July 21, 2025 • 17 mins
Pre-order your copy of Phoenix Rising - Ignite Your Job Search
Feeling lost in a career transition? You're not alone. Whether your job change was voluntary or unexpected, this episode offers a powerful reframing that could transform your experience from one of anxiety to genuine opportunity.
Stanford neuroscience research reveals something surprising: those periods when your brain isn't consumed by endless tasks are precisely when your most creative insights emerge. Think about it - when was the last time you had truly unstructured time to follow your curiosity? Welcome to the science of cognitive restoration, where what might feel like idleness is actually your brain's most productive state.
Through practical techniques we unpack in this episode, you'll discover how to rewire your natural negativity bias and recognize the unique freedoms available during this transition. Rather than measuring success through job applications sent, you'll learn to track moments of genuine curiosity followed and instances of self-compassion chosen over self-criticism.
Counterintuitively, research shows that people who allow themselves true rest during job transitions actually secure better positions faster than those who launch into frantic searching.
Ready to transform your career transition story? Listen now, and don't forget to pre-order my upcoming book "Phoenix Rising: Ignite Your Job Search" through the link in the show notes.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Welcome to the Mindful in 5 Summer Zen Series,
your hub for thriving leaders.
Here we will explore actionableinsights to support resilience
and success as we navigate theunique chaos of summer, and
success as we navigate theunique chaos of summer.
(00:26):
I'm Spheer Deverson, certifiedmindfulness practitioner, lawyer
and author of the Mindful in 5book series.
I believe we all deserve a bitmore balance and peace,
especially when work and lifeget a little hectic.
When work and life get a littlehectic While you're enjoying
(00:49):
the sunshine and this vibrantseason, I'm excited to share
insights and practices that canhelp you integrate mindfulness,
balance, peace and a sense ofpurpose, whether summer's just
beginning or winter's at yourdoor.
Grab a comfy spot and let'sexplore these practices together
.
Elevate your work, empower yourlife, work higher, live
(01:13):
stronger.
Let's go.
Last episode, I shared with youmy confession.
Last episode, I shared with youmy confession as we started
talking about the topic we areunpacking this week on how to
rewire your transition story tolean into the freedom of
(01:36):
transition.
If you missed it, find the linkin this episode's show notes
and listen to that first if youhave time, because it tees up
today's topic quite nicely.
I am talking to everyone whohas voluntarily or involuntarily
(01:58):
found themselves in a careertransition.
I have many colleagues in thelegal field whose companies have
been directly or indirectlyimpacted by the federal
government job cuts.
So if you find yourself in aseason of transition, know that
you are not alone and no one isimmune.
(02:21):
I have had good friends whohave chosen to leave their roles
so that they could take time tojust really reflect on the
things actually the things we'regoing to talk about today and
in the Mindful.
In 5 book, meditations forPeople with no Time, singeta
(02:42):
makes the choice to leave herrole so that she can go back to
law school.
I have had times when I haveleft jobs, either because my
husband and I decided to move weswitched states or I left one
job because I got an offer Icouldn't refuse, or I got a
(03:03):
promotion to go someplace else.
Stanford neuroscientist DrMarcus Rakiel's research on the
brain's default mode networkreveals something extraordinary
when your brain is not focusedon external tasks, like when
you're not rushing to meetingsor responding to endless emails,
(03:25):
it enters a state calleddiffuse attention.
This is when your most creativeinsights emerge, when you
process complex emotions andwhen you integrate learning at
the deepest level.
Think about it.
How long has it been sinceyou've had truly unstructured
(03:50):
time, time to follow yourcuriosity without justifying it
to anyone.
Time to explore interests thatdon't need to generate income
immediately.
This is cognitive restoration,not to be confused with laziness
(04:13):
.
Here is your science-backedstrategy for transforming this
transition into a period ofgenuine freedom.
I call it the freedom inventoryritual.
Each morning, spend fiveminutes identifying three
(04:40):
specific freedoms you have todaythat you didn't have while you
were working.
Maybe it's the freedom to takea walk around the lake at 6 pm
in the evening without having torush back to your desk.
Maybe it's the freedom to reada book that interests you, or to
(05:01):
have an unhurried conversationwith a friend that doesn't end
in.
Okay, I have to get back towork bye.
When I left my last role, I wasable to be fully present at a
conference where I was speaking.
I didn't have to rush back tomy hotel and check emails.
It was amazing.
(05:21):
Then I went on a previouslyplanned vacation where I didn't
have to work around the edges ofthat vacation.
That was amazing.
