RULES OF THE ROAD
A handy reminder for those who have experienced being laid off, furloughed, forced to retire, or fired!
While putting together this list of reminders for a friend who was recently laid off, it occurred to me that there are so many who are experiencing devastating events in their lives (fire, flood, disease, etc.). You too, might find these Rules of the Road helpful.
1. Even though this action or event affects your personal life, it is not about YOU personally, not the quality of your work, nor the quality of your commitment to the company. It is about the business’ bottom line.
2. You are NOT your job! You DO a job! You have skills and talents. Begin to identify yourself as who you are, not what you do, or what you have! When you meet someone new, ask about who they are, not what they do.
3. Take time to grieve this major change in your life.
4. Create a daily and weekly schedule for yourself. Include not more than 4 hours (2 hours is best) for applying for another job (or replacing what was lost). Make sure you go out, see friends, learn or pick up the activities you’ve been too busy working to do. Discover what makes you feel good about yourself and your life, and do it!
5. Make a list of all your “life skills.” Most of what can be named as “daily living skill” are marketable and add a good foundation for any work you choose to do.
6. Spend time every day and begin to design the kind of work or living environment you want. Do this in your meditations, in your imagination, create a vision board, etc. Let your imagination lead! You are not looking to manifest a specific job, place to live, relationship, etc. You are creating the environment you want to live and work in.
7. Discover what is actually important to you, what fulfills you, what triggers your curiosity. You have time now to get to know what provides you with a fulfilling life.
8. Remind yourself often that you have faced other events which changed your life, and have come through them well. Even, in many cases, better than before.
9. Say “YES” to the Universe. When a door opens, try it out. You only need to be willing to do today what comes to your hands to do today! Follow your curiosity and be willing to explore what is offered, even for a short time.
10. Find the gift. Even something destructive in your life (fire, flood, disease) has a gift if you are willing to recognize it when it makes its appearance.
11. This too shall pass! Everything is in motion. All experiences, feelings, needs, or fears, pass! Allowing everything to pass through is a key to your emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical resilience.
Blessings,
Charlotte
Editited by Monique Huenergardt of MoReadsYou.com