Why People Cope with Life Events So Differently Written by Simone M. Scully on February 5, 2021 — Fact checked by Jennifer Chesak Overcoming obstacles in the past helps you better cope in the present. Manuel De Los Reyes Rubio / EyeEm / Getty Images Last June, I lost my full-time job in a large-scale pandemic layoff. I was surprised I didn’t cry while getting the news over a video call. Instead, I had a fierce desire to “do something.” Once I was off the phone and told my family, I disappeared upstairs to start figuring out my next step. Over the next few months, I took comfort in applying to jobs, writing cover letters, and doing freelance jobs — it made me feel like I was working toward something.