Are you worried your organisation might trim staff numbers in the wake of the global credit crisis? Is your industry get hammered by negative publicity? Do your co-workers complain or worry out loud incessantly? Or are you feeling so stressed out that negativity has spread its suffocating tentacles around you? While you may have reason to feel down, with proactive action and a positive attitude you can survive and thrive in the wake of this crisis.

First, stay positive. It’s important not to panic. Wisdom suggests that when life turns to custard everyone would benefit by cultivating a calm, optimistic and pragmatic attitude. One of the best ways you can do this is to take control of the suggestive elements in your environment. Make a commitment to ensuring that what you are seeing, hearing and doing are consistent with the goals you want to achieve. Here’s how:

1. Choose your attitude:
As Viktor Frankl, Austrian Psychiatrist and survivor of the worst horrors imaginable during his imprisonment in various concentration camps said, you may not be able to choose the circumstances of your life, but the one thing no man can ever take from you is your attitude. “We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms -- to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way."
Sometimes, according to Frankl, disasters, setbacks and disappointments are gifts waiting to be revealed. In other words, we can choose to find meaning and purpose and even divine guidance during stressful and uncertain times. For example, Viktor’s experiences and compassion for his fellow human beings led him to work at ways to help people maintain their will to live. After his release he became world famous for developing “meaning therapy,” a valuable therapy technique he perfected during his time in the concentration camps.

Many other people have similar stories where what at the time looked like the end of the world, turned out to be an experience that steered them in a more positive direction - in some cases turning out to be the best thing that ever happened. As one client told me recently, "If I hadn’t been fired I’d still be looking out the window wishing I was somewhere else. I would have settled for less, and I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I’d be someone else. Someone less."
If Viktor Frankl, can find meaning and purpose in his unimaginable suffering, then I'm positive we all can too. How could your current negative situation turn out to be a silver-lining in disguise?

2. Fake it until you make it.
Proactively cultivate confidence and optimism. Opinions vary re whether we are really headed for a recession. Even the experts can’t agree. Things may not be so bard after all. But many economists agree that pessimistic, recessionary thinking and self-talk can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

As the National Bank economists said in their August 2008 Economic Outlook, “We cannot stress the importance of confidence enough. It’s not a key driver of wealth, but critical for maintaining momentum. Economics and business cycles are as much about human behaviour, the feel-good factor and risk appetites – as well as the laws of supply and demand.... it’s a game of confidence.... the danger is that fear and caution becoming self-fulfilling. Signs of improving confidence is the first critical step.”
One way to fake it until you make it is to affirm for what you want and keep your mind off what you don’t.


3. Meditate! Control your thoughts - control your destiny. Learn to meditate and practice this daily. Recent research published in New Scientist, has revealed that meditation can help to calm people and reduce fear. The research found that regular meditation can tame the amygdala, an area of the brain which is the hub of fear memory. People who meditate regularly are less likely to be shocked, flustered, surprised or as angry as other people and therefore have a greater stress tolerance threshold as a result.

Research also proves that people who meditate regularly suffer less from anxiety and have increased energy, creativity and self-control. By meditating regularly, the brain is reoriented from a stressful fight-or¬-flight response to one of acceptance, a shift that increases contentment, enthusiasm, and feelings of happiness. Make meditating for at least 20 minutes a day part of your daily routine for optimum success and well-being.


4. Bibliotherapy - Read your way to positivity! Immerse yourself in books which inspire and motivate. Tune out negative news and bad events and tune into positive news and information. Check out this link for more signs of economic optimism. We make real what we attend to so start collecting your own glad-rap clippings.


5.Be your biggest fan. Practice positive self talk. Under times of stress, or if you're a pessimist by nature, you're likely to spend a lot of time with negative self-talk. "I can't do this." "Nothing works out for me." Or, "I’m not a very confident person," are all common examples. Whatever situation you are facing pay attention to what you're telling yourself. All the above statements are all examples of really crippling affirmations Talk and affirm the positive instead. It will make a dramatic difference in how you feel. Make a conscious attempt to shift the focus on any pessimistic thoughts. Try saying things to yourself like, "I know I'll get through this." "What could I do today to stay relaxed?" "There are many things I do well and today I'll stay focused on those." “I’m a capable, confident person”

6.Get outside! True happiness comes from being outside. Just like plants, we need at least 20 minutes of sunlight every day just to restore our hormones to normal levels. Medical research suggests some people need as much as two hours a day of sunlight to avoid seasonal affective disorder. Walking outside can also help you gain a new perspective on a troubling situation. When you go outside and take a walk, you increase the electrical activity in your brain, you breathe negative ions and see in three dimensions. With time alone engaging the whole brain, you have an opportunity to process things that are troubling you and to see things more objectively, sometimes the solution is quite simple. Tap into the healing power of the great outdoors by walking near the sea or natural bush.

7. Be grateful! Celebrate what you do have. Sometimes it can be so easy to focus on what you don’t have that you forget to acknowledge all the things that you have in your life. For example good, health, a loving partner, freedom to do what you have supportive friends, a roof over your head, someone who loves you, a good education, living in a peaceful part of the world, experiences you’ve had, all the things that are good about you and that others appreciate etc

8. Rewind! Reflect back on previous crises - remember the positive changes which occurred as a result. Trust this will happen again. Keep a silver linings journal. Divide the pages in half. On one side record the thing that’s upset you and on the other side, the opportunity that could come of it. You may find you have to add this part later – sometimes the silver lining takes a wee while to be revealed.

