Wednesday is Miracle Awareness for the Unemployed

“The world is full
of wonders and miracles
but man takes his little hand
and covers his eyes
and sees nothing.”
Israel Baal Shem

Stand-up and put you hand over your closed eyes. What do you see? Nothing but darkness!

This is the way we live our lives. Focusing on the things we feel are not working out. Trying desperately to find a job.

Quietly in the background miracles are happening all around us. Did you receive a call from a recruiter or see an interesting article to help you with your search, etc. These different opportunities are miracles showing up in our lives.

Let’s take a step back and become aware of the miracles in our lives. This is not an easy task. Below are some small steps you can take:

• Every hour during the day stop and ask yourself, “What miracle happened in the last hour?” By focusing on the positive happenings you will change your attitude and feel more alive.
• Write the miracles down on a piece of paper. Writing these different situations down makes them real.
• At the end of the day read your miracles out loud in front of a mirror. Saying them helps you realize what is happening around you.

Let’s add Wednesday to our little game.

• Monday was Smile Day. We smiled and had eye contact with the different people we met in the coffee shop.
• Tuesday is Dancing Day. We blasted our music and danced around the house.
• Wednesday is a day for Miracle Awareness. During the day we will look for miracles, write them down and say them out loud.

Have fun looking for miracles!

Until Tomorrow,

Helen

P.S. Please let the Love Yourself – It Maters Community know what experiences are occurring. I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Helen

Dancing for the Unemployed

“If you can walk
You can dance.
If you can talk
You can sing.”
Zimbabwean Proverb

Okay, is everyone ready to have a little fun?

Here we go:
• Blast music from your iPOD or radio, etc.
• Put that smile on your face.
• Dance around your house.

No excuses, just let yourself go and have a good time!

Is your energy pumping and do you feel alive?

Now it is time to take some water and relax.

Every once and awhile we need to just have fun. Everyday is filled with looking for a job or just sitting around and worrying. You deserve time off to forget for a short time and have some fun.

In January of 2008, my husband had a massive heart attack and past away. At first I was in denial and waiting for him to come home from a business trip. As time went on realization set in and I felt guilty when having a good time.

One day writing on my blog, I realized I was hurting myself by feeling guilty about having a good time. What would be accomplished?

With this realization I put on some music and started to dance around the house. Instantly, I felt better and started to view life in a different way.

Even though your circumstances are different it is up to you to change your thinking. We are human beings and have a special gift to instantly change our behaviors.

Let's start by taking small steps

Remember...Monday was Smile Day. What experiences did you have while smiling and having contact with different people you met?

Tuesday is Dance Day. Your job is to spend time dancing today and having fun.

Let’s make a promise to each other we will take time each day to lighten our world by practicing smiling on Monday and dancing on Tuesday.

I am look forward to hearing about your new attitude that emerged while you were dancing around your house.

Helen

Tips for the Unemployed

“Perhaps the most valuable result
of all education is the ability
to make yourself
do the thing you have to do,
when it ought to be done,
whether you like it or not.”
Walter Bagehot

I hear a lot of screaming in the background and everyone is shouting, “There has to be a better way!!” All of us on the unemployed journey are taking all the steps to find a new job and things are very slow.

What is a person to do? You feel frustrated, tired of trying new and old suggestions and not making any headway.

Okay, it is time to STOP and close your eyes for a few seconds. Think about sitting on the beach, or under a tree, the sun is bright, warm and you don’t have a worry in the world. You can stop worrying for a few minutes your worries won’t disappear.

Just relax and let the feelings of contentment flow through your body.

After awhile open your eyes and put that smile on your face.

Feeling relaxed, what small steps are you going to take today?

Below are some small simple steps you can take today to move forward in your search for finding that new and exciting job.

• Review your notes from yesterday and plan your new steps for today. Once you put your plan into perspective things will not feel overwhelming.
• Go out and buy a cup of coffee or tea. Going outside, breathing the air and seeing other people, you feel part of a community.
• Start implementing your planned action steps for the day. Thinking you are making a difference will make things easier.
• Take a break to eat lunch. Keeping yourself nourished with healthy food gives you energy.
• Finish your action steps for the day. Completing your daily plan gives you a sense of satisfaction.
• Go for a short walk and just relax.

Remember…everyday is a new day and opportunities are surfacing all the time.

Please let us know how you are progressing or what challenges you are experiencing. The Love Yourself – It Matters Community is the support system you are craving.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Helen

Happy Moments for the Unemployed

“If you want to be happy,
set yourself a goal
that commands your thoughts,
liberates your energy,
and inspires your hopes.
Happiness is with you.
It comes from doing some certain thing
into which you can put
all your thought and energy.
If you want to be happy,
get enthusiastic about something.”
Dale Carnegie

Being unemployed gives us the chance to stop and think about the times in our life when we were really happy. Don't feel guilty about taking this time to think about those happy moments it will give you energy and enthusiam regarding something.

