making choices that align with your highest self, even when those choices require stepping out of comfort zones.

To those at the crossroads of change, remember the mantra: success and fulfillment don’t come from the pursuit of more but from appreciating and nurturing what you have. It’s about turning down the world’s volume to tune into your own mind. The celebration is much more enjoyable when you’re truly present.

An opinion piece by Sathi Roy about the toxicity that comes with the idea of ‘selflessness’ being a noble trait, how it promotes narcissism in others, and how we should shift our perspective and encourage others to be considerate, not selfless.

The term ‘selfless’ often carries with it highly positive connotations; someone who is selfless is seen as noble, caring, and giving.  Selflessness is a term that is celebrated, revered and treated as something we should all strive to be.

But should it be?

I don’t think being selfless is noble at all. In fact, I think it’s a toxic quality society pushes upon people to perpetuate narcissism in others. (In my opinion, Narcissism is a real epidemic.)

Let me explain.

Selflessness is defined as being ‘concerned more with the needs and wishes of others than with one's own.’ Therefore, an individual who is selfless regularly prioritizes others over themselves. Their own needs, wants, desires are relegated to the bottom of the list or dismissed entirely.

Does that sound noble?

Selflessness can be harmful because harm is being done to the individual who is continually performing selfless acts, putting the needs of others over their own. But this harm can be easily dismissed as the selfless person basks in the praise they receive from others. The more praise one receives, the more they feel they are doing what they are supposed to do. It’ll become a relentless cycle and before you know it, you don’t even know what you want anymore because you’re so used to self-sacrificing for others.

When it comes to selflessness, people always seem to pay attention to the positive being done to others, versus the negative being done to the ‘selfless’ giver. 

Selflessness creates and perpetuates narcissism in others.

How can it be healthy or in any way honorable for someone’s feelings to not matter? This type of thinking or behavior only leads to eventual misery and the loss of someone’s self-worth and sense of identity. 

Imbalance Is Never Good

When we think of the word selfless, we always think of giving. But what about taking? The imbalance of caring is where the problem lies.

By continuing to discuss selflessness in a positive way and placing selfless people on a pedestal — as something to emulate — we are actually setting the groundwork for others to be harmed.

This gets even worse when we consider that selflessness is a trait most often attributed to women.  Research from the University of Zurich revealed that male and female brains may react differently to what is called 'prosocial' (aka selfless) versus selfish behavior.

Let’s Consider ‘Considerate’

I propose that we all strive to be considerate instead of selfless going forward.

Being considerate means that we are respectful and mindful of others. It means we are acknowledging their views and experiences but we are not putting their needs over our own.

Being considerate instead of selfless calls out the elephant in the room: That the giver matters too.

Drawing Out Narcissistic Behaviors  

Another major problem with selfless behavior is that it can bring out narcissistic tendencies in others. A narcissist is defined as someone who has “an excessive interest in or admiration of themselves”.  It therefore makes sense that if someone is ‘selfless’, a narcissist will see an opportunity to take advantage of the person or situation.

Remember, everyone is capable of showcasing narcissistic behavior. I’m not only referring to those who are diagnosed with the larger personality disorder specifically.

Happy and Strong People Are Not Selfless

Rather, they consider the needs of others in their decisions. They are respectful and mindful of others, but they also think of themselves.

It is time for us to replace the term ‘selfless’ with more positive and non-destructive terms such as considerate. ‘Selfless’ essentially means the destruction of one’s self, which will never be good.