Kathy Bowersox

Re-Igniting Your Life After Job Loss - Part IV

Adapt to the Change & Adjust Your Attitude & Your Behavior!

"The most drastic and usually the most effective remedy for fear is direct action." - William Burnham
In previous segments of this series, I discussed initial reactions to job loss and how to deal with those, as well as changing our thoughts to change our feelings and behaviors, which will help us develop more positive attitudes.  In the conclusion, I’ll present some specific ways to adjust your behavior and take action to re-ignite your life after job loss.

One way to begin feeling better and moving forward is to engage in positive activities that will improve your outlook.  Begin with some self examination to determine what your strengths are, what your passions are, what your values are, what you really enjoy.  Discover who you are, not only in a career sense, but in an overall sense.  Take a good look at what is important to you.  Then you can begin clarifying your career goals and mapping out a plan for beginning your job search.
Another strategy for improving your attitude and outlook is to list your accomplishments in life, not only your career achievements, but also achievements in the physical, mental, social, and spiritual dimensions.  This is an excellent exercise in feeling good about yourself and creating a positive attitude.
Finally, examine setbacks you have experienced in the past and determine how you got through them.  Think about the steps you took then and begin implementing some of those same strategies now.

Develop a plan of action.  Determine what you want to do next in your career.  Then start determining target companies, create a plan for how you will reach them, and begin taking steps today to achieve your goals.

When you develop a plan of action and put it into motion, you will see results.  Only you can chart your course through this journey of life and you will determine the outcome of the events you experience through the choices you make and the attitudes you adopt.  Choose to honor your feelings, determine a productive attitude, and engage in fruitful behavior in a positive manner and your career transition will be successful.  Dealing with change is not always easy, and for some it is extremely difficult.  But if you choose to let the past go, concentrate on the future and the opportunities ahead of you, you can successfully manage any change you experience along your journey.

The truth of the matter is, no one is really prepared for losing a job and it is a stressful event.  However, once you take the time to recognize and honor your feelings about the loss, you can begin to work toward creating a rewarding and successful career future.  Remember that this is a temporary situation and you can rebound from this setback with determination and a positive attitude.  Dealing with and overcoming the obstacle of losing your job can help you gain a sense of confidence that you can meet any challenges you experience in this life.  You must remain positive.  In the end things will improve and, possibly, be even better in the long run.  Take charge of your career future and use the power within you to find your next opportunity and re-ignite your career and life!

©Copyright 2008 by Kathleen A. Bowersox, M.Ed., LPC, LPBC, Quantum Leap Success Coaching, www.QuantumLeapSuccessCoach.com - Additional information:  kasox@comcast.net.  Reprint permission granted in part or whole when the following credit appears in full:  Copyright 2008 by Kathleen A. Bowersox, M.Ed., LPC, LPBC.  All rights reserved.

Re-Igniting Your Life After Job Loss - Part III

Adapt to the Change & Adjust Your Attitude & Your Behavior!
"A great attitude is not the result of success; success is the result of a great attitude." - Earl Nightingale

"You have the privilege of choosing your attitude in any given set of circumstances." - Unknown

We all react to change in our own ways, but there are often four basic reactions to events that change our lives.  Some people may see change coming early and prepare, some may bolt into action once a change is experienced, some may deny and resist change because they fear it will lead to something worse, and others may learn to adapt when they see that changing can lead to something better.  Many people will experience varying degrees of all these reactions to change.  However we react, it is important to recognize that change is a part of life and we must learn to cope with it and navigate through uncharted territory in order to be successful.

You've taken time to grieve your loss and adjust to the changes in your life after losing your job.  Now it’s time to begin moving forward and re-ignite your life.  Take another look at the quotes above.  Our attitudes make all the difference in the world and can become self-fulfilling prophecies.  As we think, so we are.  If we put our difficulties into perspective, we can see the opportunities in even the most difficult of circumstances.  What are you telling yourself about your job loss?  Is it the most terrible thing that has ever happened to you?  OR Is it an opportunity to look at what you really want to do with your life?  

Norman Vincent Peale said, "Any fact facing us is not as important as our attitude toward it, for that determines our success or failure.  The way you think about a fact may defeat you before you ever do anything about it.  You are overcome by the fact because you think you are."  You have the power to adjust to your job loss, and adapt to the change, by choosing your attitude.  Take the tack that this is just a temporary stumbling block that you have the power to overcome. Then, as Brian Tracy said, "Turn your stumbling blocks into steppingstones to success." 

Phyllis Bottome said, "There are two ways of meeting difficulties.  You alter the difficulties or you alter yourself to meet them."  Often the difficulties you experience, such as losing your job, are out of your control, so the only thing you can do is manage what you do have the power to control, and that is your attitude.  Your attitude is nothing more than your thoughts, feelings, and actions.  To adjust your attitude you must first change your thoughts, which will change the way you feel, which in turn, will change your actions.  So if you are looking at your job loss as the worst thing that has ever happened to you, shift your thinking to see this experience as an opportunity to determine what you really want to do with the next phase of your life.  Now is the time to look forward and discover your new path.

"The difficulties and struggles of today are but the price we must pay for the accomplishments and victories of tomorrow." - William J.H. Boetcker

©Copyright 2008 by Kathleen A. Bowersox, M.Ed., LPC, LPBC, Quantum Leap Success Coaching, www.QuantumLeapSuccessCoach.com - Additional information:  kasox@comcast.net.  Reprint permission granted in part or whole when the following credit appears in full:  Copyright 2008 by Kathleen A. Bowersox, M.Ed., LPC, LPBC.  All rights reserved.