In 2002, as the country was still reeling from the tragic events of September 11, 2001, I was laid off from a television producing job in Manhattan. I was not remotely prepared to handle the layoff financially and it was a bit of a bumpy ride emotionally and spiritually.

That experience is what, six years later, helps define me as a life coach. I have weathered a financial crisis, no longer feel immune to tough times, and know what it means to reinvent myself. And so, when someone recently asked for my thoughts about what to do if you suddenly lose your job, I dug deep and came up with a list of 10 things that might serve as a bit of a survival guide. Here goes.

If you suddenly lose your job, I suggest you:

1. Stay calm and reasoned, which will serve you well as you network, explore your options and go on interviews. You may have a hard time hearing this or believing it, but people really can "smell" desperation.

2. Use the resources offered by unemployment, not just collecting the check but tapping into educational possibilities that exist there. I know someone who is likely going to be laid off in January and he is already planning to train for a career in heating and refrigeration by taking advantage of this option.

3. See this time as a gift, an opportunity you've been given to explore a new career path you've been thinking about. For those of you who have been wise with your money up to the point of actually getting your walking papers, this is a particularly viable option, as there are a broad spectrum of life and career coaches who are experts at seeing what you may not.

4. Stick with the gym and anything else you're already doing to stay healthy. It will help you work through stress and offset self-esteem issues that often come with losing one's professional identity. Seriously, I’m not suggesting you hold on to the gym membership if you can’t put food on the table for your family, but it shouldn’t be the first thing to get chopped from the budget either. I held on to mine for dear life and it proved essential in my rebuilding process.

5. Learn to receive. Yes, put pride aside and express immense, sincere gratitude when family and friends give you a much-needed hand. When I was unemployed, my brother sent me groceries via NetGrocer.com and my sister shared “castoffs” (fabulous frocks with the tags still on them) from her closet. And by all means, if you’re in a position to do this for someone else, do it!

6. Listen to people who tell you you’re good at something. My openness to hearing others’ suggestions helped facilitate both of my major career paths -- journalism and life coaching. Sometimes a random comment from someone who meets you or from a person who knows you well can lead to a great idea.

7. Allow yourself to go through the stages of grief and be real. Sometimes even the most well-intentioned people make comments that will drive you batty. If it bothers you that Aunt Joan, no matter how well meaning, keeps asking how many interviews you’ve been on, try a nice, but firm, “Thank you so much for your concern, but I’d love it if we could talk about something else. What are your holiday plans?”

8. Set your parameters about how far you’ll go to get a job and then stick by them. When I went to temp agencies (I even took a typing test at one and kicked butt), I was told that I was over-qualified and therefore they wouldn’t be calling me. However, a few suggested I “dumb” down my resume and try again. I was not willing to eradicate over 20 years of work experience, so I solicited editing projects by pounding the pavement and hanging flyers in my town instead. A bonus to this was getting to know my community better.

9. Summon the gumption to go out to dinner with friends and not split a check six ways when you had salmon and a glass of iced tea and everyone else had filet mignon and three cocktails each. If someone in your life has a problem with simple fairness, you might need to re-evaluate your social circle. (Sorry if that sounds harsh, but it’s true. Finding out who your true friends are is one of the best but toughest parts of this). People who care about you will be thrilled to be in your company, period.

10. Avoid constant references to the state of the economy being a hindrance to finding a job. No need to make that into a potential self-fulfilling prophecy. This one may sound like a throwaway to some, but spiritually it is right on. Like attracts like. Use positive language when talking about your options and be consistent.

My enduring bottom line: If you believe you’ll come through this a better person, you will. Good luck.

Nancy Colasurdo is a practicing life coach and freelance writer. Her Web site is www.nancola.com. Please direct all questions/comments to FOXGamePlan@gmail.com.