Positivity in the Face of Adversity

For so long things had been going so well economically.  There was cheap credit, booming property prices and tremendous jobs growth.  Now, all is changed utterly.  We’ve had the credit crunch, the failure of the banking system and long dole queues.  We have gone from boom to burst and it has affected us all.   It’s like we were sold a false vision of what’s important, and in the process became blinded to what really counts.  We now have a chance to look with new eyes at our lives and what we’re about.  There is more than physical blindness.  There is blindness that comes from self-obsession and a false vision.  We now have the chance to reflect on our values and on what is important to us.  How clear is our vision? 

We must bear in mind though, that all this negative news can get over-emphasised by the media. Fear can act as a means of persuasion. Are you allowing the media persuade you into a doom and gloom mindset? 

We can indeed feel helpless, negative and lethargic, sometimes, even frustrated and resentful by the situations we find ourselves in.  We can live in fear which is determined by circumstances we perceive as beyond our control.  The opposite of powerlessness however is being in control.  An ability to tackle the situation head-on.   It is a calm conviction about who we are and our ability to deal positively with our current situation with success.  Why not begin today, Begin by asking yourself the following three questions:-

1.    Have I got my health this morning that I can get out of bed and live?

2.    What can I do to help others less well off today?

3.    What am I most grateful for in my life?

Those few queries to yourself will help you realise there is more reason to be optimistic than you previously considered.  Why not begin today to become more aware of your blessings.  Instead of remaining in a negative mindset, why not change the mindset to living with joy and positivity. 

Socio Economic shifts have been known to affect health so therefore, it is imperative on each one of us to look after our thought processes thus looking after our health.  We should celebrate the good things which are very often the simple things we have in our lives.

People who did not “buy into” the Celtic Tiger will cope with recessionary times.  They are more aware of aspects of life that have great meaning.

For a personal consultation or if you feel you could benefit from some guidelines on working on the positives in your life, why not give Nuala, Qualified Life and Business Coach a call to arrange a consultation.

Dips.  Life and Business Coaching and Train the Trainer, FETAC Level 6 

Tel. 087  2532675

or info@nualaduignanlifecoach.com

View web site at:

www.nualaduignanlifecoach.com

Regain Control and Balance in Life

I'm writing this as every news channel is forecasting “doom and gloom” for the economy, not just in this little country of ours, but world wide. You can however manage to “switch out” by recalling nice memories, and simply enjoying a deep breath, always realising that when things seem hopeless there is always chance for optimism and opportunity. When situations seem impossible things can become possible.

It has become an almost iconic sign of our times – the dreaded stress word, yet it is still an epidemic that nobody seems to know that much about. Many people appear to be suffering from it, yet nobody knows exactly what causes it, or why. There is, as yet no magic pill we can pop to make it go away! The general consensus, however, is that it is our body’s non-specific reaction to the demands put on it. Stress seems to affect everyone in different ways – from tension headaches to spot outbreaks of the common cold. So, what can we do about it? This is where the assistance of a Life Coach can benefit you.

What does Life Coaching do?

Life Coaching offers you that time, space and encouragement to focus on yourself, what your difficulties really are, and what you would like to achieve. This process facilitates the possibility of real change in your life.

A Life Coach does not provide the answers, as only you know what changes you need to make. However, coaching encourages you to figure things out for yourself with a view to leaving the past behind and moving towards a more fulfilled future.

What is important to remember is that you set the agenda, not the Coach. This is about your life.

Are there aspects of your life about which you feel you have no choice?

Do you know what is really important to you?

Are you looking over your shoulder all the time at the negative things that happened to you in the past?

Is your happiness something that is going to happen when you achieve this or that or when you retire?

Do you worry a lot about tomorrow, next week or next year?

• Life Coaching is a one-on-one interactive relationship based upon confidentiality and mutual respect where the Coach is a skilled listener hearing all that is said but also that which is unsaid.
  
  
• Your Life Coach prompts you to focus on real issues you may be having and encourages understanding and self awareness.
  
  
• Life Coaching is an ongoing process based upon open communication and it is a means of exploring choices and gaining new perspectives in a safe environment.
  

The reasons for life coaching are the ones bouncing around in your head at this very moment. The question though now, is:- “are you ready for the rewards that come with taking the game of life to the next level?”

Life Coaching is about choosing your goals and taking the necessary route to achieving them.

Nuala Duignan is a Professional Life Coach.

Diplomas in Life and Business Coaching and Train the Trainer, FETAC Level 6

Tel. 087 2532675 or e.mail

info@nualaduignanlifecaoch.com

www.nualaduignanlifecoach.com

Whose Recession Is It Anyway? part v - What Has Happened?

I’m hoping you can help me solve a mystery that’s been occupying my mind lately. I’ve been wondering what is happening to all the people who are losing their jobs?

So far 115,000 people have lost their job in Ireland this year. We are told half a million of us could be unemployed by Christmas. That’s over six Croke Park’s full of people, or more than three times the entire population of County Meath, looking for a job. That’s a massive amount of people. How come we never near from them?

I’m not being flippant; I just find it strange that so many people have lost their jobs without even a murmur of what’s happened to them all.

We’re told the 1980’s were bad. Indeed they were; our young people left in droves to find work in Britain, America, Canada and Australia. I remember the ‘send off’ parties which were a strange mixture of fund raising, bon voyage and tears. Well if things were bad then, they are far worse now.

1985 was the worst year for job losses in those bad old days; 24,000 people lost their job in the 12 months of that year. By contrast 36,500 people lost their job in the single month of January 2009 alone. I was one of them.

