“Sometimes it seems I’ve spent my life
trying to live up to others’ expectations of me,
and failing. I never thought much about pleasing myself.
That would have been “selfish.”
~ JoAnn Reed
Isn’t it ironic we spend most of our lives trying to please other people and never thinking about what would make us happy?
Then when we lose our job we blame ourselves and never take into consideration it could be a blessing in disguise. How many of us hated our job and always thought, “Only if I could find another job that I really loved?”
Now that we are traveling the unemployed journey we keep thinking our last job was the perfect job. We have a tendency to always turn our thinking around and put things we lost on a pedestal.
Let’s get real here for a moment and think about what you hated about your last job.
Here is your opportunity to start pleasing yourself, maybe for the first time in your life, and find a job that will make you happy.
This is not an easy task!
Some little steps you can take to start the process:
- Think back through the years about what made you happy. Examples: being with people, drawing, crafts, writing, science, etc.
- List these ideas on a piece of paper. Be honest this is for your eyes only.
- Rate them from 1 to 3. One being the least interesting and three brings a smile to your face.
- List all the number one ideas.
- Chose which one really makes you excited.
Once you have decided which one makes you energized it is time to explore your options.
For today think about your new found realization. Tomorrow is another day and we can explore your options.
Enjoy the happiness you are experiencing!
Share your uncovered passion with the Love Yourself – It Matters Community. Remember…we are all in this together. Let’s make this unemployment journey a time of learning and turning our lives around.
I am looking forward to hearing from you.
Helen
“Lots of people
want to ride with you
in the limo,
but what you want
is someone who will take the bus
with you
when the limo breaks down.”
~ Oprah Wifrey
Does this situation sound familiar, when you lost your job everyone was your friend for awhile and as time went on they slowly disappeared? Your true friends stayed along for the ride.
I had one friend who always said, “If you could count your friends on one hand you were very lucky.” We have remained friends for years.
Think back about your different friendships and what beautiful gifts you received.
We travel through many different phases in our lives. As a child you had many school and neighborhood friends and as your life changed new relationships were formed. Take a moment and think about the friends who supported you and you encouraged through the years. These are your true friends.
Reach out to an old friend you have not had contact with during the past three months.
It will give you the opportunity to relive old times and support each other.
One of my close friends I met when we were both pregnant with our daughters. Whenever we reach out to each other it seems like I spoke to her the day before. We reminisce about the days when we were young mothers and the different happenings in our lives.
It is a great feeling to know that someone really knows you and it will be okay to share whatever is happening in your life and they will understand.
Let’s made Saturday, Friendship Day.
Rules for our little game:
- Monday is Smile Day. Go to a local coffee shop, smile and have eye contact with the different people you meet.
- Tuesday is Dancing Day. Blast your music, dance around the house and have fun.
- Wednesday is Miracle Awareness Day. Look for miracles, write them down as they are happening and say them out loud.
- Thursday is Feeling Like a Winner Day. Constantly remind yourself during the day, you are a winner and repeat the affirmation, “I am a winner and the same person I have always been.”
- Friday is Acknowledging your Strengths Day. Put a smile on your face, call yourself on the phone and list your strengths. Also, leave a comment on the Love Yourself – It Matters Blog telling us all about your different strengths.
- Saturday is Friendship Day. Reach out to an old friend you have not had contact with during the past three months.
Continue playing the game and let the Love Yourself – It Matters Community know about your different experiences.
I am looking forward to hearing from you.
Helen
