A cry for help...or is it?

Disappointment, rejection, isolation, these are all things that can happen to you on a daily basis if you are one of the millions of unemployed. Since we have no control over who will actually extend an invitation for us to work with them, we begin to focus on what we can control. In many cases, this can lead to a really negative place, like Bravo marathons and Lifetime original movies until 3:00 am.

These are all considered a chain reaction in the context of, disappointment from rejection, rejection then turns inward blaming ourselves, which then leads to isolation because we feel that we are being judged and disappointing those around us. It is easier to stay inside and hide from the cruel world, but honestly the person who is judging you the most is the one who is at home with you, yourself.

Even people who are employed can go through all of these different emotions. I’m not saying that the unemployed are a special breed of self-haters, because there were many times over my life that I would stay up all night and be exhausted the next day at work. But, now that I don’t have to wake up for work at 7:00 in the morning, it’s really easy to watch the entire last season of Project Runway until 5:00 am.

When I had no time my house was cleaner, the food I cooked was much more gourmet and exciting, but most of all I was happier. Being stressed out fueled me to get more done, and now that there is all the time in world it seems like nothing is getting done. Red just isn’t as red, and blues are fading into gray. But do not force yourself to do something you aren’t ready to do. There have been many people trying to rip me out of my comfort cocoon over the last few weeks. It’s okay to hide. It is okay to take a break from feeling judged, even if the truth is you are a harder judge on yourself than Tyra Banks could ever be!

So make a schedule, make a plan. So times are rough, and you don’t have a job. Your broke, feel worthless, and you begin to think that playing the Lottery is a viable choice for your future, although hey, you never know... Take two steps back, and take a break from thinking. Watch too much television, read a book, maybe cry a little, but give yourself a date. That day, wake up early. Sing in the shower. Smile in the mirror at yourself. Do more than you planned. Begin to accomplish things, and dress to impress, impress yourself. After all, that’s the one who is judging you the hardest, unless you are on a reality television show, in which case they are judging you pretty tough too.