For those who lost your job in January, your ten month anniversary has just passed. Almost a year on the dole folks, hard to believe isn’t it? Should I be offering congratulations or commiserations?

Back to my question then, ‘What has happened to all those people?’ Have they found jobs? Have they gone to Australia or Canada, or some other place where things aren’t so bad? Have they just settled for unemployment, accepted their lot so to speak? Are they just marking time until their redundancy cheques run out? Is the dole enough to live on? Are they happily sunning themselves (between the showers) in their back gardens? Are they bored and depressed and devoid of hope? Or are they working away on the black market, pulling in nixers and living the life of Reilly? What about the migrant workers, have they gone back to Poland, Lithuania or Latvia? What has happened to everyone?

This recession and the consequent huge number of job losses is arguably the biggest social catastrophe to hit Ireland since the famine; yet we know almost nothing about what is happening to the people most affected by it. I think it’s amazing that hundreds of thousands of our population could be thrown out of their job and then just disappear. No-one seems to be protesting, there’s been no Jarrow style marches, no picketing of TDs’ offices; nothing seems to have happened.

I set up The Job Seekers Union to give a voice to unemployed people. I wanted to create local job clubs to help job seekers support each other, to come together to generate work perhaps on a co-operative basis. I expected to be flooded with applicants; it’s free to join after all. I have to say, I’ve been surprised at the lack of interest. It makes me wonder, have the unemployed found a contentment that the rest of the population doesn’t know about? They have after all, been christened the ‘Fun-employed.’ Could it really be true; is it fun to be unemployed? Somehow I don’t think so; certainly not if my experience is anything to go by.

Maybe we’ve all lost our tongues? Perhaps we’re ashamed or embarrassed to speak out? Maybe that stigma of being without a job still holds true? Whatever it is; it’s still amazing that such a huge percentage of our population could suffer something as profound as losing their job, yet we know so little about what has happened to them.

According to Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, “You take my life when you do take the means whereby I live.” Is that true? Is losing your job a disaster?

County Meath has been particularly badly hit by unemployment. The commuter belt has gone a bit quiet this year; you only have to drive to Dublin on the N2 or N3 in the rush hour to see the impact of the recession. More than 10,000 people are signing on in Meath. We’d like to hear their stories. Tell us what it’s been like for you.

Write to David Jones. You can email me at david@thejobseekersunion.com.

Copyright © David Jones 2009

Part five of a five part series. For previous installments check the archive pages on The Job Seekers Blog. 

Dealing With Unemployment

As many of this week’s readers are aware, losing your job will be one of the most traumatic things that will happen you in life.

When you first get the news that you’re losing your job, you might break down and become overwhelmed with emotion.  It’s as though the news is just too much to bear.  Coming to terms with the reality of unemployment can indeed be a painful experience.  For anyone who has invested time and energy in their work-life and education, losing their job or being unable to secure one after you have completed your second or third level education is devastating. 

You may go numb for a while.  That’s because the body has a natural defense mechanism to protect itself from the shock.  It temporarily “shuts down” to give you time to adjust.  Following on from that shock, you can decide to use this as an opportunity to follow a dream you’ve had for many years and set the steps in motion towards reaching that goal.  You may decide to become involved in areas like volunteering (become aware of the many ways you can make a valuable contribution within your community and further a-field) or working on becoming an entrepreneur.

It is the attitude you adopt that will be the deciding factor for your progress from here.  This attitude can be developed and strengthened over time.  You must re-build and maintain positive self-belief.  In the case of job searching it will help to:

·       Gain a new job competence by up-skilling.

·       Do not run away from challenging roles that may come your way.   If a particular job appears to be beyond your talent and you are tempted not to apply, stretch yourself beyond your “comfort zone” and face it.  It will only give you an impetus to try harder next time. 

·       A specialty is very important, find your “centre of excellence” and be able to convey this clearly to prospective employers.  Acknowledge your own talents and goals.

·       Set realistic goals and targets for yourself, you will need focus and direction to drive forward. 

Still Reason to be cheerful following Redundancy

·       Be thankful for your health each day, enjoy it, it’s precious.

·       There’s real value out there now, go after it and use it.

·       This new opportunity can be the fulfilling of that dream you’ve always had.

Instead of asking yourself “why should I keep going?” ask yourself “why should I not keep going”?  It is in realizing that you are greater than your current situation or your current reality that you begin creating change and forward movement in your life.

Following on from this adjustment, it’s time to look to the future.  You will be successful with the right attitude.  Why journey alone? Call now for the assistance of a Life Coach and you will have the support you need to get started.

Nuala Duignan,

Dip. Professional Business and Life Coaching

Dip. Train the Trainer, FETAC, Level 6.

Tel. 087  2532675

View Testimonial page on

www.nualaduignanlifecoach.com

Whose Recession Is It Anyway? part iv - Dealing With Rejection

If you’re a job hunter and you’re doing your job properly, then you’re going to get a lot of rejections when you apply for jobs.

In today’s economic climate, getting rejected is far more likely than being accepted. It is not unusual for people to apply for hundreds of jobs before they achieve any success. So getting used to rejection, and not allowing it to dampen your hopes, is an essential pre-requisite to successful job hunting.

Rejection letters are an inevitable part of looking for a job. They are proof that you are active; so try to look upon them as a positive sign that you are doing something. Remember, the only people who don’t get rejection letters are those sitting on their backsides and doing nothing to look for a job.

