I thought this to be an appropriate time to post this article as many people I know will be graduating within the next few weeks. This is a very exciting time, but can also be a time that’s filled with anxiety and perceived as stressful by many entering the workforce for the first time. My advice is simple; Be positive, challenge yourself and let go of all worry. I refer to a quote by Dr. Wayne Dyer that says:
“Why worry about something that you don’t have control over, because if you don’t have control over it, there is nothing you can do so it makes no sense to worry about it.”
“And, why worry about things that you have control over, because if you have control over them, then there is no point in worrying.
This covers everything that you can ever worry about. Therefore worrying makes no sense.”
Let me put this in the right context. We all are aware that the economic conditions may not be ideal and that this environment happens to be one of the most difficult that this generation has had to cope with. This falls in to the first category of things you don’t have control over. We have little influence on the economic climate and macroeconomic conditions; we are not able to control unemployment rates, or interest rates, or housing prices. So why worry about them?
Rather, focus on what can we control.
1. We can control our perception of this environment. We can see it as a challenge or we can choose to yield to it. Many of the great leaders say that in the face of a crisis lies opportunities. Adjust your perception and seek out those opportunities.
2. We can control the opportunities we accept. We can challenge ourselves to find a job that we enjoy doing or that may teach us something that we did not know about ourselves. Many times we are too focused on something that we want, we bypass many other opportunities that may serve as stepping stones. Be open-minded.
3. We can change our spending habits. An environment such as this requires certain sacrifices. Adjust your spending habits to suit the environment. Eat out less, reuse items, spend less on alcohol and partying – choose home entertainment instead. There are many ways to cut back on our wants. Focus on the needs.
4. We can reach out to our networks and ask for assistance. Don’t think you can do everything alone. Reach out to people you have been in contact with at school, organizations, church, family members etc. You never know, they may have openings and many times, who you know does matter.
5. We can be of assistance to our friends, whether we are in an ideal position or not. When you want something really badly, choose to give it away and the Universe will bless you with it in abundance. A great lesson that we all learn at some point in our lives.
6. We can work on our resumes and seek out different types of job opportunities. This is something we have total control over.
7. We can try something new.
I could go on and on, but I think I made my point. Take some time to think about this and you will realize that unemployment is a state of mind. These are the things we can control. Instead of putting focus on what you cannot control, spend time concentrating on what you can control, because in the end, you have a firm grasp on one and not the other.
If done right and with a positive mindset, you will realize how much you have grown from this experience and that there are numerous opportunities for everyone.
I would like to hear your thoughts.
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