Change For The Better

Change is not pleasant, But change is constant. Only when we change and grow, We’ll see a world we never know. ~From Wisdom of The Orange Woodpecker

     Change.  We all go through it.  We change our look, change our style, and change our minds.  However, when change comes out of nowhere and impacts you greatly, can you adapt and readjust, or do you resist?  Can you go with the flow at a moment’s notice, or do you get upset and just give up?

     A lot of us these days have gone through a change from full-time employee to unemployed (I have).  How have I adapted?  First, I acknowledged the fear of not having a paycheck and living on limited income.  This event was not in my control.  I cannot blame the company that made the decision to lay off employees to keep its business going.  Blame is counter-productive.  Second, I conquered the negative voices in my head, as well as the latest news about unemployment in the media.  How?  By changing the way I think.

     The way I have to look at it, I have a choice.  I chose positive affirmations and counted all my blessings for being alive.  I re-evaluated what was important in my life which are my loved ones, my health and overall well-being.  I keep my attitude high in spite of being unemployed.  It is not always easy.  I have to deal with everyday issues just as a lot of people do:  car breaks down, bills must get paid, a relative or friend needs help, or some other concern that must be addressed.

     Many people are going through hard times, and yet, as mentioned in my blog last week, I am inspired by their tenacity and their will to survive.  I would like to suggest a good article to read from one of my favorite websites : You Can Heal Your Life.  The article is entitled “How Bad Is The Economy - It’s Up To You." Heal Your Life also offers many other wonderful authors/writers that contribute lots of editorials on other topics.   Perhaps you might discover an author that inspires you on a different subject.  I hope you get an opportunity to explore Heal Your Life.

     We will outlast this downturn because our human spirit is resilient.  Let’s be in control and change our thoughts for the better ! 

Quitting Is Not An Option

“Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take 

your eyes off your goals.” – Sydney Smith 

Staying inspired and motivated these days takes a lot of effort. The news worldwide and at home have not been pleasant. There is so much pain, sadness, anger, grief, frustration, violence, and the criticizing commentary that someone’s to blame for all of this. Do you ever wonder why you feel hopeless and depressed?

Luckily, you and I can remain inspired and motivated. How? By turning off the news. Read a few headlines just to stay informed, but don’t let the news infuriate and upset you to the point where you have to spread your anger to others. Don’t let this information ruin the rest of your day! Release this negative energy by focusing on something else that’s positive and uplifting. Do whatever it takes to help you feel calmed and relaxed again.

I want to give credit to those people who are still surviving in this down economy. I feel inspired and motivated by what I notice from them. What I observe is courage, strength, faith and hope. I am inspired to apply all my courage, strength, faith and hope because quitting is not an option. I won't give in to the despair and hopelessness, because I know I am strong and won't give up.

To all of us survivors, I acknowledge your spirit to continue. We count on our blessings and move forward towards our goals. I heard a phrase on a news piece last year: “Tough times don’t last. Tough people do.” And we are tough!

Feed Your Soul

Last week I attended a very intriguing “Soul Collage” class. I originally was not planning to attend, but due to a change in schedule, I decided to take this class to see what it was about. It is a process where you create personal cards by cutting out images from magazines, post cards, photos, etc, and pasting them to make a collage. The images can be anything that draws or resonates with you. Sometimes it’s the colors, or the scenery, or perhaps you’re not even sure at all except that the image attracted you. It’s a self-discovery exercise whereby you engage your intuitive/creative mind to express your soul through these cards.

I must say, I was pleasantly surprised when we began this project. My inner child came out to play for the first time in years. Cutting out pictures and pasting them to a card is so very low tech in today’s high tech world. The only tools we used were scissors and glue. It felt like I was back in grammar school cutting pieces of construction paper (with our rounded scissors) and dipping our fingers into white paste and smearing it all over the back to make the paper stick! (Of course, today we used glue sticks.) It was a wonderful form of self-therapy for me.

We exercised our creativity and our minds doing this project. I walked away feeling inspired and eager to make more. I nourish my soul often through meditation, prayer and yoga. Now, I have another way to add to my journey of self-discovery.

What have you done for your soul lately? If your inspiration comes from painting, knitting, playing with your children or pets, gardening, or whatever your passion is, I hope you find ways to stay inspired and feed your soul.

Stay Healthy

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. 

I just read an article today in my local newspaper that the longer you are unemployed (6 months or more), the less unemployable you become. The article states it is because your skills can erode, your confidence becomes less, and your contacts dry up.

Well, as a 27-year laidoff office worker (for more than 6 months), I cannot even begin to think that I am unemployable! These are the toughest times to find a job, because the whole landscape is turned upside down! “What’s down is up and what’s up is down” to quote a phrase from a TV show I saw once. It is difficult to stay motivated (it takes a strong discipline), but it must be done! No wonder people’s health and well-being starts to decline. For myself, I have the option to buy into this doom and gloom, or defiantly face it head on and remain diligent to the end.

The way I look at it, this is a great opportunity to reinvent myself. But I must also stay healthy and positive as much as possible. I make an effort to watch what I eat, exercise, stay in contact with people through networking sites, and take vitamins regularly. I’ve become a great believer in taking natural supplements. There is one company that I respect and order all my natural health products, and that is iHerb.com. If you use this referral code LIB052 at checkout you can save an extra $5 off your first order. Check out their website at www.iHerb.com.

I believe we must be responsible for our own health and well-being, if we’re going to survive this downturn. Besides, if you’re sick all the time, then you are unemployable and I know that too many of us are talented to let that happen. Stay healthy!