It is a typical Thursday afternoon. You are busy working away at your desk when your manager invites you to an impromptu meeting in Conference Room B. You suddenly realize that you and several coworkers are being laid off. Your mind starts to race with worry and fear. You don’t hear much after your manager announces, “Today will be your last day.”

Chances are good that you or someone you know has experienced this very scenario. Once the initial shock subsides, job loss can bring up intense feelings of anger and sadness. In terms of emotional distress, being let go from a job is similar to dealing with divorce, serious illness, or even the death of a loved one.

Our financial security is threatened. Self-esteem and confidence are shaken. Relationships become instantly severed. Hopes and dreams may be shattered. Our sense of loss can be significant regardless of how much we actually liked the job.

While we generally expect people to mourn the death of a loved one, we typically don’t give people permission to grieve job loss. As a culture, we expect people to dust off their pants and move on with their lives. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. When life gives you lemons, make