I had time to hang out with myneighbors, visit with friends,
spend unhurried time at the gymand even catch up on these
podcast episodes and catch up onthese podcast episodes.
(05:43):
So I'm not just preachingtheories at you.
These strategies really work.
I use them myself.
So do write down your three newfreedoms.
Why?
Because your brain has anegativity bias.
It is hardwired to focus onthreats and losses.
(06:06):
By consciously cataloging yourcurrent freedoms, you are
literally rewiring your neuralpathways to recognize
opportunity within what mightotherwise be a really
challenging season.
The cognitive reframe looks likethis Instead of thinking I
(06:27):
don't have a job, what am Igoing to do?
Experiment with?
I am in professional transition, or I'm on my way to my next
professional adventure, or everyday brings me closer to my next
role.
This is strategic psychology.
(06:49):
Language shapes perception andperception shapes behavior.
I like to say first we think,then we do, then we become.
Your language has the power toactivate different neural
(07:12):
networks, triggering curiosityand possibility rather than
shame and scarcity.
After all, you don't need allthe jobs out there, you just
need one.
Here's what might surprise youResearch shows that people who
allow themselves to truly restduring career transitions, who
(07:36):
resist the urge to immediatelylaunch into a frantic job search
, actually secure betterpositions faster.
This is because rest is not theabsence of productivity.
It is a different kind ofproductivity that happens below
conscious awareness.
Your subconscious is processingyears of professional
(08:00):
experience, integrating lessonsand preparing for your next
evolution.
This requires bandwidth andconstant anxiety and activity.
Just consume that kind ofbandwidth and freedom for you to
really think.
Let's shift the success metricsduring this period.
(08:21):
Instead of measuring success byjob applications sent or
interviews scheduled, trymeasuring it by moments of
curiosity that you followed,conversations that energized
rather than drained you, timesyou chose self-compassion over
self-criticism, instances whereyou felt truly present in your
(08:46):
life, felt truly present in yourlife.
I'll give you one example ofhow this helps in your job
search Moments of genuinecuriosity.
(09:06):
Let's say you have an interviewtoday and, mentally, because
you're so anxious to get the job, you are so focused, perhaps,
on saying what you think theinterviewer needs to hear, and
what they may hear is a lack ofauthenticity, maybe a level of
desperation that is notattractive and that doesn't make
them immediately think, oh, Ihave to give this person a job.
(09:28):
Immediately think, oh, I haveto give this person a job.
Whereas, for example, if you'refollowing genuine curiosity,
that potentially turns thatinterview into a two-way
conversation and that two-wayconversation allows you to learn
about that role, and it alsoallows you to think about what
(09:48):
you have in your repertoire thatmight genuinely help that
company achieve the goals thatit's trying to accomplish.
And so, because you're focusedon those moments of genuine
curiosity, you're interested inthe person who is interviewing
you.
You're interested in the roleand what they really need in
(10:12):
that role.
You're interested in helpingthem identify what you bring to
the table, just as much as youare interested in making sure
that that company is the rightculture for you.
Therefore, both of you willmake a better decision about
(10:32):
your fit for that role in theend, and if you get that offer,
you're going to be armed with amuch better sense of what they
need from you and how you canhelp that company achieve its
objectives.
See, so this is not going to bea detraction.
It's not going to be adivergence.
It's not going to be adetraction.
It's not going to be adivergence.
It's not going to be a detouraway from what you are trying to
(10:57):
accomplish, but it may, in fact, be the path that gets you
there and accelerates yourjourney to your next role.
This approach also recognizesthat your well-being during this
(11:22):
transition directly impacts thequality of opportunities that
you will attract and yourability to recognize the right
fit when it appears.
Your mindset really matters Intimes when I have been
recruiting for a job, when Italk to candidates who are still
mad at their last employer, madabout their situation, haven't
(11:45):
gotten over their last awfulboss, or the surprise of a
layoff, or the regret over achoice to leave it leaks into
the interview.
When that happens, an employermight conclude that you have the
(12:07):
technical skills for the role,but you might not have the right
mindset to come in and besuccessful, because, of course,
every employer who hires youreally wants you to come and be
successful.
If this sounds like you, it maybe that you could benefit from
(12:27):
pattern interrupts to break outof automatic behaviors and
discover new possibilities.
Your career transition islife's ultimate pattern
interrupt.
Don't waste it.
Use it intentionally.
What patterns from yourprevious role do you want to
(12:48):
leave behind?
What patterns from yourprevious role do you want to
leave behind?
Maybe it's the pattern ofsaying yes to everything, or the
pattern of working ridiculoushours as if you could do it all
in a day, like me, or thepattern of not advocating for
yourself.
