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?"

After a few days of reflection, I consciously chose to see my job loss as a new beginning and made a verbal and written commitment to totally redesign my life. With a clear focus and a little discipline, you too can begin living the life of your dreams—one small step at a time.

Chart Your Vision

Start by consciously choosing to see your loss as a new beginning. This will put you in an adventurous mode, where anything is possible. With this mindset, create a personal pie chart that reflects the new life you want to build. Designate "slices" for categories such as parenting, relationships, self-care, fun, home environment and work. The size of each slice should reflect the amount of time you intend to devote to that part of your life. For example, if you plan to work eight-hour days, the "work" slice will encompass one-third of the pie. Inside the slice (or on an adjacent list, if you run out of room), list your employment goals. It is also helpful to list desirable working conditions and important details like commute time. Repeat this process for each slice of the pie. In my own self-care slice, I wrote, "exercise, eat well, meditate daily and keep a journal." In my work section, I listed consulting, mentoring, speaking and writing. Be as specific as possible, but at minimum record major goals in each area.

After you've completed your pie chart, make every effort to live it. Focus on one area at a time. Set appropriate goals for the items you listed in that area. For an additional set of visuals to compliment the pie chart, create a collage using photos and magazine clippings that reflect what you envision for each slice of the chart. Keeping in mind that your time is valuable, check in with yourself daily. Confirm that what you are working on is consistent with your goals. In The Power of Small, Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval advise: “Instead of making a list of big, difficult-to-achieve goals, create an action list and re-envision those goals into ‘mini-tasks’ that can actually be accomplished on a day-to-day basis.”

Put your pie chart and collage in a place where you can see them every day. This will help you stay on track, honoring your path and purpose. Keep your thoughts optimistic. Use affirmations like these to feel strong and confident: “Only good will come from this situation” and “I move forward with strength and courage.” Stay away from negative influences (TV, radio, newspapers, people, places, memories) that may discourage you from changing your life.

By using this approach, you are more likely to nurture all parts of yourself—mind, body and soul—rather than devote every minute to searching for another job. In my case, I knew intuitively that this was what I needed in order to make the transition from the old life to the new. You can do the same. Remember the phrase, "use it or lose it," and use it all.

Use Your Heart

Allow your heart to drive your decisions. Reflect on what you would be deeply satisfied doing. Take the time to identify your interests, summarize your skills and begin to think of potential job options. We each bring unique gifts and talents to the world. What makes you special? If you’re not sure, ask people who know you well to provide feedback. You may want to review past performance appraisals as well. From there, identify potential learning opportunities. Identify courses, seminars, mentors, coaches, or therapists that can help you fill the gaps. Consider volunteering your time to work on projects that further define your new direction in life.

My most fulfilling, life-changing decisions have been driven by emotion more than logic. Logic would have stopped me from doing them. By continually focusing on what I love to do while developing additional skills, I know I can deliver value in any industry as long as my strengths match the company’s needs. With this mindset, I’ve begun to apply my wealth of corporately-acquired skills to a startup consulting business.

Be open to possibilities and income from many different and unexpected places. Practice letting go, being adventurous, and admitting that you don’t have all the answers.

Use Your Contacts

Once you have crafted a clear message about who you are, reach out to people you know, including friends, family and former colleagues. Meet over a meal or coffee and discuss your ideas. Let them know what you are looking for. Ask how you can help them as well. Make it a reciprocal process.

Online networking can provide thousands of additional contacts. Your next job may come from someone in Japan who has a contact in Chicago. Or you may just want to promote what you do. In either case, your brand (the value you bring) needs to be crystal clear in everything you communicate.

I asked a close friend who makes a fine living working independently to join me on a consulting project. She lives a life of balance, flexibility and fun and I wanted to learn from her example. We approached a local family-owned, wheat-free bakery where our joint talents are helping the business to grow. For me, it was another step forward in the pursuit of self-employment.

Use Your Braun

Do whatever is needed to expedite change and anchor it. This includes taking care of yourself with regular exercise, healthy eating and adequate rest, as well as things like meditation and journaling.

An excellent way to shift the energy in your environment is to clear out the clutter. Attack one room at a time and decide how you want to live in that space. Culling through stuff can be emotionally draining, especially when you aren’t sure whether to keep, trash, recycle, or donate it. Get help from a professional if you need it. Your money will be well spent. Clearing the clutter helped me to clarify my vision while transforming my home office into an orderly and inspirational space. Starting out this way saved time, money and significantly reduced stress.

Job loss invariably ushers in a period of transition. It can also be a time of transformation, joy and fulfillment—often in unexpected ways. My daughter recently asked me for butterfly larva so that she could watch the process of metamorphosis. As the butterflies emerged, I was reminded that my own transformation is leading to the life I love.

About the Author

Diane A. Testa is a consultant who specializes in guiding small businesses to develop mission/vision statements and profitable marketing plans. She is co-facilitator, with Dr. Carole Parker, of "Finding Your Good Life" workshops, which help individuals live deliberately and create fulfilling futures. Diane has more than 25 years experience leading programs in sales operations, marketing, corporate training and business development in midsize to large corporations. She recently left her role as VP of Commercial Sales Operations for a leading water filtration firm. Diane holds an M.A. in Sociology from DePaul University. For more information, visit http://www.findingmygoodlife.com