Laid Off?? Now What?!?

Were you just laid off from your job? One small consolation is - you're not alone. This is happening worldwide at an alarming rate. But even though it's happening to so many people; it is still a shock to actually here those words, "We're letting you go." After you hear this your next thought it - now what? Here's the answer to that question:

You are more in control than you think. Obviously you did not create the weak economy leading to this event. BUT - you ARE in total control of how you respond to that event. Here's how that works: Suppose you get depressed and just give up. Your response would obviously create a negative reality in your life.

But what if you instead respond by "taking the tiger by the tail" and start a new business on the web, or become a consultant in your field of specialization. You have then created an entirely different reality in response to the exact same event.

Turn your frustration into a motivator to start your search for your ideal career. You'll create a whole new reality for yourself that will allow you to move forward, instead of remaining stuck where you are.

You may find that you are ready to switch gears completely. You may wonder, am I really ready for a career transition? How can I best prepare myself for a change? But even before you delve into the components of a satisfying career, it helps immensely to cultivate a healthy and positive mental outlook. People who are successful at making a change are the ones who are willing to overcome their fears, doubts and insecurities in order to make it happen. You too, can be one of these people.

Keep these three tips in mind when forging ahead on your path to a more fulfilling and rewarding career:

1. Commit yourself to making a change.
Something that is incredibly important to any change you make in your life is your level of commitment. You have to be committed. How committed are you to finding a career that fits, on a scale from 1-10? If it's not at a 10, what do you need to do to move it up the scale? The time to ask yourself key questions is now. Do your research, so you know what questions to keep in mind. Contact a career expert who can help you become reacquainted with your goals and dreams. Explore career websites. Take personality tests. You will find that the more time you invest in career opportunities and self-discovery, the more committed to the cause you'll become.

2. Learn to overcome obstacles.
To be successful in changing career paths, you need to learn to overcome obstacles you will encounter along the way. The obstacles I see time and time again for people wanting to make a career change are: not knowing what to look for in a job (so they take one that is "good enough" that they don't truly enjoy) and negative beliefs--not believing they can successfully make the change. With practice, you can retrain your mind to see past perceived limitations, which are only a figment of your imagination anyway! With sufficient self-exploration, you will be able to pinpoint the exact qualities of the ideal career for you... and even the characteristics that you don't want in a career.

3. Get support.
I was able to very successfully make my career transition into coaching in large part because of my own coach. She helped me create my plan, remain positive, move forward, identify what I wanted to do and learn to overcome obstacles. I'm being honest when I say: It really helps to have support from a group or a coach to remind you to stay positive and focused. Get support from a career coach who can provide solid guidance and the resources you need to move ahead with your plans.

Remember, life doesn't just 'happen' to us. It's our responses to life that create our personal reality! Think about this for a moment. You really ARE in charge of creating your own life!