I was talking to a friend the other day when he said something to me had to address. He asked me “why arent you completely depressed by now when youve have been out of work so long?” He then ended his question with “how do you stay so positive?” I was happy to answer him.
First off, I told him, was that you can make two choices in life when confronted with adversity. One is to curl up in a ball and hope it all goes away, to give up on the world and feel sorry for yourself. That little “pity party” might help you in the short run, but it doesnt solve the problem. The second option is to keep moving forward despite the setbacks, despite the naysayers. To keep throwing whatever you can up against the wall until something sticks. I told him that I choose the latter.
The next thing I said, that I do stay positive is to stay active, to feel like you matter. Sitting at home allows you to think about your situation too much, you succumb to cabin fever and start to move toward inertia. I choose to be out in the world. Sure, Im not employed, but that doesnt mean I dont matter. It doesnt mean I dont have value. I chose to stay in aviation by volunteering in the Civil Air Patrol, to help others find work by assisting with the “Pink Slip Parties” that bring job seekers and recruiters together. I continue to get out and network like crazy, to reach out and talk to people because it’s always been my philosophy that you never know where your next job is coming from. When I am not volunteering I am out with my wife, enjoying the day or a free sporting event, or even just a walk. Just that little bit of activity can completely change your outlook.
I told my friend that I chose to look on the optimistic side of things. When confronted with a challenge, a setback, I just work twice as hard. Zig Ziglar, a motivational speaker and legendary salesperson, often says that those who are most successful are the most persaverent. Many people can directly tie their success to the fact that they NEVER gave up. Think about it, if you really want to be a pilot did you let anything stop you? If you are flying now the answer is no. Its that perseverance that got you were you are. I look at it the same way with my job search, if you just keep pushing forward, eventually something has got to give and that “something” is employment. I treat each morning as a new opportunity and a fresh start. Thats where my “Todays the Day” mantra cames from.
Lastly, I told him that I believe strongly that reflecting a positive attitude is more likely to get you hired. If you go around disgruntled and disheartened what kind of image are you giving to others? Are you the kind of person people would want around them? This is also true for networking, I find that others feed off positive energy and are repelled by negative attitudes. Much of the networking assistance I have gotten so far has been a result of this attitude. Yes, times are tough, but you keep the faith that “this too shall pass”
I know its hard for many to be positive when the bills are mounting up, when the leads end in dead ends, but you have to keep going no matter what. Thats what I told my friend and I think he found solace in it.
At the end of the conversation, I just smiled and repeated to him what I say every morning “Todays the Day” because one day it WILL BE.
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