Well it has been a long road for me since I graduated from Graduate School a road filled with troubles, trials, doubts, stress, anxiety, tears, courage, surrender, self reflection, and hope! I thought I would end that sentence with hope because I am filled with the hope of an unknown future but faith that opportunities placed before me have been divinely placed there for a reason. To give you a little idea of my journey so far I went back to school to learn and to increase my options for a career in something I would love and to make my self more marketable for employment. HAHAHA well graduating was a rude awakening I realized that I went to school to make myself more marketable came out after the grueling thesis work 100 pages, working an internship 25-30 hours per week of FREE work and after all that employment in social service fields have two things to say to me I am unexperienced and overqualified. Oh so those 800 hours of free work are not enough experience and I had a better shot at this job when I didn't have my Master's cool its ok I don't regret anything, you almost would rather here that you are just not a good fit. So how did I survive this self doubt and discouragement well here's how. So some things I have learned during my phase of life that I would love to share with all those out there going through the unemployment depression.
- Allow yourself to express your sadness- sometimes you just need a good cry maybe you went to another interview only to get shot down again, maybe at your part time employment someone tried to put you down, and made you feel less great than you are, maybe you cleaned the house for the 16th time because you didn't have anything better to do. My suggestion for working through this is to allow yourself a good cry follow it up with some reflection write in a journal write your frustrations or talk to someone who loves you.
- Surround yourself with a support system - some of the best moments I have experienced these past few months were the times when my sister Tim and I either went home to spend time at my parents or just spent the day surfing. It really helps get your mind off your stress and remember that no matter how successful you are in life what really matters is the relationships you embrace now because those relationships give you a hope and encourage you to keep trucking along.
- Keep your chin up - it's hard to come home from an interview that you got rejected from and apply for another set of jobs the next day, but being able to get online after a rejection, research and apply to a few jobs makes you feel accomplished and motivated, it also makes you realize that you are a fighter not a quitter and you will make it somehow.
- Get yourself moving- start a fitness routine it really helps to have a daily schedule that includes a vigorous work out because you will feel energized and you will have something in your day that you will feel proud of, maybe you ran a mile farther than yesterday and now feel proud of yourself for that accomplishment. Also the endorphins you get from working out will put you in good spirits to face all those job applications.
- Set new goals - so I'm not exactly talking about career goals, no I'm talking about personal goals. Maybe you want to try a new hobby set a personal goal and accomplish it, mine was to go on more hikes and train for a backpacking trip. Well my backpacking trip is this summer I'm so excited and I've been on countless hikes which I must say is my new favorite goal.
- Deepen your faith - it's so easy to feel sorry for yourself when you work so hard for a degree and you don't see the end road anywhere in sight. It's hard to really understand that God still has you in his hands and sees your heart to the core. Human nature tends to feel discouraged by the things that you don't have or see. However it's so important to surrender and have faith that there is a purpose for your life God still has you in his grasp and when you surrender EVERYTHING all your self doubt, self pity, your own plans than you really start to understand the meaning of true deep faith.
Now that I have finally landed a job I am so excited and filled with hope!!! So from first hand experience I have to tell all of you going through unemployment you will make it through take note of some of my advice and adapt or adopt whatever you wish this has really helped me and I know there are many more things a person can do to keep there chin up and keep the hope a float these were my secrets.
So for those of you interested in reading more about what I will be doing, I am going to be working for a company that provides therapy to children on the autism spectrum. Seems ideal for me as I just wrote my thesis on Art Therapy for Autism, I guess it was just meant to be!
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