Where the heck did this come from, I don't know -

[kyburg]

But it's a simple 1-6, so I'll pass it on.

WebMD's 'Why aren't you happy?' article.

I'll add some caveats up front.

One, if you're dealing with financial hardships, you are going to add to items 1 and 2 exponentially and there ain't a damn thing you can do about it. I finished a hooge email for the s00j folks this week, and I've probably scared them away - because, while I don't have a cent to throw right now, what I can offer is prior experience...and probably ran my mouth too long. Again. I also get pretty scary when I talk about that part of my life - and that's also unintentional. It was what it was - and it's not dinnertable conversation. *shrugs* Can also do nothing about that either. I sanitize it enough, it becomes useless as information. Pollyanna my butt - no way.

If you're broke, your life gets complicated and the pace speeds up. You simply don't have enough time to find more money, make it fast enough or have enough time to drop a few things to grab a deep breath. You don't.

So telling folks to simplify their lives and take things at a slower pace when they're dealing with layoffs, underfunding and so on - is pretty nasty. That said?

Points 4,5 and 6? Utter gold. Read them, grok them and apply them.

Boiled down, it's 'what's next,' 'don't be afraid to be sad,' and 'work your social networks.'

Note nobody is telling you to get over it, or deny shit happened.

And situational depression? Anything that can't be dealt with over one beer? Needs professional intervention - and I just deleted 500 words on the drug classes I wouldn't want to see used. (I think the SSRI class has a place. Not right here, thanks.)

One beer. More than hot chocolate to get to sleep with. 2mg of Valium, with only four tabs in the prescription. (Break 'em in fourths.)

And a plan. Nothing like a plan. Get one, work it daily and revise as necessary.

Be careful out there. And hang in there.

Comments

[violet-tigress1.livejournal.com]

One beer, huh?

[djdig.livejournal.com]

Thanks for sharing the link.

I agree on your thoughts about 1 and 2.

I've got plenty of time to think but after a few days, it gets stifling.

I realized today around 1, that I forgot to eat lunch. Normally, I'm hyper aware of my eating habits.

I'm fighting with Bally Fitness to try to lose the unneeded expense of a monthly gym bill, since I'm trying to stay afloat without having received an unemployment check yet.

I'm still hopeful that this time of unemployment is only temporary and great work experiences are coming my way, but when I search job boards daily, only to see them filled with ads asking you to sell your eggs for cash, I worry.

I'm looking forward to networking next week and industry events and hoping that I'm moving in the right direction.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

More than that, and the cure is worse than the original issue.

But I do think one beer, used judiciously, is pretty damn useful.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

You're on LinkedIn.com, right? Indeed.com is also your friend.

That said, be prepared to pick your second poison - time to think about the Other things you could do to earn a buck.

Me, it was driving airport shuttle, delivering phone books, waiting tables and manning phone banks.

[gallo-de-pelea.livejournal.com]

If you're broke, your life gets complicated and the pace speeds up. You simply don't have enough time to find more money, make it fast enough or have enough time to drop a few things to grab a deep breath. You don't.

So telling folks to simplify their lives and take things at a slower pace when they're dealing with layoffs, underfunding and so on - is pretty nasty.

THANK YOU.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

I love how some titled professionals (who make the six figures, mind and never have to wash a dirty dish) think of cake at times like this. I really do.

Been a really loooong time since they had to spend an entire day waiting for an interview at the unemployment office, and then spend another six hours asking for food stamps.

And be told no after all that time and effort was spent, not to mention the mortification of spreading your personal bizness in front of total strangers. Yeah. That.

[gallo-de-pelea.livejournal.com]

Oh, but if they just wanted it more it would work out!

*farts daisies and unicorn dust*

[stoneself.livejournal.com]

synchronicity - i was going to write something about 3-6. :)

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

It's good to want. It builds character.

Pays your bills, not so much.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

It's good stuff, all told. You saw it too?

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

Oh, about Bally's?

Move their payments to a cancelled credit card. Make them send you bills on paper.

You may end up in collection (oh well), but you won't have your $$$ taken in the meantime.

Yeah. Been there. *looks left* *looks right* And yeah, had to do that.

[stoneself.livejournal.com]

i wasn't going to write about the article. i was going to write about the topics. exactly those topics. :)

[rin-o.livejournal.com]

that's the most generic, vauge, unhelpful 'help' i've seen this week.

what next, "defeat stress-use relaxation!"?

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

Weel, it IS something of a DIY kit. And you actually have to believe there is a state other than raging hatred to live in.

Some people find happiness in being miserable. It's easier.

[rin-o.livejournal.com]

my problems more along the lines of 'a little knowledge is a dangerous thing' kind of thinking-of all the people that read that and thing "wow! now that's what i need to do" how many will actually be able to understand how without making everything worse?

it's like telling someone fire make ticks fall out-some people need to be told How much Damn Fire or they'll just take a blowtorch to their head. which, while good for darwinism, makes a huge mess and smells.

curious

[stoneself.livejournal.com]

have you tried any of the things in the article?

Re: curious

[rin-o.livejournal.com]

all of 'em, actually-and they pretty much backfired everytime. the advice sounds good, yeah...but it sounds good because that's what it's supposed to do.

once i actually try to apply any of it they become feindishly complex, because they're not actually advice. they're the conceptual base of advice, which is entirely different from executable advisories.

Re: curious

[stoneself.livejournal.com]

that's about right... they aren't the answers, but the way to find answers.