By: Ruth Bridgewood

At this time of the "credit crunch" and economic recession there are many people losing their jobs, through no fault of their own. If you have been retrenched, laid off, made redundant or suffered a business failure, it is likely that your self-esteem will take a battering. You may also have feelings of loss, betrayal or helplessness.

As with any loss, allow yourself a period for grieving, but it is important to then "get on with it", before you become embittered or succumb to a victim mentality.

Often our level of self-esteem revolves around our career and work achievements work and it is important to realize that we are much more than our jobs.

Maintaining your self-confidence and self-esteem during this period is critical and it is a good idea to use this time for self-care and personal development. Your chances of re-employment will be a lot higher if you maintain a positive attitude and continue to believe in yourself.

Here are some tips for getting through this period:

First and foremost, do not beat yourself up - Even if you did make a mistake, accept that it cannot be changed, but you can learn from it. Often the most successful people in life are those who have had many failures and made mistakes along the way, but they learn from them and move on.

Accept your strengths and weaknesses - Take out a piece of paper and write down all your strengths, even it's just that you know how to make a good cup of tea! Ask others what they think your strengths are. From these, you can and work out your capabilities and potential.

Also examine your weaknesses (we all have them, - are they things that can be improved? Do you want to? Focus on those things that will help you get where you want to go.

Don't compare yourself to others - There's always going to be someone richer, stronger, prettier - or those who are currently in work. Get over it! There is no point in jealousy or envy - someone else might have a good job, but is their marriage perfect? Or their health?

There are very few people in the world whose lives are perfect in every way. Instead of comparing yourself or feeling jealous, rate yourself on your achievements and good qualities.

Don't associate with negative people - Although it may be tempting to go to the pub and commiserate with others who have been retrenched, don't overdo it. There are likely to be those who are consumed with negativity and blaming everyone and everything for their lives. You don't want them to bring you down. It is preferable to surround yourself with people who are positive and supportive.

Be pro-active - Set goals, and work for their achievement. To make your task easier, break your main goal into several smaller goals which are relatively easier to achieve. This will make the task of reaching your main goals seem easier. (For example, do you need to undertake some study or retraining? The first step might be to do some research into what is available).

Writing out "to-do" lists every night, for the next day, will also give you more of a sense of accomplishment when you tick off the items that have been completed. These activities can help ward off the lethargy and procrastination that can come when one is out of work.

Have an attitude of gratitude - You've lost your job, but everyone has things to be grateful for.. Appreciate your ability to walk, talk, see and hear, your family and friends, the sunshine outside. Appreciate this extra time you have to think, educate and develop yourself. I remember a saying "I had the blues because I had no shoes, until upon the street, I met a man with no feet". There's always someone worse off than you.

View this change in a positive light - With every new path there can be fear and trepidation. Those same emotions can be turned into a sense of exploration and excitement.

Try to look on this change in your life as a new lease on life. Learn how to plan for the future and how to stay grounded in the present. You can remain positive knowing that your plan will eventually bear fruit, even if the going gets tough or it takes a bit more time than you had planned. The fact is that just putting one foot in front of the other in a directed effort will eventually lead you straight to you goal.

Almost everyone I know who has lost their job has ended up with a better one, or gone in a completely different direction where they are much happier, even if they are not earning as much money.

Finally, if you can't seem to shake the blues, seek out a family member, a spouse, or even a counselor or health care professional who can help you get over your feelings of helplessness.

One thing you don't want to do is wallow in self-pity forever. You can't make a successful career change when you don't even believe in yourself to start with. While it can pay to give some attention to the things that have gone wrong, don't forget to focus on what is going right for you.

For more articles by Ruth Bridgewood and free gifts, visit http://www.inspirit-persgrowth.com or http://www.inspiritebooks.com

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Ruth-Bridgewood/53896 

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