Labor Day tips for the unemployed

I have always enjoyed labor day. It's a paid day off. What's not to love? During my day off I would occasionally stop what I was doing and think to myself, “I'm getting paid for this.” Labor day is quite different this year. I have been unemployed since June. The thrill of having a day off has no value to me right now. With the unemployment rate reaching 11% in Florida, I'm sure there are many that share my lack of enthusiasm for the Labor Day holiday. The other day a friend who recently lost his job asked me, “How do you do it?” At first I thought, “Uh-oh,what did I do now.” What he meant was how do I deal with the stress of being without work. He has been unemployed only a short time and it's driving him nuts already. What he didn't realize is that I too have my days when the reality of unemployment slaps me upside the head. After countless attempts to gain employment, only to run into the proverbial brick wall... well, anybody would get discouraged after a while. Some days I feel so restless it seems like I could burst like a volcano. I know what my qualities are; I know what I have to offer, but the employers aren't buying it right now. My friend's question made me think. How do we maintain a positive attitude in such stressful times, especially during a holiday that is nothing more than a painful reminder that you don't have a job. I am far from being an expert on psychological perseverance. I can't offer professional financial advise on how to survive on unemployment benefits. I don't even think I qualify to advise you on the best job hunting methods. What I would like to do is to tell you what I have done to keep myself from going nuts.

Allow yourself to be human. Losing a job is very traumatic. It's normal to have some measure of depression. There will be some days that you will question your value. In fact, there will be some days you may feel totally worthless. You will miss the people you were used to interacting with every day. Your anxiety will reach peak levels when you try to determine which bills to pay and which ones are left unpaid. Every once in a while though, something positive will happen to brighten your day. I call these little nuggets of joy. Under normal circumstances these things may be insignificant, but now they are quite a big deal. It's like having a bean on your plate. Normally that would not do much to satisfy your appetite, but if you haven't eaten for three days, that bean will be a delicacy. Celebrate these little nuggets. Tell your friends and family about them. Don't beat yourself up when you are having a bad day. Those days will come and go.

Keep yourself busy. It may sound odd, but it seems like I am busier now that I am unemployed. Of course your top priority is seeking employment. That's a given. While you are out of work take some time to develop a skill or talent. Do some volunteer work. Call your church and ask if there is anything you can do to help. Some may call this a healthy distraction. Well, perhaps it is. If you sit and watch TV all day, your just fanning the flames of depression and worthlessness. When I can do something for somebody else, it reinforces my sense of value. I have been writing for Examiner since I lost my job. When someone sends a comment telling me how much an article I wrote has impacted them, it's like a shot in the arm of encouragement. Sometimes just picking up the phone to speak uplifting and encouraging words to someone can be just what the doctor ordered for you. I recently had a conversation where I unintentionally encouraged the person I was talking to. When she expressed to me how much my words meant to her, I felt nourished in my soul. This was a bean on my plate. The key is to limit your idle time. I'm sure you have heard the old saying that and idle mind is the devils workshop. Don't allow yourself to get caught in the vise on the devil's workbench.

The best advise I can offer you is to stay as close as you can to the Lord. He is the true source that will sustain you through this difficult time. Remember that God is in control. Nothing ever happens that would make God say, “Gee, I didn't see that coming.” He knew you were going to lose your job. No, He is not a cruel god who is toying with your life for His amusement. As Christians we are always in the process of being molded into what God has planned for us. Personally, I have found that in difficult times I experience greater spiritual growth. Hitting rock bottom has a way of reminding us that we are dependent on our Heavenly Father. Keep close ties with your Christian friends during this time. God will often speak words of encouragement through them. Make sure that while you have so much time on your hands, you take the time to get alone with God every day. It is particularly important - now more than ever - that you stay plugged in the source that feeds your soul. Like in the poem Footprints in the Sand(www.footprints-inthe-sand.com/index.php), He will carry you when you don't have the strength to walk.

Labor day may be one of those days when you feel down. Collect your little nuggets of joy and celebrate them. Plan something to do with friends or family. Reach out to someone who needs a friend. There is no way to predict how long the job market will be in this condition, but you have the choice of how unemployment will affect you. Determine today to make the most of your unemployment, seeking ways you can grow. I pray that you will find what God has in store for you and your journey with Him will grow more intimate through this time.