Blog Post: LAID OFF? WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

You've been laid off? What are you waiting for? Isn't that an American past time? We live, therefore we wait. It does seem like we are always waiting on something-to get a job, to get a promotion, to get a house, to save money, to have children, to finish school, to get through a difficult time and the list goes on and on. There is a certain frustration in waiting for something that never seems to come. But what do we do while we are waiting? Do we really know what we are waiting for. Karon Phillips Goodman really hit the nail on the head in, "You're Late Again, Lord" by Karon Phillips Goodman (www.barbourbooks.com/author/detail/karon-phillips-goodman)

Most of our impatience in waiting comes from wanting to control our situation. We have become so accustomed to planning and scheduling everything, that is incredibly hard to admit that not everything is within our control, in fact, it's being orchestrated on a higher level. Maybe this is the time to abandon general control and to trust beyond ourselves. I think we can control some things on a smaller scale. If you agree with me about the control issue, then what in your life can you control? Let me share three ideas:

1. Develop the art of waiting purposefully. That means to work while you wait. First of all, check your life balance. Divide your life into spokes on a wheel - career, educational, family, emotional, physical, financial, relationships, social, mental, and spiritual. On a scale of 1-10, ten being the best, where do you rank in each segment? Take some time and think about it - are you balanced? If you are have a wobbly wheel, you will have a bumpy ride on this wheel. Start today and take 15 minutes to work on that one area that you aren't even close to a 10. i.e. physical, you have been laid off, you are pumping yourself full of comfort food - go out into the neighborhood and walk for 15 minutes. You'll feel better and it will help you change your perspective. family, schedule 10 uninterrupted minutes with your youngest child.

2. While you are waiting, get clear on your passions. You have been given talents, things that come naturally to you. Use this time to find out what you can do with your talents that really makes you happy. Since you've got time on your hands, consider what you would do if you didn't need to get paid for it. What about being a volunteer at a food bank, you will be helping others (thus forgetting your own dilemma for a little while) and you'll be getting out with people. You might even discover what makes you smile, what puts a song in your heart. In my book,"Laid Off? Don't Stress! How to Get from Mad to Glad," Jacqueline Luk called it, 'Looking for Clues.' Ms. Luk took an Advanced Course at Landmark Education and realized she had been so wrapped up in the question, "so what do you do?" that she'd forgotten the core of her identity. She realized that her statement was "Who I am for the world is a transformative power of service." Her lesson was: Allow youself the right to try and to fail. In all great endeavors, the most purposeful path may pose obstacles that challenge who you are being.

3. Consider this wait as a gift and create a positive attitude. We live in a negative society and sometimes we get in a rut of negative self talk:I'm not good enough, No one wants to hire me, I deserved to be laid off (you didn't, it's the economy-it's not your fault!), etc.

CHANGE THAT! Take a few minutes right now and list three things that you are grateful for; then list three things that you like about yourself; then create three affirmations that you can use daily while you look in the mirror and smile at yourself. Examples:

• I am happily practicing my positive affirmations every day.
• I am content today with daily living and am leaving plenty of time in my schedule for family, friends and ME.
• I am confidently contacting two good leads daily

See, waiting can be productive and purposeful. By having a purpose, getting clear on what makes you smile, and being intentional in looking on the bright side, you will come to know what you are waiting for. Blessings for the season.