Though you may feel that you have been unfairly treated, there must have been some reason for you getting fired. A good shot of reality can be therapeutic! Somehow you are responsible for something connected with the dismissal. Maybe you transgressed or overstepped that company’s rules, trampled on too many toes, insisted on doing it your way, or made the mistake of telling your boss what you think of her or him. The sooner you face up to the fact that something needs attention, the better your performance in your next job.

             Retrenchment is different. You are not held at fault. It merely reflects the company’s inability to stay in business. But when you are fired, someone is saying you are faulty. No one handles such an experience with equanimity.

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             I have yet to meet someone who has been fired from a job who said, “I was in the wrong and deserved to be fired.’ Human nature is always defensive. We usually see ourselves as victims.

             Of course, there are cases of unjustified firing. A normal person deserves a second, third, or even a tenth chance. Bosses take out their pathologies on workers. People get fired without just cause or because they are not liked. But my concern here is with those who have been fired for cause, even if the cause is relatively minor.

             Your responsibility is to face up to this cause honestly and courageously. It is almost essential that you get counseling. Most people are not able to do it on their own. The more openly you own up to your inadequacies and take corrective steps, the greater you will benefit from this experience. Denial and blaming others will only serve to entrench your weakness further. Hiding from yourself never brings growth.