Do What You Love...

During a time of transition, it is important to be gentle with yourself.  Allow yourself some time to wallow.  Not a lot, but some.  Transition, especially when it is due to circumstances beyond your control, can be really difficult.  It can be positive, interesting, exciting and appealing, but it is always challenging. 

Doing something that you love, perhaps for no reason other than that you love it, is really important to your mental health.  It will help you to be optimistic and inspired. 

When you're working, your paycheck and the perks that come along with your position contribute to your feeling of value. They are a tangible illustration of your worth. When those perks and benefits go away, you can waver - what is your value with no tangible validation from a company?

My personal goal is to make a connection - a real connection - every day.  It can be helping someone carry groceries to their car, assisting a child that needs help, volunteer work, just chatting with someone who clearly needs someone to talk to...the opportunities are endless.

When I make that connection, and feel as though I have helped someone, it lifts my spirits. It takes me away from my worry and alleviates some of my stress.  I am still out of work, but the connection makes me feel useful.  I believe that part of my purpose is to make others feel valued.  Therefore, when I touch someone, and make them feel heard, I feel like I have achieved my purpose.

Only you know what makes you feel truly fulfilled.  For some it is keeping an immaculately clean house,  preparing nourishment for your family and friends, being a good steward of the earth  or crafting.  My cousin taught herself to crochet, and she does amazing things with her hook and her yarn.  While shopping recently, she gave one of her character hats to a small girl in a wheelchair.  She and the child's mother shared a few moments of unadulterated joy and thankfulness and my cousin has vowed to share her creations with children in need.  It made the child really happy, and it made my cousin feel WONDERFUL! 

When you make a concerted effort to reach out and impact the world around you, in whatever way is fulfilling to you - you make the world a better place.  And, in so doing, the world around you becomes brighter and more interesting.  This optimism - this hope - will help you move through this challenging time.  And, confirm for you, that "this too shall pass."

Jen Lancaster, one of my favorite writers, got her start as a writer when she was laid off 10 years ago.  She is snarky, hilarious, and an inspiration.  On today's "Chick Lit Isn't Dead" blog, she had this to say:

"DO live in the moment. I got my start as a writer when I was laid off ten years ago. In that time while I was searching for a job, I never once just enjoyed the moment. Granted it’s hard to unclench when the wolves are at the door, but I feel like if I’d ever stopped for one second and thought, “For the next couple of hours, I should quit worrying and just appreciate that I don’t have eleven bosses telling me what to do,” then I probably would have been a lot less intense in my job interviews. In retrospect, I am very happy with how it all turned out, but I wish I could have cut myself a small break now and again."

While looking for a new job, prioritizing bills and (some days) trying just to get out of bed in the morning, we can often forget this very important advice.  This time around, I am hoping to remember it and live it!

There are some really wonderful things about my career, and I have amazing people in my life because of where I have been.  But, there were also some really challenging days, and some times when there was a LOT of STRESS!  It is ok, during this journey, to take time out and just breathe.

I am a "list girl" so I take my calendar every Friday afternoon and I block out my "search time," my "free time" and my "project time" for the following week.  All those outstanding household projects that were regularly hanging over my head (kitchen cupboard purge, anyone?) and the hobbies that I haven't had time for are actually scheduled in.  Even exercise makes it onto the list.  Once you write it down, it's official!  That is not to say that things don't change, but the commitment is there.  I have found that if I have my job search hours scheduled before I give myself permission to do other things, I can relax and enjoy the positive aspects of this time; significantly reducing my anxiety level.  It feels REALLY good to check things off of my lists!

I am at the beginning of this journey, but I have taken a similar trip in the very recent past.  So, I know, this time, I am going to do it differently - more effectively and more efficiently - with MUCH LESS STRESS!  I am going to accomplish things outside my search, and in doing so, I am going to feel stronger and smarter when I go back to work.

And, I WILL go back to work.  I have that on my calendar, too - and out in the universe.  I am confident that the right job is out there waiting for me - and your job is out there, too.  Let yourself just "be" sometimes, and you will find your path.