Rejection comes in two ways. The nicest way is you get a letter thanking you for your application, but explaining you’ve been unsuccessful; at least this is an acknowledgement that your application was received.
The worst rejection is no response, and sadly that is becoming more and more common. In the main it’s not that employers can’t be bothered to reply to applicants, it’s just they can’t cope with the volume of applications they are getting these days. So don’t be upset if you don’t hear anything, just see it as a consequence of the times we are living in.

When you are looking for a job in today’s climate, it’s really important to stay optimistic. Don’t give up, even if you don’t seem to be getting anywhere. It’s not a reflection of you if all you seem to be getting is refusals; it’s simply the lack of vacancies and the volume of applicants chasing the few that are out there.

Hunting for a job is a little like selling a new product into a new market. Sales people tend to work on a 10% model. They expect to have to contact 100 prospective customers in order to get 10 appointments; and then they have to attend 10 appointments in order to get one successful sale.

Adapting this model to the job hunting environment means you might have to apply for 100 jobs in order to get 10 interviews; and you’ll have to attend 10 interviews in order to get the job you’re looking for.

So as you can see, not only is it going to be hard work, but most of it is going to be un-productive. Ninety-nine per cent of what you do will yield no tangible result. Almost all your hard work will fall on stony ground; it’ll seem like a waste of time.

That’s not the case though if you think about it positively. Try to keep in mind that every rejection, and every failed interview, is actually a step nearer eventual success. You’ve got to fail ninety-nine times in order to succeed once; that’s a fact of life for most job hunters.

So start seeing rejections and failures as mile stones towards your goal of getting a new job. The more rejections you notch up, the closer you are to success.

Don’t take rejections personally. They are not a reflection of your ability or capability. They do not signify that you are useless or unemployable. They don’t mean your CV is no good, or you performed badly in an interview. They are simply the result of the numbers game.

Getting a rejection letter, or getting no response to a job application, has no deep significance or profound meaning; so don’t let it get you down. Shrug off the rejections; say to yourself, “They obviously weren’t meant to be. There’s something better out there waiting for me; I’ve just got to keep looking until I find it.”

Abraham Lincoln put it this way, “Success is going from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm.”
There are jobs out there. They may be few and far between, but they are there and you will get one if you keep looking. It’s just a matter of time and effort. Remember success really is nine-tenths perspiration.

Sometimes the wisest words are the oldest ones – If at first you don’t succeed; try, try and try again. If you get rejected, pick yourself up, dust yourself down, and start all over again.

Copyright © David Jones 2009

Part four of a five part series. The fifth and final instalment asks the question - 'What has happened to the people who have lost their jobs?'

New Website Lets You 'Judge The Job'

Launching November, 2009

- judge your job past or present, let everyone know what it's like on the inside.

Judgethejob.com is a community site that allows you to openly and constructively review experiences of working with a particular company, anonymously and free of charge.

They provide you with the tools to make better informed decisions about your career. As part of the community you’ll be able to anonymously find out from other employees, exactly what it’s like to work at another company.

For example, how do employees rate their senior management or the training or benefits, or pay? And would they recommend the company to their friends?

Free to access

The principal behind judgethejob is ‘give to receive’. By submitting your review you’ll immediately receive 12 months free access to the site. Allowing you to:

• Read all company reviews, as posted anonymously by others
• Receive unbiased and expert advice in our forums
• Hear about relevant vacancies
• Receive tailored career recommendations

Due to launch in November 2009, visit www.judgethejob.com for more information and the chance to win £50 worth of high street vouchers. Just in time for Christmas.

Whose Recession Is It Anyway? part iii - Getting a job in today’s recessionary times

Getting a job in today’s recessionary times isn’t easy. There are fewer vacancies around then there were in the boom times, but that doesn’t mean there are none. Some companies have closed down, but most are still in business. Many are still hiring staff, although they may not be advertising. That’s because they don’t have to as candidates are sending CVs to them.

Looking for a job is a job in itself – if you want a job, you must be prepared to work hard at finding one. Remember a dictionary is the only place where success comes before work.

If you want a job, you are going to have to approach finding one in a dedicated and diligent way. You’ve got to be highly motivated, focused and determined. Nothing less than hard graft and total commitment will suffice. Success will only come to those who really want it; and those who really want it are going to have to work hard if they are going to get it.

You need to approach job hunting as a project in itself; and like all projects you need to prepare a project plan.

Your project plan to find a new job needs to include the following:

• Preparing your CV
• Registering your details with recruitment websites and recruitment agencies
• Regularly visiting your local FAS office to review vacancies
• Regularly reviewing the local and national newspaper for vacancies
• Giving out your CV to local businesses
• Keeping a Job Hunters journal
• Keeping yourself busy whilst you are looking for a job

This is a tough assignment. You’re going to have to do things you’ve never done before. You’re going to have to be patient and accept that it will probably take time before you achieve success. You’re going to need a lot of self-determination and a strong will to succeed.

The only person you can rely on is yourself; only you can get you that job. You’re going to have to be your own supervisor, secretary, telephonist, filing clerk. You’re going to have to teach yourself to do things you haven’t done before. If you’re not computer literate, you’re going to have to learn to be.

If you approach this project with the right attitude, you will succeed. It’s just a matter of time and effort. Your efforts, if they are applied consistently, will get you a job. It’s a numbers game; the more you try, the more likely you are to succeed; it’s as simple as that.

So get your finger out, start working, put in the effort, and before you know it you’ll be back to work.

It is important to change your mindset away from being unemployed. You’re no longer unemployed or jobless; you’re job hunting.

When you meet people and they ask you, “What are you doing?” Tell them you are looking for a job. It’s far more positive than saying I’m unemployed.

