Everything happens for a reason. Perhaps this situation we find ourselves in right now was to serve as a wake-up call. Were our values out of whack?
Now is a really good time to re-evaluate what is important to you in your life. Seldom do we have the time or mental capacity to do this exercise, yet it is SO worth doing. Try ranking the following professional/personal values.
Being content with my work
Having major accomplishments
Being well liked
Being creative
Serving others
Having authority over others
Inventing something new
Advancing my career
Making my own decisions
Being competitive
Having high income
Having status
Choosing my work location
Feeling needed and appreciated
Pursuing excellence
Having low work stress
Spending time with family and friends
Have time freedom
Collaborating with others
Working for the environment
Being well known
Having power
Being independent
Having job security
Taking risks
Having interests outside of work
Being self motivated
Being loyal at work
Challenging myself athletically
Being active in the community
Gaining new knowledge
Influencing others
Being part of a team
Challenging myself intellectually
But don't stop there! Visualize what your a day in your ideal life would be like. Start at the very beginning of the day. Walk through hour by hour and describe what you would be doing, the activities and surroundings.
Phew! This should feel great. Now, what will it take to make this happen? What do you need to be able to accomplish this?
Does it seem un-obtainable? It can be. Take baby-steps. Today, what is one thing you can do to bring you closer to this goal of the ideal life? What will happen if you don't take this step vs. what will happen if you do?
No one has asked me why I list "Village Life in America"on my favorite books section of my blog, so, I will tell you anyway. It is a wonderful juxtoposition to the other books. Village Life is the diary of a girl living in a small town in the 1800s. It describes her daily activities and how historically significant events impacted her life. It was a different world in the 1800's, but not that different. The community supported each other like, I believe, the community will support each other today.
Hannah Morgan speaks and writes about job search and career strategies. She founded CareerSherpa.net to educate professionals on how to maneuver through today’s job search process. Hannah was nominated as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Job Search and Careers and is a regular contributor to US News & World Report. She has been quoted by media outlets, including Forbes, USA Today, Money Magazine, Huffington Post, as well as many other publications. She is also author of The Infographic Resume and co-author of Social Networking for Business Success.
