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

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'.