Just to let you know, readers, if you ever meet someone who is currently unemployed and looking for work – give them a hug. They deserve it. It doesn’t matter who they are – give them a hug anyway, and while you are at it, throw in an encouraging pat on the back.
Job hunting is insanely tough. The confusing medley of emotions – fear, frustration, anxiety – can pull you down faster than quicksand.
Usually, worry is the the ever present factor during a prolonged job hunt. When you are out of work, you worry about money. And, when you worry about money, you worry about what kinds of jobs you would take just so you can have some money.
You think about how much of a pay cut you could reasonably handle without becoming financially bankrupt (while ignoring the possibility of becoming emotionally and spiritually bankrupt as well).
Suddenly, you rationalize what kind of crap (i.e. extreme BS) you’d put up with just to maintain a job you know you would hate, the difficult personalities you’d force yourself to tolerate. Then, slowly, but surely, you get depressed.
That is because you really, really wish you weren’t in that kind of position to have to make those kinds of decisions.
And, without much forethought, you think you could convince the Forever 21 to hire you, despite being overqualified (or not having any retail experience at all).
It’s called sacrifice.
Sacrifice sucks. And, so does desperation.
People say life is about compromise. Most of the time, it’s more about sacrifice.
Compromise is the sugar coated we-don’t-really-want-to-say-it word for sacrifice. If you are giving up on one freedom (or happiness) for another – then you are certainly sacrificing something for the other.
Can a job hunter have her cake and eat it too, though?
Perhaps.
But right now, a lot of people I know are being served an overabundant helping of career sour grapes. No room for chocolate fudge cake here, folks.
Desperate times call for a complete break. Stop. Relax.Veer off course and recharge. Jumping headlong (or mellowing comfortably) into this desperation will cause you to cease maintaining a clear perspective.
Don’t become demoralized. If this happens, you begin to doubt who you really are and what you are actually capable of doing. Once you forget that, you head toward an emotional downward spiral.
You are least productive when this happens. And, you need to keep full steam ahead. So, how does one keep from forgetting about the proverbial “light” at the end of the tunnel?
Look forward to the possibility of more.
That’s the good part. The wonderful part. It’s your chocolate fudge cake. But you can only have it after you finish all that hard work first. It’s the anticipation that more is in store. Dare I say it?
Keep the faith.
This has nothing to do with what God or god you believe in (or none at all). It’s about that inner chutzpah. Believing that “It doesn’t rain everyday” (even when you think life has sent you the career version of Hurricane Katrina).
The more part only represents that you’re not satisfied and working towards getting more of what you want. Stick true to those principles. They won’t fail you.
How will you know when you are done with getting more? I don’t know. How do you know when you are happy? You just know. And who says that you should stop wanting more for yourself, from yourself?
This is the ultimate combatant to desperate frustration. In the meantime, remember these things:
- You are not doomed to remain unemployed
- You are talented, smart and bring a fresh perspective and thought process to everything you do.
- There is nothing wrong with working “to just get by”
- Being a loser is a mindset and not an actual station in life
- Remind yourself about where you have been and how far you have come
The Writerbabe Series 