Be well during a job search
Thoughts
Be well during a job search
THANK YOU
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Your pragmatic toolbox to thrive self-inflicted stress and uncertainty in weeks. Transform how you live!
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THOUGHTS ON
BEING WELL DURING A JOB SEARCH
Introducing the Puzzle Thoughts
We each handle mental pressure and emotions differently: these thoughts are examples, and not an absolute truth. They are not to tell you what or how you should think.
These examples are to inspire you. Look at how other people think, and spark your mind to release self-inflicted stress and handle uncertainty
The Puzzle is built like Russian Dolls - from the Tiny Puzzle to the Full Puzzle. The idea is to introduce more and more thoughts, and more and more Puzzle pieces as you progress.
You can either read the thoughts selecting one Puzzle piece and going through the different versions of it. Or you can choose to look at a Puzzle version in full. There is not rule but to approach it as it suits you best.
Each Puzzle is declined in 2 versions: thoughts before the Puzzle, and after.
The Puzzle is written in the 1st person to entail maximum impact.
Myself is multiple
Please do not tell me I am fired.... Oh my God this is happening!!! What am I going to become?!
My Ego
I knew this was coming! And instead of listening and preparing myself, I waited and hoped! Now I have no job and no network!
My Compass
I have lost my job and am afraid this is the beginning of the end: from now on I am going to lose everything!
I am very scared and stressed.
The Universal Rule that governs my life
There are so many people around me that are out of a job, plus I recently saw an article on the job market: figures are not too good, and they even expect the economy to worsen.
The TINY Puzzle
BEFORE the Puzzle
Myself is multiple
I am together afraid to be out of a job, and happy I am out of this company. I would not have moved otherwise. I deserve better!
My Ego
I have asked my Ego to fuel me with courage to put myself out there, and be resilient until I find my next job.
My Compass
I have always worked. I will find another job. In the meantime, I will organize my search and I will learn patience! I have faith in myself!
The Universal Rule that governs my life
I noticed more people are out of jobs. I am also aware my personal situation preoccupies me, so I probably notice it more! Overall, there are still more people with a job than without!
AFTER the Puzzle
The Universal Rule that governs my life
I have been angry the whole day, while pretending I am fine! I am so mad at what the company is doing to me! Found also that everyone was aggressive on the road! Am trying to remain patient with my spouse and kids, but it takes a lot.
My Ego
Maybe I am no longer competent. What if no one will see value in working with me any more!? What if I am too old for the job market?!
My Compass
I could see myself retire with this company. It was not perfect but clearly good enough for me!! Now I feel lost: I don't know who I could work for, and will have a hard time trusting my next employer.
Mastering my life
I could feel the tension in the company as people are informed they stay or leave. And I could see how people look at me now: they feel sorry for me, and that hurts.
Myself is Multiple
I am very angry hearing that I am let go after all these years. I am taking the information with dignity, but it feels like betrayal inside!
The SMALL Puzzle
BEFORE the Puzzle
The Universal Rule that governs my life
I am so glad I could tell my manager and HR how angry I was. I remained respectful, and we had an open conversation. At this point in time, priority is that I take good care of myself! This conversation will help me move on. I can already see that a lot of my anger is gone.
My Ego
I am competent: I was hired because of the skills I have - and I still have them! I am going to prepare myself for interviews, and believe I can do it. My Ego will help, giving me the courage and resilience I need!
My Compass
I am going to find a new job. I do not know where or when, but surely I will. Certainly I have doubts here and there as I don't control the path to get there, but I trust this job search will end well as I am taking all the right actions for it.
Mastering my life
I see people with doubts around me. Tourists looking for their way, people hesitating between different clothes, my kids not knowing what they would like to eat. In the end, everyone found a suitable solution.
Myself is Multiple
I am very angry hearing that I am let go. I went for a long walk and did sports to get the frustration out! I don’t want my relatives to pay the price of my bad mood.
AFTER the Puzzle
The Universal Rule that governs my life
I keep seeing reports on TV and reading in the newspapers that the world is changing, and many are left on the side of the road. Life is becoming harder: there will be fierce competition to find another job!
My Ego
They must have thought I am so immature as I hold my tears all day long. They will never hire me again! Plus it is a small world: no doubt they will bring this up to other HRs: I am in deep trouble!
Living in the present
I am so worried about the future!! The present does not matter: I am fine today but how about tomorrow?? Tomorrow matters!
Mastering my Life
How can I be in control of my life when so much is out of my hands?! I can't force someone to hire me! It takes so much luck to be in the right place at the right time - and these days I am not lucky!!
Myself is Multiple
I pretend I am OK but I can feel my tears coming up. I can’t mention I am unemployed, else I start crying!
My Compass
I do need an income hence I do need a job!! Maybe I should search at a lower level, to make sure I do have an income? So many key decisions to make in the dark! I don't know what is the right choice.
The Protection in my head
Why is this all happening to me?? I really do not deserve this in my life! How am I going to pay the bills now?! I feel so vulnerable and powerless!
The Pollution in My Head
Although they are not telling me, I must have a problem for being fired. Some people less competent are staying. What is wrong with me?!