Don’t just think of the impact your answer will have on other people, think of the effect it has on you. The sympathy that comes from answering “I’m unemployed,” is likely to depress you; whereas the encouragement that follows you saying “I’m job hunting,” is far more likely to motivate you and lift your spirits.

‘Unemployed’ is a poor-me kind of label to labour under; a hopeless, stagnant situation that sounds unlikely to ever change. ‘Job hunter,’ on the other hand, is a dynamic, action-man state of affairs that says I’m going to make things happen by doing something.

Being unemployed has negative connotations; it’s static, inactive and going nowhere. Being a job hunter on the other hand is positive; it’s active. Jobs are unlikely to come falling from the sky and land in your lap if you’re just sitting there waiting for something to happen; they’re far more likely to arrive at your door though, if you go out looking for them.

If you are receiving unemployment benefits, think of them as your wages whilst you are job hunting. Getting paid to look for another job is far more positive than surviving on subsistence.

Try to keep in mind there are only three kinds of people: Those who make things happen, those who watch things happen; and those who wonder, what happened. What kind of person are you?

Copyright © David Jones 2009

Part three of a five part series. Part iv talks about 'dealing with rejection'.

The 7 Must Read SlideShare Presentations for Job Seekers

Here's a link I came across recently while going sorting through a backlog of unread e-mails. It's from SlideShare, 'the business media site for sharing presentations, documents and pdfs'. It's called The 7 Must Read SlideShare Presentations for Job Seekers. 

Before confining it to oblivion I thought I would share JSU members and blog readers. Click the link to view The 7 Must Read SlideShare Presentations for Job Seekers. 

The Role of Self-Confidence in Success

How we see ourselves is more important than how anyone else sees us.

If we don't work at loving and accepting ourselves, nothing anyone else thinks matters.

How To Build Self-Confidence

• There is no one else like you on this planet. No one looks like you, has the same talents, experiences or perspective as you do. You are unique and are therefore here to make your unique contribution. If we each focus on what we bring into the world to share, there can be no comparisons, envy or regret. We are here to "contribute a verse".
• Give it Your Best. When you do the best you can, with the best of what you've got, you can't help but feel good about yourself and that confidence comes through in everything that you do.  
• Persevere. Everybody has setbacks and obstacles to contend with. Don't let them undermine your confidence. Treat them as opportunities to strengthen your resolve and then persevere. 
• Overcome adversity. Overcoming adversity builds and strengthens self-confidence. The greatest songs, works of art and literary pieces have been written by those who have experienced the depths of despair, loss and emptiness and overcame them. Experiencing sadness and loss and then rising above them gives rise to hope and triumph. It makes you stretch and become more than you were.
• Accomplish something. Set goals for yourself and then push yourself to reach them. Self-confidence soars when you know you can do what you put your mind to. It makes you feel unstoppable.
• Separate Yourself From the Event. You are not what happens to you or how you believe others see you. In other words, you are not defined by what happens to you or how others see you. You are who you choose to be - a person of character, dignity and self-confidence.
• Confront your fears. There's nothing that destroys self-confidence more than succumbing to fear. Everyone feels fear at various times; we're human, however facing circumstances with courage and poise strengthens character and builds self-confidence.
• Good looks do not equal self-confidence. Some of the most attractive people in the world are insecure and lack self-confidence. Marilyn Monroe was considered to be one of the sexiest most beautiful people in the world yet she lacked a positive self-image. She misguidedly allowed external factors to determine her self worth. Good looks help you feel good about yourself, but are by no means enough. 
• Learn how to give yourself a pep talk. We all have our down moments, moments of doubt, confusion and uncertainty. When that happens we have to learn how to restore our self-confidence. One way is to understand that everyone goes through such moments. When that happens the thing to do is remember past successes, visualise the desired outcome and keep at it. Practice makes perfect.

Self-confidence is absolutely essential to achieving success in any endeavor. You acquire it by doing, learning, accomplishing and persisting.
 
If you watch successful people you will usually find that they are very self-confidant. Self-confidence may have come to these people on account of their success, but usually self-confidence is present in people before they become successful. Once they start working toward success, usually self-confidence and success run parallel, each fueling the other.

Being a confident person has many benefits not just in your personal life, but also in business. Whatever may be your ambitions, building up your self confidence to a certain level will play a major role in you achieving success and facing crises that come your way as you travel the path to success.

The best way to gain confidence is to allow your positive attitude to come forth. If you are swamped with negative thoughts, you will be hampering your chances of succeeding in business. When you think positively, it will give an impetus to your progress and you will be able to overcome difficult periods when success seems a distant dream.

While success and self-confidence are related, there is no guarantee that one will lead the other. Self-confidence does not equal egocentric people. These people display high levels of self-confidence together with arrogance. They feel they are masters and know everything there is to know about their trade. This often is mistaken for self-confidence and can hamper success. It is our ego that upholds our importance and will often get in the way of attracting our best life. It is therefore necessary that we reduce the importance of our ego. When you decide to reduce your ego (the part of you that is full of fight and always wanting to feel justified and be right) you begin to expand your self, your wisdom and the memory of your soul – who you are, in essence. The goal here is to bring those outer qualities to your world and refrain from constantly trying to massage your ego with affirmations of how important you are. If you can do this, you will produce changes in your life in a gentler, more low-impact way.

Though success and self-confidence exist in progressive harmony, if you work towards improving your confidence, your growing confidence will support you on each step as you work towards success. And as you get successful, your self-confidence will increase. As your self-confidence increases you will become like a magnetic in that people will desire to be in your company.

If you feel ready for help in boosting your self-confidence I am here to help.

