I screwed up.

Before the incident happened, my mind was drowning in what I like to call “employment limbo.”

It’s the dreadful state of resenting your current place of employment, but being so comfortable there that you ultimately just stick around and develop that “I don’t give a duck” attitude.

Well, that attitude became an episode of “Dora the Explorer,” because before I knew it, I went on a little adventure of my own, pulled a “Swiper, no, swiping!” and reached destination: unemployment.

Now, I’m not writing this to rant about an experience I clearly know was wrong and my fault entirely, but to share what I learned from it and hopefully there are some pieces of gold in here that you can take along with you too.

First off, getting fired is like chewing on the Sour Patch Kid of life. Semi-sweet, but dreadfully sour.

Sweet because I was finally free and ready to start again. Sour because one may seem okay on the outside, but having no income is a really crappy situation.

Yes, I could have left in a more civil manner, but sometimes you have to fall flat on your face before you learn to get back up.

You have to accept that you are going to make bad decisions. You will suffer for it, but it’s not the end of the world—even though sometimes it may feel that way. You can find the blessings in the beast.

Second, you learn to trust your gut more. I had met some great people and made advancements at, let’s call it Company X.

However, I realized my choice of remaining there for as long as I did was holding me back from potentially doing greater things.

I felt I was made for something bigger, and this was life’s twisted way of saying, “Your time here is up, but I’ve got something else in store for you.”

Last but not least, no one can set limitations on yourself but you. When getting the axe, I remember being told, “Because of our high code of conduct, being fired from this company means you won’t get hired elsewhere.”

Okay, I understand your “terms and conditions,” but I know for a fact I have not been “excommunicated” from all employment opportunities.

At this point, it hit me that it wasn’t up to them, but it was all me. I was the only person that had the power over where I would go and how far life could take me. No one else.

So, yes, getting fired is not pleasant, but like all things in life, it can lead you to new opportunities.

Sure, they may seem limited now, but keep in mind sometimes the wrong choices bring us to the right places.