The ADVANCED Puzzle
BEFORE the Puzzle
The Universal Rule that governs my life
The world is changing and me too. Living this job search makes me a different person. I have also met so many people lately, who have reinvented successfully their lives: this is encouraging. I trust I can do it too!
My Ego
No one is perfect: I melted at work! So be it. Now I need my Ego to step up and stand by my side. To live well this phase of my live, I need to partner with my Ego. Together, we can get through this!
Living in the present
While my job search is a priority, I can also acknowledge what I have already today and that is working well. Having a job does not give me the power to enjoy my life: this I can already do today!
Mastering my Life
I cannot control this situation: I did not choose to leave this job. But I can choose to make the most of my days until I find my next role. I can also choose how I will search for my next job. These are actions I can take, and that will help me feel stronger.
Myself is Multiple
Not having a job does not make me less as a person - it only pauses my professional impact. I can be proud of all what I have accomplished: there is no reason to be ashamed. I am in between jobs, that does not change who I am.
My Compass
I don't know what the future will be, nor precisely what job or income: that remains indeed stressful. Yet the direction is set: I trust I will find another job, and therefore I will have an income.
The Protection in my head
Protecting myself is about taking good care of myself, so I do not inflict unnecessary pressure on myself!
The Pollution in my Head
There is nothing "wrong" with me. When I think this way, I pause and take a deep breath. All I am losing is a job: my competencies and skills are going nowhere!
AFTER the Puzzle
The Universal rule that governs my life
The city is so busy during weekdays! All these people seem to have a job! Am I the only one being unemployed!? It looks like everyone has something to do, and I don't!!
My Filter
Every part of me concurs that this is bad, this is really bad what is happening to me! I am right to worry because the future and finding a new job will be really difficult. I should have listened to my Ego when it told me this company would not be good for me!
Connecting to myself
I am so stressed I cannot find a way to relax. My back hurts, I do not sleep well as I worry too much. I am so tired I have a hard time concentrating.
Mastering my Life
I am like the hamster in the wheel, running as fast as I can and doing my best to keep up - all of it for very little results. I don't know how long I will be able to cope with this job search....
Myself is Multiple
I cannot remember what they told me during the notice meeting: I think I looked OK but I was so stressed I could not focus. I was literally panicking inside.
My Compass
This is the beginning of the end. I will not find a job, not pay the bills, the kids will fund their studies alone, I won’t keep the house.... I know this sounds crazy but I cannot help think this way!
The Protection in my head
I receive so many negative answers, or even no answers from the applications I send. I feel vulnerable: what if no one wants to work with me?!
The Pollution in my head
Each minute I have, I spend looking for a job. I don't think I have the luxury to stop but this is draining! I do not sleep well either. I have to be careful not to get sick, that would be terrible!
My Ego
Why did I not stay in touch with the job market?! Now it is too late: I am unemployed and I will have to use my savings to bridge. I am such a fool!
Living in the present
I keep wondering what it is that I have missed for being fired! I live in the past and blame myself for not seeing it coming. I thought doing my job well and being a talent would be enough. How naive!!
The FULL Puzzle
BEFORE the Puzzle
CONGRATULATIONS!
MYSELF
EGO
PRESENT
CONNECT
FILTER
COMPASS
PROTECTION
POLLUTION
RULES
MASTER
YOU HAVE JUST COMPLETED INSPIRING YOURSELF WITH THOUGHTS ON
LIVING WELL DURING A JOB SEARCH
NEXT STEPS?!
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The Universal rule that governs my life
It is so interesting all what you can find in LinkedIn! Lots of good advises and positive messages, that I consult in between job search. Feels like the world is at my door.
My Filter
I noticed that when my body is less tense, then I am more come and able to think more clearly. I am then less worried, realizing I also could have an amazing life ahead of me!
Connecting to myself
I make time each day to do an activity that relaxes me, and that does not involve any thinking. I started with going around the block, and now I am 30mn jogging!
Mastering my Life
Is this really true I do not make any progress? I may not have a job yet, but I am learning a lot. I am also surprising myself finding out what I am capable of. I may not have arrived yet, but I have progressed a lot since I sent my first application.
Myself is Multiple
When I was given the notice letter, I was in shock. I had not expected them to be so comprehensive with me as I shared how panicked I was. It seems it is not unusual. People are a lot more supportive than I would have imagined: I am glad I opened up!
My Compass
OK I do worry and it is scary not to know. But I do know that in the end, I will get a new job! I focus on the small progress, the little victories I achieve every day, and that bring me closer to my next job.
The Protection in my head
I do receive, and will continue receive a lot of negative answers. But it doesn't matter how many "no": what matters is the single positive one!
The Pollution in my head
Why would I get sick?! OK, I have the stress of looking for a job, but otherwise I have the stress of being in a job!! Plus I can use the extra time I have to be in shape!
My Ego
I told my Ego this is no time to panic. This is no failure to protect me - this is life. Some events are unexpected: together we will deal with it.
Living in the present
When I start blaming myself for what I did wrong or what I should have done, I realize my Ego is starting to panic. I breathe and also ask myself what I need right now to be more calm - usually the answer is a big virtual hug!