Here's the hard truth about being in a high-profile professional position: When you leave (or are forced to leave), the emotional loss is similar to having a family member die.
When you have spent years as “the teacher,” “the manager” or the “organizational leader,” stepping away can trigger grief. Familiar routines and confidence in your expertise and experience feel gone. That sense of belonging and leading are no longer part of your day.
You have entered a liminal space, where the old life is no longer and the new one hasn’t yet taken shape.
Two realities contribute to this sense of loss:
First, you spent years collecting the experience and expertise to earn your position. You invested blood, sweat and tears into the process. Naturally, you want to hold onto your success and enjoy the fruits of your labor. When that is over, you feel irrelevant.
Second, some people connected with you because of your position. They liked being in your space because it elevated their position. When you are no longer "that person", they soon are gone. When that happens, you feel exploited.
As you navigate this in-between time, you may feel restless, uncertain or even invisible for a while. That’s normal. Transformation rarely feels graceful when you are in the midst of it. Think of it like a tree shedding its leaves — necessary, but messy.
We live in a culture that prizes youth, productivity and clear outcomes. It doesn’t always make room for the time in your life to let go. But those who have walked this path know: the very act of releasing what no longer fits becomes the soil for new life.
Letting go isn’t a weakness. It’s wisdom. It takes courage to say, “That season of my life is complete.” It takes faith to believe that something new is waiting beyond the loss.
As you shed the old role, emotions will surface. You will waffle between nostalgia, relief, fear and excitement. Try not to rush through them. They are your companions in transformation. Each one reveals something about what mattered most and what you are ready to carry forward in a new form.
In time, the space left by letting go becomes fertile ground. New callings begin to appear. Maybe you can rest for a while. Maybe you have an idea for a new business or creative experience. Figure out what you love to do and then figure out how to make it relevant in your transformation.
Remember, when you suffer the loss of a high-profile identity, you really never lose your true identity. It is time to be yourself, which will be valued by others who really matter and vastly more authentic.