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How to navigate and find your way around

The personal journey from being unemployed to getting hired needs to have two main foci:

1) Awareness of one’s skills, characteristics and targets and

2) knowledge of and coping strategies for one’s emotional and practical obstacles.

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The goal of Life Management Skills is to sharpen the participants’ self-awareness so that they

1) become attentive of what they wish their work life to consist of,

2) are aware of what they have to offer to employers and colleagues and

3) are able to cope with the challenges, that life in general and life in unemployment specifically expose them to.

Being unemployed is stressful on both a practical and a psychological level, and even if there seems to be a lot a of time to write applications it can be difficult to structure the search for a new job. The goal of this element is to create a schedule for the job search and let the participants support each other in applying to the plan.

 

After this process the participants will be able to answer the following three questions:

1) How do I design my day?

2) How much shall I accomplish each day to be satisfied?

3) How do I avoid postponements and procrastinations?

 

1. Develop a growth mindset

 

Having a growth mindset is linked to having a sense of purpose. Constantly growing and becoming a better version of yourself helps you identify your purpose and commit to pursuing it. 

 

2. Create a personal vision statement

 

A personal vision statement can help you manage stress and find balance in your life. It also serves as a roadmap that will guide you toward your purpose by identifying your core values and establishing what’s important to you. A purpose statement makes it easier for you to make decisions aligned to your values and helps you stay motivated.

 

3. Give back

 

Giving back, or prosociality as it’s known in psychology, can enhance your sense of meaning and purpose in life. This means that when you help others, you also help yourself. 

 

4. Practice gratitude

 

Practicing gratitude can feel a bit awkward at first. We get so used to our negative thoughts that switching them for positive ones can feel unnatural. To get started, try writing three to five things you feel grateful for first thing in the morning or at night before you go to sleep. 

 

5. Turn your pain into purpose

 

We all face struggles in life. Overcoming these challenges shapes who we become and gives us our unique strengths and perspectives. Many people ask for help when struggling to overcome a major life change. Some later find their purpose in helping others facing similar struggles to those they have overcome. 

 

6. Explore your passions

 

Your passions and interests are a good indicator of the area in which your life purpose might lie. But they can be hard to identify. They’re so ingrained in our ways of thinking that we can become blind to them. If you’re not sure what your passions are, ask the people who know you best. Likely, you’re already pursuing them in some way without even realizing it. 

 

7. Be part of a community

 

Purpose is about feeling connected to others, so being an active member of a community can contribute to a greater sense of purpose in life. 

 

8. Spend time with people who inspire you

 

If you spend time with people who are positive and purpose-driven, they are likely to inspire you to have the same mindset. You may even discover your purpose through them.

 

9. Read

 

One of the best ways to expand your mental horizons is through reading fiction. Reading also connects you to other people across time, place, and cultures. This helps you cultivate the sense of connectedness that generates a sense of purpose in life.

 

10. Join a cause

 

We all have a cause that we feel passionately about. Perhaps you have strong feelings about social justice, animal welfare, or the environment. 

 

11. Practice self-acceptance

 

Accepting your limitations can help you be kinder to yourself when things go wrong. We all make mistakes, but instead of beating yourself up for your failures, try to see each setback as an opportunity to grow. 

 

12. Take time for self-care

 

Why is self-care important? Because when our brains are relaxed, they are at their most creative. You cannot achieve or serve others when you are battling against yourself.

Once you’ve read the text on the topic, it’s time to test your knowledge.

Solve the following practice exercises!

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