The stock market is at an all time low.  Your 401K plan is now a 201K plan.  Mergers and cutbacks are happening everywhere.  Either you are unemployed, on the verge of unemployment, or know someone who is unemployed.   How do you find Fulfillment, Joy, and Peace in your Life, let alone cope?

First, what is the current perspective that you have about your job?  Let’s say that your current perspective is that “It Sucks!”.  In the mindset of “It Sucks!”, you may have the belief that management is the only one that is not suffering because the big bosses are still getting their bonuses and the little people are losing their jobs, or everyone is out for themselves to stay in those coveted few jobs.  In the “It Sucks!” perspective, it feels really hopeless, angry, and frustrating!

What other viewpoint or perspective is there?  Maybe there is a perspective called “Safety Zone”.  In the “Safety Zone” beliefs such as “at least I have a steady income and medical benefits” and “there’s no where else to go because no one else is hiring” are predominant.   In the “Safety Zone” perspective, it feels safe and secure, maybe a little stagnant.

Try moving on to a perspective that is more aligned with your Life Purpose – “Making the World A Better Place”.  In this perspective you may have beliefs such as “I am serving a Higher Purpose”, “I am helping others to grow”, and “I am Making the World A Better Place”.  In the “Making the World A Better Place” perspective, it feels alive and vibrant!

So which perspective feels good?  Most of us agree that “I am Making the World A Better Place” is the one that feels the best.  But then there is our “Saboteur” – the voice inside our head, our beliefs, our learned patterns and our fear that may keep us choosing to stay in the lands of the  ”Safety Zone” or “It Sucks!”.  Our fears about not being good enough, about failing, or not being worthy of success keep us in the “Safety Zone”.  And our learned patterns may keep us in the drama of “It Sucks!” because it may be more comfortable to distract ourselves with the drama of workplace merger rumors or being a victim of upper managemnt than to look at our own responsibility for our unhappiness and less than fulfilling life.   So what’s next?  What can I do to reach that state of Joy and Peace?

First, be gentle with yourself.  In these challenging times, it is important to take time to care for our physcial, emotional, and spiritual health and well-being.  Make a list of simple nurturing things to do for yourself and commit to doing at least one per week.  These can be as simple as taking a walk in nature,  taking a hot bubble bath, getting a massage, or seeing a funny movie.  Take some quiet time daily to journal, pray, or mediate, and stay connected to what is important in your Life – this is more important than ever when our external environment is so challenging and stressors are everywhere.

Next, examine what perspective you are choosing to live your Life from – are there other perspectives that you can identify?  Go deeper and explore each of these alternate perspectives – ask yourself  how does it feel in this perspective and what are my thoughts and beliefs?  Pay attention to your body sensations and energy levels in each perspective.  Sometimes you will find that you really do want to stay in a perspective that is driven by your “Saboteur”.  If that is the case, ask yourself why you are making this choice and what keeps you there.  Also ask yourself how creative and resourceful you are from this place.  If you feel really stuck, than journal about your feelings or work with a coach to asssist you in your process.

When you are ready to inhabit a perspective that is aligned with your values and Life Purpose, then go for the gusto!  For instance, in the original example, let’s choose “I am Making the World A Better Place”.   Make a conscious effort to commit to staying in this perspective – try it on for at least three days.  Live there and pay attention to the experiences in your outer world.  How do I experience my workplace from this perspective?  Notice how creative you are!  Meet with a friend or a coach and brainstorm ideas on actions you would like to take from this perspective.  Then focus in on a few and take action!  Create a plan and stick to it!  You will be amazed at the results!