I have a good friend who hasalways been an advocate for her
(13:14):
co-workers and the people aroundher.
One day recently she stood upfor herself and continued to
advocate for herself.
I was so proud of her and Itold her so.
And more than that, the mostimportant thing was she could
see that strength in herself andshe could see her standing up
(13:35):
for herself and she was proud ofherself for making that shift
from advocate for others toadvocate for self.
This transition gives you thespace to consciously choose new
(14:00):
patterns before stepping intoyour next professional chapter.
As we wrap up today's episode,here's your integration
challenge For the next week.
Practice what I call FreedomFriday, even if it's not Friday,
you know why?
Because you can Choose one dayto fully embrace the freedom of
(14:24):
your current situation.
Sleep until you naturally wakeup.
Follow your curiosity, have aconversation with someone you
care about.
Notice how this freedom feelsin your body.
Give yourself the space andpermission to remember that you
(14:46):
are more than your professionalidentity and that this
transition is offering youaccess to parts of yourself that
may have been dormant.
Remember phoenix rises don'thappen overnight.
If you're wondering about thatwhole phoenix thing, rises don't
happen overnight.
If you're wondering about thatwhole Phoenix thing.
I am writing my next book.
(15:07):
My next Mindful and Five bookis called Phoenix Rising Ignite
your job search and it's allabout how you can rise from the
ashes of shock, surprise,despair, anger, all the things,
and rise like a phoenix from theashes into the dawn and the day
(15:28):
of your next professionaladventure.
Click on the link at the top ofthe show notes for this episode
to pre-order your copy today.
So, as I was saying, phoenixRises don't happen overnight.
(15:49):
They happen through the patientprocess of transformation.
Your professional disruptiondoesn't mean you failed.
It could mean you are ready forsomething new or different, or
bigger, or different or bigger.
(16:11):
This is a bend in the curvethat offers you the chance to
align more deeply with who youare becoming, so that when you
come around that curve you don'tjust have a part of you that's
the work you and then there'sthe rest of you but you align
those two things so that, comingout of that bend, you are one,
united in all of the persons andall of the parts of who you are
(16:34):
, and you take that strength,all of it, into your next role,
elevate your work, empower yourlife, work harder, live stronger
.
You've got this Until next week.
This is Be Weigh saying bemindful and be well.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
Thank you for listening to Mindful in 5.
If you enjoyed it, share itwith a friend, follow and rate
it on your favorite podcastplatform.
Pick up your signed copy of thebook and journal from
spewayjeffersoncom, or unsignedcopies from Amazon, Barnes,
Noble or wherever you get yourbooks.
Visit spewayjeffersoncom todownload sample chapters of the
(17:19):
book, watch videos and become amindful ninja.
Join us on the LinkedIn Mindfulin 5 group and share your
thoughts.
Until next time, be mindful andbe well.
Welcome to the Mindful in 5 Summer Zen Series,
your hub for thriving leaders.
Here we will explore actionableinsights to support resilience
and success as we navigate theunique chaos of summer, and
success as we navigate theunique chaos of summer.
(00:26):
I'm Spheer Deverson, certifiedmindfulness practitioner, lawyer
and author of the Mindful in 5book series.
I believe we all deserve a bitmore balance and peace,
especially when work and lifeget a little hectic.
When work and life get a littlehectic While you're enjoying
(00:49):
the sunshine and this vibrantseason, I'm excited to share
insights and practices that canhelp you integrate mindfulness,
balance, peace and a sense ofpurpose, whether summer's just
beginning or winter's at yourdoor.
Grab a comfy spot and let'sexplore these practices together
.
Elevate your work, empower yourlife, work higher, live
(01:13):
stronger.
Let's go.
Last episode, I shared with youmy confession.
Last episode, I shared with youmy confession as we started
talking about the topic we areunpacking this week on how to
rewire your transition story tolean into the freedom of
(01:36):
transition.
If you missed it, find the linkin this episode's show notes
and listen to that first if youhave time, because it tees up
today's topic quite nicely.
I am talking to everyone whohas voluntarily or involuntarily
(01:58):
found themselves in a careertransition.
I have many colleagues in thelegal field whose companies have
been directly or indirectlyimpacted by the federal
government job cuts.
So if you find yourself in aseason of transition, know that
you are not alone and no one isimmune.
(02:21):
I have had good friends whohave chosen to leave their roles
so that they could take time tojust really reflect on the
things actually the things we'regoing to talk about today and
in the Mindful.
In 5 book, meditations forPeople with no Time, singeta
(02:42):
makes the choice to leave herrole so that she can go back to
law school.
