Archive for January, 2012

Some days are harder than others. How discouraged or down you feel may depend on your exposure to the news on any given day, a particular interaction that left you feeling sad or disheartened or how you’ve chosen to perceive a particular event (e.g. a job rejection letter making you feel unemployable).

No matter what your situation is—employed, looking for work, contemplating a new career—being in a positive frame of mind will only help you as you pursue your goal.

When things in your life seem to be out of your control and it’s affecting your attitude or mood, here are three actions you might consider to shift your perspective and support your efforts to make a change:

1. Be grateful. Numerous studies show the positive impact of gratitude on physical and emotional health. Shifting thoughts from judgment or negative ideas to recognizing something for which you are grateful can result in a surprising change in your perspective.
2. Finish something. Everyone has loose ends in their lives. Even when you are not consciously thinking about what you’ve not completed, you may feel a nagging sensation. When you close the loop on something, whether it’s a conversation, something you need to organize, or anything else that feels incomplete, you will ultimately feel a sense of satisfaction that may elevate your mood.
3. Exercise. Didn’t you just know this would be on the list? It’s accurate to say that exercise is a “magic bullet” of health and well-being. Getting into a routine of this endorphin-releasing activity is hard to do, but studies show that even 10-15 minutes of exercise daily has benefits that include mood enhancement.

Are you ready for the career change you dreamed about last year?

Is your goal a different position with your current employer? Work at a new company? A plan for alternative work or service in your retirement years? Or a totally new career path that requires further education?

Whatever your goal, you can build momentum by taking specific steps toward it.

You’ve heard of the ripple effect: a situation where an initial action can incrementally lead to other results like expanding ripples across water when an object is dropped into it. This same effect can take shape with steps leading to your goal.

Based on successful career transitions I’ve witnessed, here are a few steps to move your goal forward in this New Year:

• Make space in your life.

Do you talk about how busy you are and wish for more time to get things done? Though it may seem odd, pausing, rather than doing more, is a paradoxical way to more effectively reach your goal. When your mind and daily schedule are full, there’s no room for new ideas, let alone the additional tasks necessary to make important changes. It’s amazing how a few minutes of reflective time, writing in a journal, a walk in nature, or taking slow deep breaths, can shift feeling stuck or overwhelmed.

• Ask “what” rather than “how”.

Inherent in a transition is the demanding question “how”. But early stage transitions are typically not developed enough to address “how” questions and may cause you to give up prematurely.

Protect your ideas and shift your question to “what”. Once you’re clear about the specifics of your goal, the “how” questions become less important and you’ll be more motivated to consider your next step.

• Take action on what is in your control.

Do something each day toward your goal and don’t underestimate the significance of any step. Focus on things that you can do – like setting up an informational interview, exploring a company website or revising your resume—and let go of things you cannot control.

The esteemed German writer, Goethe said: “Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it!”