How being fired can be great and why you should experience it

How being fired can be great and why you should experience itHow being fired can be great and why you should experience itMaybe youve been there you get called into your bosss office and are asked to sit down because theres something theyd like to discuss.Likely theres someone from HR or the C-suite also in the room. However, its once your boss starts talking that you realize with what feels like a punch to the gut that youre being fired.Perhaps you knew this was coming because youd seen the writing on the walls. Or perhaps this came out of nowhere and youre left feeling shocked, angry, and sad.No matter the reason for your firing, whether its because of performance problems, management issues, a company acquisition, or more, youre likely still reeling and trying to understand what just happened.So let me be the first to say - CongratulationsNow, before you think Im some sadist glorying in someone elses pain, let me explain why I think being fired is one of the best things that can happen to you and why everyone should be fired at least once in their lives.It reminds you to stay humbleIn a world where the loudest, and sometimes crassest, voices are constantly shouting to be heard, being reminded of your fallibility keeps you grounded. It doesnt matter if the fault for getting fired rests on your own shoulders or bedrngnis - its proof that youre not invincible.Getting let go is a reminder that life doesnt always go as planned, and that thats okay. It gives you the chance to appreciate what you still have and the people who will be by your side through thick and thin.It takes you outside your comfort zoneTheres truly nothing like being booted to get you outside your comfort zone. Whether you were reluctantly trudging along or whether you truly loved your work, no longer having that role sets you outside where youd been.While this may sound terrifying, and it honestly can be in the moment, its also a fantastic way to get a clearer picture of who you are and what you want.It pushes you to take actionIts easy to put off trying to find a better job or taking your side hustle full time because youve become comfortable and complacent. I know this because Ive been there too. Its hard to turn down killer benefits, healthcare, and a steady paycheck for the potential uncertainty of going for it on your own.Getting fired is the push (or really, the shove) to really start evaluating what it is you want and where you want to go.Theres no greater motivator than not having that safety net. Its often a crutch and gives you the perfect excuse when youre feeling lazy or dont feel like putting in the effort towards finding a better job.Personally, it took me being let go earlier this year for me to fully finalize my plan and get my act together to turn my side hustle into my full-time gig.It teaches you what you do and dont wantIn your personal life, a breakup allows you to sit back and reflect on what went wrong and what worked so that you know what you wa nt to look for or avoid for next time.Being fired does the exact same thing. It might be that you hated having to write press releases and reach out to media contacts, but you loved planning the overall communications strategy. It could also be that you obsessed over getting to be creative and design marketing materials, but would rather someone else handle the strategy side.Whatever it may be, understanding more clearly what it is you loved about your previous roles, and what you loathed, will allow you to find a job thats a much better fit for you than your previous one.It gives you resilienceKnowing how you respond when things get tough (and, perhaps, how your significant other responds) can be crucial to weathering the ups and downs of your life.Being able to dust yourself off and keep kicking butt after being fired proves to yourself that you can take what may come your way. Building up your resiliency gives you the strength for the next time things dont work out.While I cant g uarantee much with 100% certainty, I can promise that life is going to throw challenges your way. When that happens, youll have the knowledge that you weathered this storm and made it out stronger on the other side.It becomes the best thing thats ever happened to youRecently, I posted an anonymous survey in several professional groups that Im a part of on Facebook asking people whod been fired their feelings about the situation. A solid 82% said that at the time of their firing they were extremely upset.Yet 91% of that same group said that they are now happy that it happened. When asked to explain why, almost everyone had some variation on the theme that being fired gave them the opportunity to find something better or pursue something greater and they were ultimately glad to have been let go.The strength, knowledge, and clarity you will gain when you get fired will help propel you further than you ever thought possible and into areas you might never have imagined. So if youre ever in the situation where you realize that its finally happening to you - take comfort in the fact that youll look back someday and realize it was the best thing that ever happened to you.This article first appeared on The EveryGirl.