Call Nuala Duignan, Dip, Business and Life Coaching if you feel like a little support towards your goals at: 087 2532675
or info@nualaduignanlifecoach.com

View my web page at:
www.nualaduignanlifecoach.com

Whose Recession Is It Anyway? part ii - Telling Family and Friends

I found it hard to accept it when I lost my job. I’d never been unemployed before. Telling family and friends was particularly hard. I felt like a failure.

You’d be amazed at the extent some people go to try to avoid people finding out they’ve lost their job. I answered a phone call at work once from a woman whose husband used to work in my office. He’d been let go about 6 weeks earlier. He hadn’t told anyone, not even his wife. She was phoning the office to tell her husband something important had happened to one of their children. Apparently he was leaving home every morning to go to work as usual, sandwiches and all. If the weather was good, he sat in the park until going home time. If it was raining, he went to the library. The poor woman got an awful shock when we had to explain to her that he didn’t work with us anymore. I have no idea what happened when he got home that night, but my heart went out to both of them.

People don’t want to tell the family because they’re ashamed. They feel a failure. They don’t want to burden them; they don’t want them to worry. The best advice is tell them immediately. They’ve a right to know. You losing your job will affect them almost as much as it affects you. They need to know the effect it’s going to have on them. They need to adjust their lifestyle, cut back. They need to spend less. They have a right to know.

Tell them you’ve lost your job. Tell them you are upset about this, but it’s not the end of the world. Explain things will need to be different. There will be less money, but you’re not going to starve or lose your house and nothing dreadful is going to happen. Reassure them that if you’re all sensible and adjust your spending then everything will work out ok.

Teenage children can find it particularly hard if their parent loses his or her job. They may be reluctant to tell their friend or social circle. Discuss this with them. Explain it isn’t a social stigma to lose your job anymore. Be understanding if they feel embarrassed or ashamed though. Don’t take it personally. They are at a vulnerable stage in their lives, blending in with the crowd and keeping up appearances are important to them.

If other members of the family are working, tell them they are the lucky ones and remind them how valuable jobs are these days. Don’t put pressure on them so they think they have to keep their job at all costs. Don’t prepare them for a guilt trip if they have the misfortune to lose their job in the future.

Coping with a problem on your own is far harder than sharing it with someone else. It may seem unfair to burden other people with your difficulties. Isn’t that what families are supposed to be all about?
‘A problem shared is a problem halved. There’s no problem so big, that it can’t be solved over a cup of tea.’

As for the neighbours, or other members of the golf club, or your mates in the pub? Tell them too. They’ll find out soon enough anyway. They’ll notice the change in your routine. Better to come out straight and tell them, than have them speculating about you behind your back.

Telling other people that you’ve lost your job is good therapy. It helps you get used to the idea and adjust to your new reality. Putting off the evil day just prolongs the agony.

You’d be surprised too how willing people are to help. In my opinion the Celtic Tiger destroyed one of Ireland’s traditional strengths - neighbourliness. Everyone has been so busy chasing the Tiger’s tail. The courtesies that Ireland was famous for have disappeared behind high wrought iron fences, security gates, CCTV and intercoms.

They say every cloud has a silver lining. Maybe this recession will give us back the Ireland that we once knew and loved. Some good must surely come out of all this doom and gloom.

Copyright © David Jones 2009

Second in a five part series. The next installment examines the hurdle of getting a job in today's recessionary times. 

The Secret of Looking Good and Feeling Great!

“The most attractive thing anyone can wear is a smile, something money can’t buy and shops don’t sell! Looking good comes as much from within, Confidence, happiness and joy, that inner beauty”.

Your Clothes Tell a Story...

Your clothes say so much about you. What you wear can tell people “I am confident,” “I am successful,” and even, “I am happy with who I am.” And who doesn't love the feeling of putting on an amazing outfit and leaving the house knowing you’re looking as good as you feel?

Everyone at some time in their lives finds themselves in a rut; you may feel that your own personal style is out of date, dowdy, boring or just doesn’t reflect who you want to be! You want to make the most of yourself and be the best you can be every day but don’t know where to start.

With a little guidance from a style coach you can learn the secrets of true style! advice on the best clothes to suit your individual body shape while bearing in mind your everyday lifestyle to help you create a style that works and is achievable every day!

When you have the right ideas on grooming your self-confidence will be boosted and your self esteem will be raised to a new high and you will feel really empowered! You must always remember that you are more than just an image in the mirror - “looking good is only half the picture”! It’s great to look good in the mirror but why stop there when the most important image is the one we see in our mind’s eye! The mind / body link – the way we see ourselves on the outside has a huge effect on how we see ourselves on the inside, and vice versa!

You can undertake the process of looking good and feeling great, step-by-step with the assistance of a Style/Life Coach. I can set goals around what you’d like to achieve and you will start to see a clear picture of the style - and life - you’d like to create. Everything that we create starts from within (a picture in our minds) - You can visualise the end result you desire and then we can create a tailor-made Action Plan for making your dream a reality!

You will learn how to recognise styles which will enhance your figure - no matter what your age, height or dress size! As your coach I can also help you to analyse and “de-clutter” your current wardrobe - I can help you to make the most of what you already have, and instead of feeling you must go on a shopping spree I help you to create a frustration-free, colourful and exciting wardrobe with what you already have! You will learn how to save time and money by shopping with effectiveness and efficiency - no more expensive mistakes and a wardrobe full of guilt! Open the doors to a selection of outfits and accessories which help you to look and feel your best, no matter what the day holds in store!

