Lately, I’ve been reflecting deeply on how to manage the fear of instability—especially in times when it feels like stability is slipping through our fingers. This is particularly true for professionals in the corporate world who don’t have the safety net of public employment.
I’ve experienced this firsthand. After a long career in academia—earning a PhD, doing a postdoc, publishing books and articles, and dedicating years to research—I made a bold move into the corporate sector. I found a job I loved, a role that felt meaningful. Yet, at some point, I had to leave it behind. Suddenly, I was faced with that all-too-familiar feeling: the fear and anxiety of not knowing what comes next. All the time, energy, and identity I had invested seemed to vanish overnight—first, because of my career change, and then, due to recent political developments that restricted diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, my previous company—whose work was closely aligned with those values—lost market presence and client contracts, leading to a halt in operations and, ultimately, me losing my job.
For weeks, I felt lost—without clear direction, overwhelmed by discouragement that left me paralyzed. And I realize I’m not alone in this experience.
A few factors have amplified this sense of uncertainty:
- The rapid pace of technological change, constantly reshaping our career priorities.
- Shifts in retirement planning worldwide, driven by longer lifespans and changing demographics. Few of us can expect the traditional retirement of previous generations.
- Increasing career mobility—changing roles, industries, and interests in search of purpose and meaning.
- A desire among many professionals to align their work with their core values—transforming work from simply a paycheck into a reflection of one’s beliefs.
- The job market became more complex. Millions of professionals are now job hunting, while employers seek to boost productivity and talent density—hiring fewer, more impactful people. This raises the bar for candidates and makes the selection process more demanding on both sides.
- Automation and AI-driven processes in recruitment, which can feel impersonal and intimidating.
And on our end, navigating this landscape only gets trickier. Job boards are crowded, and the influx of “experts” flooding social media with tips and strategies can seem overwhelming—offering “must-have” courses and hacks that promise you’ll never land your dream job without them. Amid all of this noise, it’s easy to feel like success depends not just on your skills but on your ability to outsmart AI or craft the perfect resume that tricks the system.
In this whirlwind of change and uncertainty, feeling fear and anxiety is entirely natural. But the more pressing question is: What can we actually do in this scenario?
Some ideas for navigating the uncertainty
Part of my previous work involved listening—really listening—to people on both sides of the hiring equation. I spent a lot of time talking to jobseekers, hearing about their routines, dreams, frustrations, and fears. Those conversations have been echoing in my head lately. They’ve helped me sit with my own uncertainty and begin to find language—and hope—for what comes next.
Since writing isn’t just something I do after thinking, but a way I figure things out, I’m sharing here a few reflections. Maybe they’ll help someone else. Maybe they’ll spark a conversation. At the very least, they help me make sense of things.
So, here’s what I’ve learned (and am still learning) about how to move forward in moments of instability.
1. Give yourself a break.
This might feel counterintuitive—especially when you’re panicking about money or purpose or identity. But taking a real break is necessary. Not just a day off, but a shift in your inner rhythm. For me, it was music. For you, it might be painting, gardening, cooking, or skateboarding. Whatever helps you reconnect with who you are beyond your job title. Rest isn’t giving up. It’s creating space. Sometimes the best ideas arrive when we stop trying so hard to solve everything at once.
2. Talk to people who see the real you.
When you’re struggling, it’s easy to forget your worth. That’s when you need people who remind you. Not recruiters or career coaches (although they can help), but the people who know your heart. Friends, family, mentors—the ones who’ve seen you rise before, and who still believe in you even when you don’t. These conversations are not just practical; they’re emotional lifelines. Sometimes all we need is someone to say, “You’ve got this,” and mean it. When a friend says, “I admire the way you raise your kids,” or “You always show up for others,” they’re holding up a mirror. And often, it’s a kinder, more accurate one than the harsh version we use on ourselves. Most of us either shrink ourselves or build versions of who we think we should be. Talking to people who love us allows us to reconnect with a more honest reflection.
3. Map your story.
One of the most powerful exercises I’ve come across is the Personal History Map. I created it in a previous project to help people reframe their professional narratives—not just through job titles or degrees, but through life itself. What if being a parent, facing grief, navigating illness, leading a community group, or managing a passion project were seen as qualifications? Because they are. They show resilience, creativity, leadership, empathy. Start writing down everything that shaped you. Not to romanticize pain, but to honor what you’ve survived—and how it’s made you stronger.
We often reduce ourselves to roles: employee, parent, partner, friend. But you are the sum of many layers. This exercise helps you connect the dots and recognize your full, multidimensional self.
4. Explore your professional identity.
This one takes time. Who are you at work—really? What roles light you up? What kind of problems do you love solving? What values do you want to see reflected in your job? Sometimes the answers don’t come right away. That’s okay. Keep collecting clues. Keep paying attention. If you set meaningful goals—ones that are connected to your values, even if the vision is still blurry—they’ll guide your path. Little by little, you’ll start to see a clearer version of your professional self. Your identity isn’t a LinkedIn headline—it’s a story in progress.
5. Find your gaps.
Once you see your strengths clearly, it gets easier to spot what’s missing—and what’s next. Maybe you’re technically brilliant in your field but want to grow into a leadership role, and that means developing communication and collaboration skills. Maybe it’s the other way around: You’ve got strong people skills and leadership traits but need to build up specific technical know-how (my case).
It’s important to remember that growth doesn’t mean becoming someone else—it means expanding who you already are.
These gaps aren’t just about skills, though. Sometimes they’re about actions. You might be a fantastic communicator, but you haven’t used that talent to promote yourself. And in today’s crowded, noisy world, it’s unlikely that opportunity will find you by accident. You have to give it a little help. Shine a light on your strengths, even if it feels uncomfortable at first. You’re not bragging—you’re showing up.
These reflections aren’t a formula or a guarantee. They’re just part of my journey—and maybe yours too. The fear of instability is real. But so is our capacity to adapt, reinvent, and move forward with integrity.