Just dealing with daily life is hard enough in today’s turbulent world. Family troubles, sky-high debt, world news, road rage, yadda yadda yadda….
And then, you suddenly lose your job.
It happens. It sure happened to me.
I was caught off guard, but, I was determined not to let it knock me down. I needed to get into the right frame of mind. I knew that if I got caught up in the negative aspect of it, then, in no time at all, I would be in a deep, dark pit.
So, what did I do?
First, I tried to look at the positive side of things. I know, I know, not always easy to do when you’re suddenly panicking over paying your upcoming bills. But, I forced myself.
Be Grateful for What You Do Have
Instead of thinking “Whoa is me…,” think about how lucky you are with what you already have, especially compared to many others out there. Even if your life might not be what you want it to be (for the moment), it could always be a lot worse. Remember, life is constantly changing. You never know what the next day will bring. But also remember…
You are responsible for changing your life.
I gotta remind myself of that one every now and then.
Also, maybe this wasn’t the best gig for you anyway. Sure, it was a job and you got paid, but, maybe this sudden termination is a blessing in disguise, and, opening up a better opportunity for you. If you can change your mindset to that, you may be surprised with what turns up for you.
This is a good way to look at other setbacks in your life as well.
Just Breathe
Every now and then, I have minor panic attacks. It usually happens when I’m going through a stressful or upsetting situation, combined with being exhausted. I experienced this sometimes at work, as a server, then, as a cook, when we’d get slammed with customers all at once. It felt like I couldn’t take a full breath and that my lungs were being suffocated.
When this happens, the first thing I do is focus on my breathing. I start taking some really deep breaths, slowly, from my diaphragm.
I take a big inhale, feeling my stomach area filling up with air, as I slowly count to 5. Then, I hold that breath for another 5 counts. And then, I exhale, slowly, counting to 5.
It is good to do this at least 3 times, but 10 is better, even more, if you have time.
After my job ended at Harbourtowne, I did a lot of deep breathing! But, it helped. It calmed me down. Just getting the oxygen to flow better through your body can make a big difference in how you feel.
Nature Calls
Another thing I like to do when I’m feeling overwhelmed is go for a long walk. Just reconnecting with nature can go a long way. I try to focus on my breathing here as well, taking in the fresh air along the way.
I’m lucky, because I live in the country and by the water. But, I know it’s not easy when you’re in a busy city or neighborhood. If you can just find a fairly quiet place to walk, or at least “tune out,” that’s good.
When I was working so many hours, I never spent much time outdoors. By the time I got home, I usually needed to catch up on chores, and, I was too tired to venture out.
After the job loss, I started walking a lot with my dog, Louie. We walked all around the property we live on, and suddenly, I noticed the beauty of it. Just seeing the water and trees, hearing the birds, geese, and other wildlife, helped me realize how lucky I am.
I’ve found that being out in nature helps put me in a meditative state, where it’s easier to find answers to things that are troubling me. Many a brainstorm session has taken place by the waterfront. I just put out the thought of whatever I need insight on, and then, forget about it. Sometime during my walk, the answers I need miraculously come to me.
Maybe this all sounds a bit airy-fairy, but so what? Hey, it helps get me through the day!
Watch What You Say (and Think)
One last thing… I’ve learned to be careful with what I say and think. Your words and thoughts are really quite powerful, especially when they’re backed up with emotion. You may find yourself getting whatever is on your mind…so, in that case… think good stuff!
You want to focus more on the outcome that you want, not worry about how you’ll get it, or what’ll happen if you don’t.
Example: If you find yourself thinking, “I can’t afford that,” or something similar, then, that’s probably what will happen.
Try to change what you say to “I’ll get the money for that somehow,” or, one I often use is, “Everything will work out for me in the best possible way.”
I’ve said that a lot!
The thing that always saves me, no matter how rough the situation is, I figure that whatever happened was for the best, in the long run. Either something better is meant to happen, or, I’ll learn a valuable lesson from it. Just find whatever you can to turn it around. Keep going, do whatever you can do, and, who knows? This crappy experience may lead to something wonderful, in a roundabout way.
Whatever you do, good luck. I hope these suggestions help in some way.