Job Search Requires Stress Management to Stay on Track

Losing a job work ranks right up there with marriage and death as a cause of stress. Throw in an unstable economy and looking for work can be a real killer. How do you beat stress and even thrive in uncertain times?

I coach my clients to use the six traits of thriving to move beyond surviving in transition. The six traits are attentiveness, groundedness, trust, proactive purpose, optimistic confidence and systems thinking. While coping tends to mask, ignore or medicate thriving is positive action that seeks solutions. Let’s take a look at these six traits.

Attentiveness is about self-awareness and commitment to growth. You see change as opportunity not loss. Being internally motivated (taking responsibility for your actions) opens the way for being receptive to new experiences. This flexibility reduces fear of the unknown and contributes to excitement versus anxiety.

Groundedness anchors us to our spirituality and gives us a sense of hope and reassurance. By developing a support system we create a safety net to break our falls. We are more resilient and able to weather the storms.

Trust is vital to thriving. We have to be able to trust ourselves and be comfortable with all of our feelings. Trust in our process helps us be okay with the ambiguity of the situation. It allows us to be self-nurturing so we take care of ourselves better.

Proactive purpose combines to active ingredients of thriving. Being proactive puts us in control of our responses and our future. Having a sense of purpose can shape our thoughts and actions. As we dream beyond the practical we become co-creators of what we want.

Having an optimistic confidence means we are expectant of good things happening. Increased self-confidence allows us to take risks and adapt. We don’t have to take everything so seriously when we are truly optimistic and confident that we will prevail, even if we take a risk that doesn’t pan out.

The lynch-pin is systems thinking. We understand that everything that happens is part of a larger picture. All life is really an interactive experiment. One bump in the road is not the end of the journey. By having a balanced approach and maintaining a sense of humor we put events in perspective and don’t make them more important than they are.

Mostly it boils down to common sense. Don’t take yourself or your situation too seriously. Keep people around you to provide support and assistance. Don’t let circumstances dictate your outcomes. Trust yourself and others to make it through the fog. Let your purpose guide your actions with optimism and confidence in yourself and the system. Stay balanced and laugh out loud.

Looking for work is work enough without adding stress and strain to the mix. Adopting these six traits will help you thrive in the midst of turmoil and uncertainty. It may even shorten your job search if you are able to relax and go with the flow instead of gritting your teeth and fighting the process. It will definitely make it less stressful.

Check out the link below for some other great articles and tips on stress management.
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