You can re-gain a state of inner confidence and grow in self-esteem. True “style” comes from a combination of inner and outer confidence - Style Coaching offers endless possibilities and is always focused on YOU! As your Style Coach I can tailor my range of services to suit your needs. I recognise and enhance the very best in every client, even (and especially) when people cannot see it for themselves. I can offer them advice, guidance, support and encouragement and help them understand why certain styles and colours work and empower them to make their own choices and to grow in confidence.

Style Coaching focuses on every client as an individual and I aim to facilitate the client in finding and expressing their own sense of style – a style which suits their personality and is unique to them, but that also takes into consideration their body shape and very importantly, their everyday lifestyle! With my guidance you will avoid mis-purchases.

“I really enjoy working with clients who need to develop their individual style strategies. I have the privilege to witness every step of their transformation; they walk taller, smile more and love the way they feel with their newly developed sense of style. It is very gratifying.”

It’s not about always dressing up,

it’s about feeling great when you look in the mirror.”

If you feel ready for refining your look, I am here to help. My philosophy is that everyone can look good no matter what size or shape.

Call Nuala, Dip. Life and Business Coaching at: 087 2532675 or info@nualaduignanlifecoach.com

View my web pages at:
www.nualaduignanlifecoach.com

Whose Recession Is It Anyway? part i - Losing your job

Losing your job in the current economic climate is a devastating experience. Your first reaction is obviously one of shock, followed by confusion. “What am I going to do?” is the first question on everyone’s mind; “How am I going to find another job?”

It takes a few days for it to really sink in. Telling your family and friends is difficult; unfortunately there is still a stigma attached to losing your job. There’s a huge sense of rejection; a feeling of not being wanted. Your mind keeps wondering, “Why me? What did I do wrong?”

It’s really important to remember that people are losing their jobs today through no fault of their own. They haven’t done anything wrong. It’s not their fault there’s a worldwide recession; they can do nothing about the banking crisis. People who are being made redundant are not being singled out because they are bad employees; they’re losing their jobs simply because their employer is facing financial difficulties. Their employer can no longer afford to keep employing them. It’s that simple.

I lost my job in January of this year; I know what it’s like. In my own case I found there was very little help available to tell me what to do. I’d never been unemployed before. I had no idea what my entitlements were; I didn’t know how to go about signing on or anything like that.

That’s why I wrote my book, Oh no; I’ve lost my job. What am I going to do? In a way it was a kind of therapy for me. Writing it gave me a sense of purpose, something positive to be doing. You’ll find my book in most of the local bookshops. [You can also purchase it online from the website of The Job Seekers Union. Price €4.99 plus P&P. - ed.] It tells you everything you need to know if you’ve lost your job; including how to deal with debts, how to get your spending under control; as well as your welfare entitlements and how to go about claiming them. There’s advice too on how to go about looking for another job; how to write your CV, prepare for an interview and so on.

As with everything in life; if you find yourself unemployed, it’s important to try to stay positive. Boredom can quickly lead to depression; so try to stay active and busy. Tackle those jobs around the house that you never got around to; get busy in the garden, take up a hobby.

No matter what your circumstances; it really is important to register with your local social welfare office. The sooner you sign on, the sooner your jobseekers benefit or jobseekers allowance can be processed. It’s takes a while for the first payment to come through, but it will be back dated to the date you first signed on.

If you are in financial difficulty while you are waiting for your benefits to come through, you can get temporary assistance from the Community Welfare Officer. You can find their number in the Phonebook under Community Welfare Services or call your Local Health Centre.

They say looking for a job is a job in itself. Unfortunately there aren’t many vacancies about at the moment, but there are some. Try to be positive, and remember nothing lasts forever. You might have sent off hundreds of CV’s and got no response so far, but you never know what’s around the corner; so don’t give up trying.

Losing your job needn’t be the end of the world; it may be the opportunity to re-invent yourself and do something you’ve always wanted to do. Maybe you’ve always wanted to start a new business, or take up studying? In my own case it gave me the chance to write a book, which I never thought I’d do. I’ve a second book written, so who knows, maybe it’s the start of a new career for me as an author? [David Jones' second book, The Pothole Republic is also available from The Job Seekers Union at a special discount price of €4.99 plus P&P. Click here for more info. - ed]

It’s hard to believe there are over 400,000 unemployed people in the country; that’s a massive number for a country as small as ours. I recently set up a self help organisation called The Job Seekers Union. You can check it out at www.thejobseekersunion.com.

Incidentally, feel free to write to me with your experiences of unemployment. I’m compiling a book of people’s stories which I hope to publish later in the year.

You can contact me through The Job Seekers Union where you can also email me - david@thejobseekersunion.com.

Copyright © David Jones 2009

This is the first in a series of five articles. In the next installment David addresses the issues of 'Telling Your Family and Friends' that you have lost your job. 

DON’T WORRY – BE HAPPY

Not in the clamour of the crowded street,

Not in the shouts and plaudits of the throng,

But in ourselves, are triumph and defeat.”

~ Henry Longfellow.

We can all create a Happiness Contract for ourselves which shows us how to identify and release blocks to creativity, entrepreneurship, and to living a life we love.

Did you know that somewhere in the back of your mind - beneath a pile of thoughts - there is a “Happiness Contract” with a lot of small print, i.e. rules, conditions, laws, and beliefs that dictate what it will take before you'll feel happy?

On closer inspection, you will also find other contracts buried in your mind like “The Success Contract” and “The Abundance Contract” and the “Love Contract.” These contracts are statements of belief which influence how much joy you think is possible and how much is just too good to be true.

By rewriting your Happiness Contract, or any other personal contract, you can instantly improve your chances of living a more inspired life.