Let’s play a little game!

Take the following steps:
• Close your eyes, take 5 deep breaths, relax and think of a time in your life when you were really happy. Was it when you were a child, young adult or just recently?
• Reminisce about that time. What were you doing? Who were you with? What made you happy?
• Relax and enjoy that experience.
• Think about how you can recapture that time again. Do you have to plan a party? Call that special friend? Take time alone and go to the beach or mountains? What would make that experience a reality again?
• Open your eyes at the count of 5.
• Take a big stretch and relax for a few seconds.

How are you feeling? I hope relaxed and ready to take action.

Remember we can never recapture the same experience again. What we can do is create a new experience that will make us happy.

You are the creator of your happiness. Go for it!!!

After completing the exercise above, please share with the Love Yourself – It Matters Community your thoughts. What made you happy? What plans are you making to recapture your new happy moment?

I am looking forward to hearing from you and together we can bring a little happiness into our day.

Helen

Help for the Unemployed

“Remember, if you ever need a helping hand,
you’ll find one at the end of your arm…”
Audrey Hepburn

It is so easy to forget the most powerful person you have supporting you while on the unemployed journey is YOURSELF. We are constantly looking for others to help. Even though there are others who encourage us, when you come down to the basic truth we are the ones who daily reassure ourselves to continue on the path.

Reassuring yourself can be a difficult task when things are quiet and you have exhausted all your ideas. The important thing to remember while traveling on this journey you will have ups and downs. Some days will be very active with interviews, networking, contacting different leads, etc. and others will be slow.

When you are busy the energy is flowing and hope is running through your veins. On the slow days you have to work extra hard to keep your emotional well being in check.

During the quiet days you can look at them as a special gift instead of losing faith and starting to worry. I know it is hard to turn the feelings around.

Some easy steps you can take are below:
• List all the things that made you happy the last few days. Example: Taking the kids to the park, watching them laugh and have fun.
• Review your successes over the last few weeks. Example: Met two new members at the Networking Event last week and we are having coffee tomorrow.
• Take one small step today that you never tried. Example: Research one of the companies you would like to work for and call to schedule an informational interview. This type of interview is to speak with someone in the same field you are pursuing to see how they got started and if they can offer any advice. Remember people love to talk about themselves.

You are never alone you have yourself and others who love and care about you.

One of the simplest ways of receiving support is to leave a comment on the Love Yourself – It Matters Blog. We are all on this journey together.

I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Helen

Daily Steps for the Unemployed

“You don’t make progress by
standing on the sidelines,
whimpering and complaining.
You make progress by
implementing ideas.”
Shirley Chisholm

When waking in the morning do you just want to stay in bed and pull the covers over your head? You are not alone, welcome to the world of the temporarily unemployed.

I know you don’t want to be a member of this group. Neither does anyone else.

It just dawned on me we are only temporarily unemployed and this period of time will not last forever. Doesn’t that feel better?

Okay, today is a new day and we are on the move.

The important thing to remember as Shirley Chisholm says, “You don’t make progress by
standing on the sidelines, whimpering and complaining. You make progress by implementing ideas.”

I am your Fairy God Mother and give you 10 minutes to whimper and complain. The time is clicking away…Okay time is up and now into ACTION.

What are your next steps? Everyone is at a different place, some are in the process of creating a dynamic resume, researching companies, etc. and others have these steps perfected and working on different ideas.

What is your next step?

Following are some very simple steps you can implement:
• Make yourself a cup of coffee or tea. Simply relax and enjoy the taste, smell and warmth of the drink. Taking time to forget for awhile what is happening around you gives you the strength to continue.
• Think of how you are going to reward yourself when done working today. Examples: Take a long walk or run, call a friend and have a good laugh, etc. Giving yourself an incentive gives you the mindset to continue working.
• Outline what steps you are going to implement today. It is important to include a timeframe for each action step. Be realistic about what you can accomplish in a day. Having a plan to follow gives you a structure to put into action.
• Start with the easiest step on the list. Then continue picking steps until you are finished for the day. Picking an easy step gives you the self-confidence to get started.
• Reward yourself for who you are and taking the action steps to reach your goal. What are you going to do nice for yourself? Pick one of the items listed in the 2nd step.

Now it is Your Turn
Please share with the Love Yourself – It Matters Community what ideas and thoughts you had after reading today’s article. I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Have a beautiful and successful day!

Helen

Benefits of Temporary Jobs

“The glory is not in never failing,
but in rising every time you fail.”
Chinese Proverb

Have you ever thought of applying for temporary jobs while looking for a permanent job?

