“Celebrate what you want to see more of.”
– Thomas J. Peters
Unexpected circumstances happen to us all when results we expected to go one way actually go another. Disappointing results often cause shock, pain, anger and confusion. What are we to do now? How are we expected to proceed?
We are to proceed with the best of who we are and what we have to give. If we are not able to offer our gifts for monetary remuneration, we should not doubt that our gifts are still valuable and, perhaps, we should offer them voluntarily in some capacity to those who never expected to receive them.
Of course, monetary responsibilities need to be met, but one of the most debilitating emotions we can experience is the feeling of hopelessness. The unexpected pause in our life expectations might even present an opportunity to do something we have never done before.
Simplistic activities like planting something in the ground just to see it grow, or drawing something just to see it evolve or walking to get nowhere at all, present simple solutions to complex difficulties and, yet, ultimately provide value that can rival any banking activity.
– Connie Popp
Dr. Connie Popp is a board member for The Center for Life Transitions as well as an active facilitator for the Center’s Life-SHIFT and Job Search Courage programs. She is also the Director of Campus Ministry at Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Read more.