I have had times when I haveleft jobs, either because my
husband and I decided to move weswitched states or I left one
job because I got an offer Icouldn't refuse, or I got a
(03:03):
promotion to go someplace else.
Stanford neuroscientist DrMarcus Rakiel's research on the
brain's default mode networkreveals something extraordinary
when your brain is not focusedon external tasks, like when
you're not rushing to meetingsor responding to endless emails,
(03:25):
it enters a state calleddiffuse attention.
This is when your most creativeinsights emerge, when you
process complex emotions andwhen you integrate learning at
the deepest level.
Think about it.
How long has it been sinceyou've had truly unstructured
(03:50):
time, time to follow yourcuriosity without justifying it
to anyone.
Time to explore interests thatdon't need to generate income
immediately.
This is cognitive restoration,not to be confused with laziness
(04:13):
.
Here is your science-backedstrategy for transforming this
transition into a period ofgenuine freedom.
I call it the freedom inventoryritual.
Each morning, spend fiveminutes identifying three
(04:40):
specific freedoms you have todaythat you didn't have while you
were working.
Maybe it's the freedom to takea walk around the lake at 6 pm
in the evening without having torush back to your desk.
Maybe it's the freedom to reada book that interests you, or to
(05:01):
have an unhurried conversationwith a friend that doesn't end
in.
Okay, I have to get back towork bye.
When I left my last role, I wasable to be fully present at a
conference where I was speaking.
I didn't have to rush back tomy hotel and check emails.
It was amazing.
(05:21):
Then I went on a previouslyplanned vacation where I didn't
have to work around the edges ofthat vacation.
That was amazing.
I had time to hang out with myneighbors, visit with friends,
spend unhurried time at the gymand even catch up on these
podcast episodes and catch up onthese podcast episodes.
(05:43):
So I'm not just preachingtheories at you.
These strategies really work.
I use them myself.
So do write down your three newfreedoms.
Why?
Because your brain has anegativity bias.
It is hardwired to focus onthreats and losses.
(06:06):
By consciously cataloging yourcurrent freedoms, you are
literally rewiring your neuralpathways to recognize
opportunity within what mightotherwise be a really
challenging season.
The cognitive reframe looks likethis Instead of thinking I
(06:27):
don't have a job, what am Igoing to do?
Experiment with?
I am in professional transition, or I'm on my way to my next
professional adventure, or everyday brings me closer to my next
role.
This is strategic psychology.
(06:49):
Language shapes perception andperception shapes behavior.
I like to say first we think,then we do, then we become.
Your language has the power toactivate different neural
(07:12):
networks, triggering curiosityand possibility rather than
shame and scarcity.
After all, you don't need allthe jobs out there, you just
need one.
Here's what might surprise youResearch shows that people who
allow themselves to truly restduring career transitions, who
(07:36):
resist the urge to immediatelylaunch into a frantic job search
, actually secure betterpositions faster.
This is because rest is not theabsence of productivity.
It is a different kind ofproductivity that happens below
conscious awareness.
Your subconscious is processingyears of professional
(08:00):
experience, integrating lessonsand preparing for your next
evolution.
This requires bandwidth andconstant anxiety and activity.
Just consume that kind ofbandwidth and freedom for you to
really think.
Let's shift the success metricsduring this period.
(08:21):
Instead of measuring success byjob applications sent or
interviews scheduled, trymeasuring it by moments of
curiosity that you followed,conversations that energized
rather than drained you, timesyou chose self-compassion over
self-criticism, instances whereyou felt truly present in your
(08:46):
life, felt truly present in yourlife.
I'll give you one example ofhow this helps in your job
search Moments of genuinecuriosity.
(09:06):
Let's say you have an interviewtoday and, mentally, because
you're so anxious to get the job, you are so focused, perhaps,
on saying what you think theinterviewer needs to hear, and
what they may hear is a lack ofauthenticity, maybe a level of
desperation that is notattractive and that doesn't make
them immediately think, oh, Ihave to give this person a job.
(09:28):
Immediately think, oh, I haveto give this person a job.
Whereas, for example, if you'refollowing genuine curiosity,
that potentially turns thatinterview into a two-way
conversation and that two-wayconversation allows you to learn
about that role, and it alsoallows you to think about what
(09:48):
you have in your repertoire thatmight genuinely help that
company achieve the goals thatit's trying to accomplish.
And so, because you're focusedon those moments of genuine
curiosity, you're interested inthe person who is interviewing
you.
You're interested in the roleand what they really need in
(10:12):
that role.