A temp job gives you new experiences and can lead to a permanent job. They teach you new job functions or maybe a computer program. Suddenly, you have hands on experience and can add it to your resume.

The most important thing to remember is to continue looking for other work. It may be easy to stop looking while in a temporary job. The problem being once you lose your momentum it is hard to start up again. Continue your job search during the evenings and weekends.

Even though the position is temporary your performance does matter. If you do an excellent job and prove yourself it can open other doors or lead to a permanent position.

Please share your thoughts about temporary work and your experiences. Keeping communication going it will give each and everyone of us new ideas and support. I look forward to hearing from you.

Helen

Recognizing Your Special Talents While Unemployed

“Use what talents you possess;
the woods would be very silent
if no birds sang except those
that sang best.”
Henry Van Dyke

Even though you lost your job, remember you are still the same person. Nothing can take away your special gifts.

Stand-up and take a bow acknowledging the beautiful person you have become and your special gifts!

You might say I don’t have any special gifts. Hold on there, we all have them.

Let’s focus for a minute what comes easy to you. Do you have a beautiful smile, people feel comfortable being with you, great sense of humor, or are you a math wiz, etc.?

Feeling better?

Let’s do a little experiment today. During the day write down what makes you a beautiful person. No need to share the list.

For some of us who had trouble thinking what people like about me. Try this simple exercise:
• Think about a close friend and what you like about that them.
• Write these traits down.
• Ask yourself this question “Do I also have some of these qualities?”
• Now list your special gifts.

Once you have created a list review it in the morning and evening. Pick one special gift you possess and practice it three times that day. As the days go, add another special gift each day and in time you will be practicing all your gifts each day.

Remember what Henry Van Dyke said, “Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best.”

Go play full-out and enjoy the beautiful person you have become!

Please share your feelings after reading this article. The Love Yourself – It Matters Community is here to be your support system. I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Helen

Finding Your Inner Strength While Being Unemployed

"Our greatest glory
is not in never falling,
but in rising
every time we fall."
Confucius

Being unemployed, we are constantly being tested to see our true strength and creativity during this fall.

Thank you, Universe for this beautiful gift!

Just want to throw a little thought out there, we usually bounce back in all situations one way or another. Being unemployed, we still possess this under lying strength to find solutions for the problem we are facing. Sometimes it takes longer than others times to see, understand and put into action a solution.

Jack was riding high, had a great job and loving family. When he heard about anyone losing his job, his thought was, “I really feel sorry for so and so, but that could never happen to me.”

Jack went to work early everyday and stayed late. His work was always completed in a timely manner and everyone loved working with him.

Suddenly, times changed and the company he was working for merged with another firm. Jack still did not worry.

As the weeks and months past Jack kept seeing the writing on-the-wall that there would be lay-offs. No way would he be affected.

Three months later, Jack was called into a meeting. During the meeting, Jack heard words and could not comprehend the thought that he was being laid-off.

It took him months to finally understand what happened. Slowly, his under lying strength to find a solution kicked into gear. Jack joined the Circle of Inspiration for the Unemployed (www.circlesofinspiration.com), found support and creative action steps he could take to find a new job.

Jack’s perspective on life had changed. He is not in denial about what is happening around him and appreciates the little things in life.

Even though Jack is uncomfortable traveling on the journey of the unemployed, his life has changed and he started to feel comfortable with whom he has become.

Therefore, it is true what Confucius says, “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”

Now It Is Your Turn
Please share with the Love Yourself – It Matters Community what gifts you have received while traveling on the journey of the unemployed. Sharing together we can support each other and make this journey a little easier.

I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Helen

Keeping Yourself On Track While Looking for a Job

“The world is but canvas
to our imagination.”
Henry David Thoreau

Keeping yourself on track while looking for a job is the secret for succeeding.

Most people like structure in their lives. While working we had structure, getting up at a certain time, rushing around and leaving at the same moment each day. We are creatures of habit.

Now times have changed. We can look at this period as a time of hardship or wonder and excitement.

Hold on I have not lost my mind!

I know sometimes it is hard to motivate yourself each day. Let’s try something new and just for a second think this could be an exciting time. It will bring a smile to your face and you will have a new perspective.

As Henry David Thoreau said, “The world is but canvas to our imagination” you have the chance to think and create whatever you want.

Here are some simple steps we can take to start thinking in this new positive way:

• Follow the same routine each day. Putting structure in our lives gives us a sense of security.
• Create a list of jobs that would light your fire. Thinking about these different possibilities creates an energy that is exciting.
• Take time each day to relax. Taking time for ourselves reminds us that we are important.

Now It Is Your Turn!

Try the little experiment above and let the Love Yourself – It Matters Community know what happens.

We are all in this together and the best part is you are not alone. Giving yourself the opportunity to receive support is the greatest gift you can give yourself.

Helen