The downturn in the economy is affecting everyone. You may be worried about losing your job. Or perhaps the ax has already fallen—as it has in my case. I recently lost my position as a senior executive in a brand-name company. It didn’t really surprise me. Like many companies, mine was reorganizing, downsizing, reengineering, consolidating, streamlining, rightsizing—take your pick. Although I was disappointed to lose my job (a vice president with significant responsibility), overall I felt gratified about what I’d accomplished for the company and for the value my efforts had added to the bottom line.

This pause in my professional life has allowed me to “detox” and reflect on what I truly want in life. As a single mom with an adopted daughter, I haven’t really been enjoying motherhood. And at age six, my daughter needs me even more than she did as a baby. Although I loved my job, the hours and the pressures didn’t provide much opportunity to thrive. Getting laid off has given me a chance to acknowledge, ”Okay, been there, done that, now what?"