3 Gifts to Give Yourself
Serenity Courage Wisdom
At this point in the holiday season, you have probably finished selecting and wrapping presents for others. Now is the time to think of yourself and what gifts you would like. I would like to recommend three things that job searchers should give themselves for Christmas. They are serenity, courage, and wisdom. These gifts are inspired by a short prayer that is known as the prayer for alcoholics. Each word has power that can change the life of anyone who has experienced an unplanned job loss. By following the advice in this prayer you can change your life for the better.
SERENITY to accept the things that cannot be changed—Many people who have experienced an unexpected separation from their job have trouble moving on. They hang on to what could have been by bargaining, denial and wishing that they could go back. However, by refusing to go forward they run the risk of suffering from many health issues including high blood pressure and frequent headaches. They find changes in sleeping and eating habits. These and other ill effects can appear for up to two years after starting a new job. As humans, we find change difficult. Losing a job is a huge change. There is no longer a place to go every day; no more interacting with colleagues, superiors, customers, vendors and others; loss of self-esteem and self-confidence are difficult to accept. Once you have given yourself serenity, you will find things will go much easier for you. Serenity to be able to leave what should be left in the past and the serenity to know that the future is yours.
COURAGE to change the things I can—With job loss comes new opportunities. Many people fail to see the bright new future that awaits them when they wallow in the numerous losses they feel. In talking to several people who have been laid off, I find they didn’t really like the job, the people they worked with, the commute, or numerous other details. Here is a perfect chance to find something you will enjoy, meet new people, change your commute, use skills you love or that are new and do something that really interests you. No longer do you have to do a job that you have trained to do; you can explore new challenges in many different directions. With a little training you can be in a different career—one that feeds your passion. This takes courage. It isn’t easy to make changes toward a goal that is new and unknown and to proceed toward a future that will reveal itself as you inch along.
WISDOM to know the difference—There is a vast discrepancy between what you can change and what you can’t. One thing that can’t be changed is that going back to lost jobs because those jobs are gone and are not going to be coming back. Many of the jobs that have been lost in the last couple years have gone to other countries. Others were eliminated when companies folded. Whatever the reason, there are very few jobs that are resurrected. Take the memories and skills and move on. Leaving that job in the past is a decision that has to be made and accomplished. (There are a variety ways to do this. The Job Loss Recovery Program by Lynn Johnson, Ph.D. is an ideal way.)
Your attitude is a great way to begin the change. Give yourself the gift of looking at your job loss as an opportunity to reinvent yourself.; a chance to do what you love and enjoy; to do what you have always wanted to do but couldn’t because you did the job someone else wanted you to do. Now is your time to be what you have always wanted to be. The opportunities are as endless as your dreams. All you have to do is do it. It may take some additional training, but you have the time without giving up your secure job with benefits. You need wisdom to take what you have accomplished and turn it into something that makes you happy to go to work every day.
This holiday season is your chance to become who you want to be. Take some time to think about what you really want in a new job. Find out what it will take to get it and go for it. You have it within you; all you have to do is give yourself the serenity, the courage and the wisdom to do it.
Arleen Bradley is a certified career coach and certified job loss recovery coach assisting clients to go beyond job loss grief to land dream jobs. www.arleenbradley.com.
