Reflections
By the time this blog is posted it will be late March 2026. By that time as a Christian, (Roman Catholic), I will have been in the Lenten period of the church year for over a month. Lent is a time of reflection for Christians. Those reflections may be prompted in their interpretation and messages they receive in daily scripture reading. They may come from homilies they here from the leaders of their church. Or they may come from when they allow themselves to sit in silence, closed off from all distractions, and just process the messages they are receiving on how to move forward in a positive direction in their life.
When one finds themselves in job search, especially if it was because of a staff reduction that was unexpected, it can be a time of emotional grief. I have known clients, especially those whom I meet through outplacement assignments, who will say to me they want to work with me, but need to take time to absorb what has happened to them in the elimination of their job. When we do get started with our work, I look to draw out of them, thoughts they may have on what they may want to do next. Some of that may come through the completion of assessment tools, which look to bring out their “values” at this point of their life. Other ideas may come from encouraging them to read articles on types of work they think they may enjoy doing, or on companies for which they always envisioned working. While some may need to get back working quickly, I look to impress on them that perhaps they take a job role for which they are not really suited for “cash flow” needs, while they look to explore what they really would like to do.
Getting distracted is very easy in our world of today. I know I, as one who works much of his day at the computer, can find myself getting easily off course when I choose to look at other websites, or read articles that come up in front of me on the computer’s news feed. So, when it comes time to reflect on how you may want to move forward, here are some tips to make the most of your reflection time:
- Find a quiet place to be by yourself. You may have to close the door to your room. Or perhaps you may go to the local library and find a desk by yourself. Or if your thought process brings in a spiritual realm, stop by your local church.
- Jot down thoughts that come to you, which you may not have time to explore now, but may be ones to investigate further, later. As far as your medium for writing down your thoughts, just make sure it is one which you will immediately think to go to at that later time. For some, it could be on a notepad. For others it could be on their phone, (just make sure you write down the thoughts, and not begin scrolling into other applications).
- Look to make a schedule for yourself each week. What time are you blocking off as “me time?” Your “me time” could be for research on possible next opportunities for you. It can be time for networking meetings with others in the fields and industries you are looking to explore to learn more about the needs of those disciplines of interest to you. Look to make the “me time” non-negotiable if you can. It will not be all 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. But, for those minutes or hours you set aside for yourself, the needs of others, (unless absolute emergency), will have to wait.
- Perhaps find a “job search buddy” for your search. They may be someone going through job search themselves. You are there to support them through their journey, while they are there to support you. Support may mean just listening to ideas prepared, interview practice, or keeping the other on track when they make a commitment to do a particular set of tasks as part of their search.
In a world of constant “noise” do you take time for yourself to reflect? Whether it is on the items that are most important for you to accomplish for you and your family, items on which you want to improve your skills or take up for enjoyment, or as we outlined here perhaps your next job opportunity, reflection is always there for you to plan out your next steps. It is up to you if you plan to use it as the gift that it is in your life.