• What makes you happy?
• What do you like doing?
• Where can you include more of this in your life?

Why not try and smile at at least one stranger today. For the less confident this may be a challenge – but you can do it!
Happiness comes from many sources, including expressing ourselves creatively. What are you going to do this week to express yourself? A smile costs nothing, however it brings great richness to the recipient. “It costs nothing, but creates much. It enriches those who receive it, without impoverishing those who give. It happens in a flash and the memory of it sometimes lasts forever.”
Dale Carnegie - How to win friends and influence people

Have you ever heard it takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile?! There are many health benefits to being happy (despite the problems you may and have), including increasing your sense of wellbeing and pleasure with each and every day. Smiling also improves your health by boosting your immune system and lowering your blood pressure. It’s a great stress reliever and increases your attractiveness.

Smiling into your golden years can actually promote longevity. In a study on optimism published in General Psychiatry, of those over the age of 65, optimists were 71 per cent less likely to die from certain causes than that of pessimists. A life full of smiles also exercises muscles in the face, which helps prevent drooping and saggy skin!.

A vision of happiness and smiling makes us attractive

We are drawn to people who smile. We want to know happy people and figure out what is making them smile. Frowns push people away, but a smile draws people in.

Smiling and being happy changes our mood.

Next time you are feeling down, try tricking your body by putting on a smile. There's a good chance you mood will change for the better.

Being happy and showing it, helps to prevent us from looking tired, worn out and overwhelmed. When you are stressed, take time to put on a smile. The stress should be reduced and you will be better able to take action.

Being in a happy state of mind boosts your immune system
When you smile immune function improves, possibly because you are more relaxed.

When you’re happy, there is a measurable reduction in your blood pressure. Sit for a few minutes and take your blood pressure. Then smile for a minute and take another reading! Note the results!! Being happy makes you look younger The muscles we use to smile lift the face, making a person appear younger. Don't go for a face lift, just try smiling your way through the day instead! – you’ll look younger and feel better.

Having a happy demeanor and smiling makes you seem successful

Smiling people appear more confident, are more likely to be promoted and to be approached. Put on a smile at meetings and appointments and people will react to you differently, more positively. Smiling helps you stay positive. When we smile our body is sending the message, “Life is good”. Stay away from depression, stress and worry by smiling. My favourite affirmation is, “I’m so happy I can’t stop smiling”. It always helps to put a smile on my face. If I don’t feel like it, I try to “fake it until I make it!”. I pretend I am happy by smiling anyway and usually I find I am feeling better instantly. Practice smiling. When you are exercising, taking a walk or looking at yourself in the mirror tell yourself things are real good.

Forgive everyone for everything: Hold no grudges. Forgiveness is a gift to yourself. YOU created the stress in your life by getting angry, and only YOU can instantly remove that stress by granting forgiveness. Expressing your forgiveness to the other person is optional - that forgiveness is required in order to live a happy and joyful life. Don't forget to also forgive yourself for everything you regret ever having done or not done.

Dance Lightly With Life: Life does not have to be a serious undertaking. You will make mistakes, you will feel regrets, and eventually, you will die - so what?.... Happiness comes from dancing lightly with life and enjoying the moment. We only have this moment so why not BE HAPPY!

Do call me now if you having difficulty in seeing the bright side of life despite the difficulties you may be having.

Call Nuala, Life Coach at 087 2532675
E.mail Info@nualaduignanlifecoach.com
View my web site at
www.nualaduignanlifecoach.com

Getting Things Done –Work/Life Balance

“I just don’t have the time”! A very common phrase which you are, I’m sure very familiar with. The fast pace of life today and everyone wanting to do the most they can, means that you don’t always get done what you would have liked. However, some people seem to get more into their day than others, and you never hear them say “I just don’t have the time”. To them it’s never a time problem, but rather what the time is used for. How about you?

You really cannot manage time, but you can manage how you use that time. Everyone gets the same amount of time in each day!. You don’t have 30 hours today just because you feel really busy!. If your goal is strictly to get more things done, why not review this thinking to not just getting things done but getting the right (appropriate for you) things completed or review how you manage the focus of how you use your time. Prioritise your tasks in order of importance/urgency.

Far too many of us seem to go through life just “going through the motions”. We have developed our daily habits over time, and our habits have become our life. We may have never actually taken the time to think about what we want and why we want it. How about you?

There’s a very common saying, “I will believe it when I see it”. however, success in life works in exactly the opposite way. You need to believe that you can accomplish what you want before you see how to achieve it. The saying is then a lot more powerful when you say “I will see it when I believe it”. What you want to accomplish? If you don’t believe you can accomplish what you want, why not consider the assistance of a Life Coach who can assist you along the way.

Nuala Duignan is a Professional Life Coach.
Diploma in Life and Business Coaching.
Diploma in Train the Trainer, FETAC Level 6.
She can be contacted at 087 2532675

or e.mail:

info@nualaduignanlifecoach.com

Web Site:

www.nualaduignanlifecoach.com

Back To School

The children are back in school. You can be back there too, it’s never too late to learn.

We live in a knowledge-powered economy and if we're not continually upgrading our capabilities we become obsolete!. The good news is, the educational choices we make at eighteen don't need to be hard and fast choices we're stuck with for a lifetime. We now can choose to look at lifelong learning as the homework assignment that never goes away. Or, we can choose to look at it as an essential strategy for living long and living well!.

How are you upgrading your knowledge and abilities? There is always more to learn and we must all strive to master more or new skills.