9. Invest in colour. Surround yourself with colours and scents which reflect the way you want to feel and be. Many people love yellow when they are sad. Vincent Van Gogh, who suffered from depression, often painted in yellow – yellow skies, yellow grass, and yellow houses. Yellow! Choose a colour that that makes you feel fabulous! Boost your optimism, happiness and success by contacting me for a personalised colour analysis session. Visit me at Thecolourgirl.com to find out more - click here

10.Get around the right people. Take a wide berth away from moaners, pessimists and whingers and get around the people who know how to find opportunities in the midst of any life crisis. Associate only with positive, success-orientated people. As motivational guru Brian Tracey says, “Fly with the eagles. You can’t fly with the eagles if you’re scratching with the turkeys.” Walk away from the go-nowhere types. If those negative tigers you work with aren’t going to change their stripes get out fast. Start looking for another job before their pessimism or cynicism affects you too.

11. Listen your way to success. Help feed your positive vibes by listening to motivational tapes, CD’s or podcasts. The average person drives 12,000 to 25, 000 kms a year which works out to between 500 and 1000 hours per year. Put that time to good use and engage your brain. You can become an expert in your field by simply listening to educational audio programmes as your go from a to b.

12. Be visible. Now is not the time to go on leave. Out of sight out of mind – you may find your position could be axed while you're gone, Even if things have slowed down and the workload isn’t what it used to be now is not the time to cruise in around ten o'clock either. It’s all about perception management – if you look busy chances are the bosses will think they can’t do without you. Make it clear how invaluable you really are by identifying ways to stand out and distinguish yourself. If you're in sales, get your numbers up. Nobody will be laying off star salespeople. Get out from behind your desk and increase your visibility – proactively network and help others achieve their goals with your help whenever possible.

13. Create some spin. Future proof your career by making sure you're adding value at work by going above and beyond your basic job responsibilities, Be the first to initiate new ideas or to put your hand up for new assignments when asked. Don’t be shy about blowing your own trumpet – make sure your boss knows how you are adding value without being too self-focused.

Show how multi faceted and adaptive you are. Don't get a reputation as someone who is change adverse or who only does what they are told to do. Keep your eyes and ears open and proactively look for opportunities to get involved. Volunteer for value-add tasks, including tasks for which others may be responsible. Be a team player and pitch in wherever you can. Doing your job and doing it well is not enough in these economic times. Be prepared to show how you can go the extra mile.
Update your skill set. Future proof your career by staying in tune with marketable skills and experience. What social, economic or technological changes are coming up and how can you be work-ready with the skills, knowledge or training required?

This may mean forking out of your own pocket but the reality is companies get rid of people whose skills are obsolete. Take classes, join trade organisations, and prove you're in the know. Consider going back to school, perhaps even by correspondence, to show your employer you're serious about your career and your performance. Ask your way to success by finding out what is most relevant and needed by your current organisation. Future proof your career and ensure a good return on investment by finding out how marketable your new skill set will be outside your organisation.

14. Think and act positive. Attitude counts - a lot. Employers want people who can show resilience and boost morale during tough times. No one likes a whiner. It’s draining and counterproductive. Research shows happy, optimistic workers are less likely to get laid off than people who think and talk negatively and seem to dislike what they do. I have seen so many careers prematurely derailed because of negative attitudes. People seem to think they are bullet proof and neglect the importance of how they interact with others. If you moan about your job or complain about the boss odds are your manager may rationalise that giving you the sack would really be doing you a favor. You won’t turn any clients on by engaging in recessionary banter either.

15. Network! Network!Network! So many people wait until they’ve lost their job until they start tapping into their networks. Chances are that by the time this happens you’ll be calling out of desperation, needing their help to find work. Increasing your chances of keeping your current job or transitioning reasonably painlessly into a new job following a layoff often depends on how consistently you've contacted - and maybe even helped - lots of people when you didn't need them. Remember it’s not what you know but who you know and how they feel about you. Maintain positive relationships and don’t burn any bridges.

16. Get career fit. Update your CV, start visioning where else you might like to work or what else you might like to do, touch base with recruiters and sign up for electronic job alerts. It doesn’t hurt to keep your eye out for future opportunities and if you're mentally prepared for a move, you'll make a more informed and wiser one than if you wait until you're desperate.

17. Pursue your passion not your pension! Maybe your current position is perfectly "safe." But think about it for a while and you may find yourself wondering: Is "safe" good enough? Maybe it's time to change jobs anyway -- and heed the immortal words of Keith Richards, "I'm gonna leave while it's still fun/ I'm gonna walk before they make me run." Don't know what you're passionate about? Find it here!

Doing what you love and doing it well is also a cure during economic downturns. There will always be a demand for people who love what they do and who do it well. The key to recession proofing your career and surviving and thriving in the face of uncertainty is knowing how to do what you love and still pay the bills. If you have no idea how to find your passion Happy@Work Job Hunting for Mid-lifers+ will show you how. Follow this link to for free downloadable preview http://www.cassandragaisford.com/happy_at_work.html

18. Keep your dreams alive. Look at the big picture and the life you really desire. Don’t let present day worries rob you of your passion and enthusiasm for your dreams. Do something everyday to help make your dreams a reality. Get inspired! Start an image board with things you want accomplish or achieve. Look at it daily. Believe they will happen - tick them off as they do. Surround yourself with inspirational people who believe in you and the beauty of your dreams and do something everyday that you love!



If you have no idea how to boost your happiness at work Happy@Work Job Hunting for Mid-lifers+ will show you how. Follow this link for a free downloadable preview

Labels: Happiness

posted by Cassandra  # 11:17 PM