You're interested in helpingthem identify what you bring to
the table, just as much as youare interested in making sure
that that company is the rightculture for you.
Therefore, both of you willmake a better decision about
(10:32):
your fit for that role in theend, and if you get that offer,
you're going to be armed with amuch better sense of what they
need from you and how you canhelp that company achieve its
objectives.
See, so this is not going to bea detraction.
It's not going to be adivergence.
It's not going to be adetraction.
It's not going to be adivergence.
It's not going to be a detouraway from what you are trying to
(10:57):
accomplish, but it may, in fact, be the path that gets you
there and accelerates yourjourney to your next role.
This approach also recognizesthat your well-being during this
(11:22):
transition directly impacts thequality of opportunities that
you will attract and yourability to recognize the right
fit when it appears.
Your mindset really matters Intimes when I have been
recruiting for a job, when Italk to candidates who are still
mad at their last employer, madabout their situation, haven't
(11:45):
gotten over their last awfulboss, or the surprise of a
layoff, or the regret over achoice to leave it leaks into
the interview.
When that happens, an employermight conclude that you have the
(12:07):
technical skills for the role,but you might not have the right
mindset to come in and besuccessful, because, of course,
every employer who hires youreally wants you to come and be
successful.
If this sounds like you, it maybe that you could benefit from
(12:27):
pattern interrupts to break outof automatic behaviors and
discover new possibilities.
Your career transition islife's ultimate pattern
interrupt.
Don't waste it.
Use it intentionally.
What patterns from yourprevious role do you want to
(12:48):
leave behind?
What patterns from yourprevious role do you want to
leave behind?
Maybe it's the pattern ofsaying yes to everything, or the
pattern of working ridiculoushours as if you could do it all
in a day, like me, or thepattern of not advocating for
yourself.
I have a good friend who hasalways been an advocate for her
(13:14):
co-workers and the people aroundher.
One day recently she stood upfor herself and continued to
advocate for herself.
I was so proud of her and Itold her so.
And more than that, the mostimportant thing was she could
see that strength in herself andshe could see her standing up
(13:35):
for herself and she was proud ofherself for making that shift
from advocate for others toadvocate for self.
This transition gives you thespace to consciously choose new
(14:00):
patterns before stepping intoyour next professional chapter.
As we wrap up today's episode,here's your integration
challenge For the next week.
Practice what I call FreedomFriday, even if it's not Friday,
you know why?
Because you can Choose one dayto fully embrace the freedom of
(14:24):
your current situation.
Sleep until you naturally wakeup.
Follow your curiosity, have aconversation with someone you
care about.
Notice how this freedom feelsin your body.
Give yourself the space andpermission to remember that you
(14:46):
are more than your professionalidentity and that this
transition is offering youaccess to parts of yourself that
may have been dormant.
Remember phoenix rises don'thappen overnight.
If you're wondering about thatwhole phoenix thing, rises don't
happen overnight.
If you're wondering about thatwhole Phoenix thing.
I am writing my next book.
(15:07):
My next Mindful and Five bookis called Phoenix Rising Ignite
your job search and it's allabout how you can rise from the
ashes of shock, surprise,despair, anger, all the things,
and rise like a phoenix from theashes into the dawn and the day
(15:28):
of your next professionaladventure.
Click on the link at the top ofthe show notes for this episode
to pre-order your copy today.
So, as I was saying, phoenixRises don't happen overnight.
(15:49):
They happen through the patientprocess of transformation.
Your professional disruptiondoesn't mean you failed.
It could mean you are ready forsomething new or different, or
bigger, or different or bigger.
(16:11):
This is a bend in the curvethat offers you the chance to
align more deeply with who youare becoming, so that when you
come around that curve you don'tjust have a part of you that's
the work you and then there'sthe rest of you but you align
those two things so that, comingout of that bend, you are one,
united in all of the persons andall of the parts of who you are
(16:34):
, and you take that strength,all of it, into your next role,
elevate your work, empower yourlife, work harder, live stronger
.
You've got this Until next week.
This is Be Weigh saying bemindful and be well.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
Thank you for listening to Mindful in 5.
If you enjoyed it, share itwith a friend, follow and rate
it on your favorite podcastplatform.
Pick up your signed copy of thebook and journal from
spewayjeffersoncom, or unsignedcopies from Amazon, Barnes,
Noble or wherever you get yourbooks.
Visit spewayjeffersoncom todownload sample chapters of the
(17:19):
book, watch videos and become amindful ninja.
Join us on the LinkedIn Mindfulin 5 group and share your
thoughts.
Until next time, be mindful andbe well.
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