Worried about losing your job?

A few years ago I was in a job that was really stressful.  It meant working very long hours as I tried to gain some control over the factors that were negatively impacting upon me and my team.   I took on more and more…feeling that I was indispensable.  The truth was then when I left the organisation they managed very well without me.

No matter how talented you are, how well you perform and how hard you work, the truth is you may find yourself out of a job. And in this current economic climate you may find yourself spending more time holding on to your job that actually performing.

Have you ever actually sat down and thought about losing your job?

The first thing you think about might be around loss…loss of financial security, reputation, identity.  I know this is how I felt when I moved away from full time employment.  But if you stay with those feelings you might be surprised at what you learn.  As I moved into self employment I learned that having no gurantees what not the problem, the real problem was my clinging on to the appearance of security that did not exist.  I also learned to be more honest with myself about what my job could and could not do when it came to how I felt about myself…I learned to relate to work in a different way.

Many of the people I come into contact with in my work have been afraid of losing their job, and the majority have kept this fear to themselves. Others have been in denial.   But adopting a more mindful approach we can examine these fears and then develop a greater confidence through being true to ourselves.  Being authentic involves paying attention to how you think, feel and act…being mindful.

These are difficult times and it is easy to over estimate the unknowns and risks you are facing.  It is important now, more than ever, to cultivate stillness.  Take time out to listen to your emotions rather than seeing them as distractions that get in the way of you working.  Learn and apply the mindful practice of letting go of thoughts, emotions and physical sensations.   Then be open to what is happening around you…and from the spoace you will see more clearly what is happening and what you need to do. This is a whole lot better than worrying.