Advantages of Adult Education

Many of us have great plans to do a night course. However, good intentions often fall by the wayside in the face of our many commitments. However, taking a class has many advantages:

• Satisfying your creative side or learning a new skill allows you to forget about everyday life for a while and concentrate on doing something for yourself.
• You are totally free to choose your own specialist subject - perhaps something you have always longed to do. Who knows what could happen when you take up the paintbrush/calculator/chainsaw for the first time?!

Night Courses in Ireland

The further education sector in Ireland is booming. With more and more people of all ages returning to education for a variety of reasons, it often seems like half of Ireland is taking some type of course. Aontas - the National Association of Adult Education - estimate that each year over 300,000 adults participate in education in Ireland. The Aontas statistics break down the 300,000 total into approximately 150,000 people in nightcourses or evening classes, 30,000 students enrolled in PLC programmes, 50,000 in community education schemes and the rest taking part in various programmes and distance learning courses.

“The words that enlighten the soul are more precious than jewels” – Hazrat Khan

If you contact me now, I will be happy to direct you towards that life skill you always dreamt of gaining.


Nuala Duignan, member of Leitrim County Enterprise Board

e.mail: info@nualaduignanlifecoach.com
Tel. 087 2532675

Or view my Web Sites at:

www.nualaduignanlifecoach.com

www.linkedin.com/in/nualaduignanlifecoach

Could This Be The Answer To Unemployment?

Take a walk along the Grand Canal; imagine the time when it thronged with barges queuing to pass through the locks. Check out the high signal boxes on the railways; imagine when men not machines operated the long levers that changed the points and redirected the steam trains. Take a trip to the lighthouse at Fanad Head in Donegal; watch the waves rolling in from the Atlantic and imagine life as a lighthouse keeper. Marvel at the quaint gate houses at the entrance to large country estates and imagine the coming and going of horse drawn coaches.

Romantic, but hardly the solution to the problem of unemployment; or is it?

What’s common about all these ‘good old day’ memories is that a family lived in the house beside the lock, or the signal box, or in the lighthouse or gate house. There was a job to be done and people had to live there to get it done. Surely this is the ultimate answer to both joblessness and homelessness. Whoopee, I hear you shout; find a job that comes with a house and everyone gets somewhere to live and gets back to work in the process.

But wait a second, we don’t have enough locks, or lighthouses or signal boxes. Pity; if only we had something else to work and live beside. Nothing springs to mind; there’s nothing widespread in Ireland that needs looking after anymore – sigh!

Hang on, what about our national treasure? What about that most common of things that’s popping up all over the country; surely that needs looking after?

No I’m not talking about empty cycle lanes. I’m talking about the pothole; the contagious thing that’s popping up here there and everywhere, the per-annual problem that seems completely impervious to repair. There’s at least a hundred of them within walking distance of every house in the country; and the towns and cities are getting their fair share of them too.

Why not get people back to work by creating an army of Pothole Keepers? We could give people a housing allowance and a stipend to look after the potholes outside their door. In return they’d have to undertake to maintain the potholes in all their glory. They’d be expected to throw a few scoops of sand and loose pebbles in the hole from time to time; nothing permanent now, just a patch-up job for appearances sake. If they do their jobs properly, the potholes under their care would grow and may even join together into chasms. The successful pothole keeper could crown his achievement by spraying yellow paint around the edge of his hole, or strategically place a filthy dirty traffic cone in the middle of it.

Enterprising pothole keepers could be encouraged to take the initiative to start new potholes in any way they wish. They could use a pick and shovel, or even dynamite to begin a new hole. They would get paid for this of course, at the rate of €100 per hole. They’d get a double payment if they manage to start two holes exactly opposite each other on either side of a narrow road; a special bonus if they successfully do this on a blind bend. These, along with the deep ones with the sharp edges, and the ones that catch you by surprise, are the most prized ones.

Of course, there’d have to be a National Pot Hole competition; with prizes for the biggest, the deepest, the one in the most dangerous place, and so on. Then there’d be the ultimate accolade – County Pothole Keeper of the Year, which would come with an honorary seat on the County Council.

Of course the final objective is to turn all our highways and byways into one gigantic pothole. If we plan this right then we’ll have smooth roads again in no time. They’d be about 6 inches lower than the old ones used to be; but who cares, we’d all be working.

While we’re at it we could also have Uneven Pavement Keepers; they’d be in great demand in the towns and cities.

Wouldn’t it be great, we’d be back to full employment; and we’d be saving the County Councils a fortune by doing their job of road destruction for them. But that’s not the only benefit: We’d have something to moan about which would keep our negative psyche in good shape; we’d have another success in our strategy to destroy our domestic and export economy; we’d stop people travelling around the country in private cars too, since anything smaller than a bus would soon disappear in a hole somewhere along the journey; and we’d have yet another reason for tourists not to come to and visit us.

Finally, the Government could introduce a pothole tax; everybody in the country could pay whatever’s left of their income to keep us in an economic hole forever.

So hooray for the humble pothole; the ultimate Irish solution to the ultimate Irish problem.

Copyright © David Jones, 2009

David's new book The Pothole Republic is published by The Author's Friend. It can be purchased online at www.ThePotholeRepublic.com for €9.99 plus Postage.

However members of The Job Seekers Union can avail of a special offer and purchase it at the reduced price of €4.99 plus Postage.

Click on one of the PayPal links below to avail of the special offer. Please note: Different rates for delivery apply for orders within Ireland and for overseas.

• Delivery Within Ireland (Special Price €4.99 plus Postage - €1.89)
  
  
• Delivery Outside Ireland (Special Price €4.99 plus Postage - €3.00)