Maybe it's time for a Soulcheck, Not a Paycheck

"You don't know this, but there will be a day when you realize this was the best thing that could happen to you." -Harvey McKay (From his book: We Got Fired! ...And It's The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Us)

There's something I've noticed about people who have lost their jobs recently. They seem happier. Relieved, almost. Not everyone, of course but in many cases, the fear of losing their job was lot worse than afterwards. I also know a lot of employed people who are miserable on two counts: They hate their current jobs and they're afraid of losing them. They're both scared and stuck.

But once you lose your job, at least you can move on. Daniel Gilbert, professor of psychology at Harvard University, explained this phenomenon in a recent New York Times article, "What You Don't Know Makes You Nervous." He said: "once we get bad news we weep for a while, and then get busy making the best of it. We change our behavior, we change our attitudes. ... An uncertain future leaves us stranded in an unhappy present with nothing to do but wait."

So when things change, what should you do about it?
Call it fate, chance or luck if you want, but as a Christian, I believe that it's the time to consider and seek God's true will, purpose and plan for your career and life. Remember that however well we try and plan our lives, we're never fully in control. But how we face it- good and bad – with Fear or in Faith --is in our control. So maybe it's time for a "Soulcheck", and not a paycheck. A time to look inward as well as upward, and change the outward.

Attitude towards adversity really does make all the difference.

Zig Ziglar touches on this here:




You are not special, but you are unique. Those who know how to leverage their uniqueness and gifts are the ones who create satisfying and successful careers. There is no point in looking for a good job if you aren’t 100% sure what is really ‘good’ is for you! Which means, you need to identify and embrace what you want to leverage about yourself so you can find success on your own terms.

So, how should you assess your unique combination of values, skills and interests?
Start by taking the time to write out on paper all the things that you excel at. Ask friends, family and even co-workers (they don’t have to know you are looking for a job, you can just say you are doing some self assessment and professional development work on yourself) to give their input as to what they see as your best assets.

Then it’s time to organize your thoughts as to who you are and what you can offer to potential employers. Think about it - how can you possibly convince employers to hire you if you can’t articulate your values, strengths and interests in a compelling manner?