Avoiding Depression When You Are Faced With Unemployment
Being told you are redundant or that you will no longer have a job must be one of the most stressful experiences anyone has to endure.
Most times, we see our jobs as our security. Our jobs pay the bills, put a roof over our heads and put food in our belly.
So when the threat of losing this becomes real it can be a frightening experience, and one fraught with anxiety.
12 Tips To Avoid Depression When Faced With The Prospect Of Losing Your Job:
##1 You have value
A £50 note has value even if crumpled, trodden on, battered, folded. The value of the note remains the same. Irrespective of what happens to you, your value has not decreased.
##2 Avoid the trap of thinking you are worthless or unemployable
This follows up from ##1 above. To think you are worthless is a t-r-a-p. Avoid it with every fibre of your being. Just because you are told your position is redundant does not mean that you cannot be of value anywhere else. NO! Something better awaits you.
##3 Have a heart to heart with yourself
Sometimes we are in comfort zones, even ones that we hate but because of convenience just plod along with things. Now is the time to take stock. Be very honest with yourself. Were you selling yourself short in your last job? If so, what has always been the desire of your heart, your dream? Now, may be the time of execution!
##4 Allow yourself to dream
Dreams are free. You have a free licence to dream. In fact humans are the only creatures that have the ability to imagine. Imagine and recreate your world. Dream and dream big. Don’t place limitations. The job entrenchment may be a blessing in disguise, the much needed push you needed. Dream and meditate on the promises of God. There is power in meditation.
##5 Update your skills
If your skills are out of date, enrol for a course and get the skills you require. Or learn new skills for the change of career you now seek. You may be eligible for discount or even free courses. ASK! Never be shy to ask. Turn the negative to a positive situation. Take the leap of faith and just do it. There is a safety net of prospects below. Jump!
##6 Refuse to fear
Fear may attack you. You open your bills and there is no money, or the redundancy pay is quickly dwindling and there is no job in sight. Now is the time to exercise your faith muscles and challenge God at His Word. He said we must be anxious for nothing.
Fear opens channels for us to speak the wrong negative words. Even if fearful thoughts come, don’t let them out. Speak positive words. This is so vital.
Positivity begets positivity. Your positive words will put your angels to work. People call it law of attraction these days. Whatever law it is, just know that negative words will open the door to negativity so watch your words. Close the door on fear.
##7 Speak words of power
This follows up from ##6 above. I tell people that they did not lose the job but that the job lost them! Yes, yes, yes. You should know us by now… those who have been faithfully subscribing to the blogs here…You know how Chuck and I are very particular on words. Remember, we become what we say.
And because I do not believe I can lose anything because I have a winner’s mentality, my play of words is deliberately different. Why? Well, because of my faith as a Christian, the Bible has imbibed in me a particular mindset. There are beautiful words in it such as I am more than a conqueror, I am an overcomer, and so on. I have meditated on these words long and deep enough, and continue to do so. And whatever is in my heart is what I will speak. So I fill my heart with the right stuff.
So even when faced with a depressing situation like unemployment, know you have already won.
##8 Meditate
We have already mentioned meditation in ##4 and ##7 above. There are a few blogs Chuck has written on meditation. There is also the Meditation and Confession series that is a gem. Discover the power of meditation and fly!
##9 Hang out with the right people
A lot of the times, fear and anxiety comes because of something we heard or saw. Make sure you hang out with right people who will inspire you. Those who encourage you. Not the ones that tell you that your skills are so outdated, you are so old…and that they are being realistic!
Realism is when we get out there and conquer! No one is ever too old. And if a skill is outdated, we addressed this above. Refuse to become a news analyst either. Even if unemployment is going up, say this – None of these things affect me! It is not that you are oblivious but that you have fearless mindset!
##10 Do not ignore any letters from the bill companies and banks
Do not ignore the letters from the banks and bill companies and so on. Their letters often look threatening and make us feel depressed. But refuse to be intimidated. Go back to points in this post so that if the letters should come, you are composed and well positioned to deal with the red letters. However, do not ignore them. Ring them. Let them know your situation. Some are willing to offer you more time or work out a payment term. Even if they do not normally do so, ask. Remember from ##1 that you are valuable, that means you are special. Therefore if you have a mindset that you will have preferential treatment, it will be offered you. Oh yes! If the employee at the other end does not want to help you, try again another day. Another person will answer the call that will help you.
##11 Do not give up
Don’t allow yourself to give up. No matter how tough things get, never, ever give up. Read inspirational stories of those who made it despite the odds. Many of the tycoons past and present will share their rag to riches story. Who knows if you are the next billionaire. Rememember we said earlier dream BIG!
##12 Pray
As always, we pray. Prayer is heavenly license for intervention on your behalf. Tell Him who you feel. Tell Him what you want. He says He is our Father. Then speak to Him, make your requests known to Him. He is certainly not sleeping. And He is certainly not deaf.
If you know someone who is faced with unemployment, why not encourage them by sharing this post. It may go a long way in helping them. Thank you!
About The Author