Postcards from the Funny Farm

All people have fears.  Sometimes these fears can prevent us from success.  When I have fears at work, for example, they can stress me out so much that I miss the creative, innovative solutions that are right before my eyes.  One way of dealing with these debilitating fears is through visualization and practice.  I call this the “Tar Baby” approach.  If you go to Disneyland, you’ll find a fun water ride there called “Splash Mountain.”  The ride has a back story going on in miniatures all along the way.  It is the story of how Brer Bear wants to beat up Brer Rabbit and Brer Rabbit says: “Do whatever you want, but please don’t throw me in the briar patch.”  Of course this is silly to the viewer because Brer Rabbit was born in a briar patch.

The thing that scares us is the briar patch.  To conquer the fear we can visualize us getting along with the things that causes us fear.  Imagine yourself having success instead of failure.  When the moment you once feared comes, you will not fear it.  Like Brer Rabbit you will laugh and say: “I live in the briar patch.”

Enjoy the ride.

*This post references depression caused by the stress of losing a job.  These tips in no way substitute for medication when medically necessary and the advice of a physician or licensed therapist.  Having said that, they are practical tips for anyone that hopefully help through a tough situation.

I listened to George W. Bush speak to the nation tonight.  He said recession twice but I have heard many intelligent people predicting depression for our economy.  Ever since I was a young man in high school I have pondered the trillions in our deficit.  I have always wondered: “When will it all collapse?”  I really hope that time isn’t now. Like a baby falls asleep quickly on freshly laden baby bedding, I hope we as Americans have not fallen asleep and accepted a lie.

I TIVO-d the speech and now my wife doesn’t want to hear it.  She seems to feel she’s heard it all before.  I hate to say it, but this might be different.  I can tell you with certainty that real estate will never be the same in my lifetime and possibly in my kids’ lifetimes.  I wouldn’t recommend it as a career to anyone.

But this site isn’t about politics, it’s about psychology so let’s examine what you can do to avoid “the great depression” yourself should you lose your job:

1) Don’t panic or despair.  The creative centers of the brain are not free when you are in this state.  Focus inward and meditate.  Develop a mantra to keep yourself calm and mellow.  In this place you can find creative solutions.

2) Go back to college.  These days the best degree to have is a trade or certificate.  An advanced academic degree will prove more useful in an education career.  Look into financial aid, it’s out there.

3) Take a walk every day.  this will help you sort through things.

4) Limit TV time.  Use the time to read self-improvement books and make lists.  When you get a job, you can go crazy on the tv watching :)

5) Call loved ones just to chat.  This gives health to your bones.

6) Create accounts at all the online jobsearch companies and put yourself out there.

1. Yahoo! Hot Jobs
2. Monster
3. other local

Stay positive whatever you do.  Remember your mind is a fine instrument.  The treasured memories of your life are stored there.  Take good care of it and it will take good care of you.

Summers can be for resting, especially if you are a teacher. They can also be times to test yourself and learn lessons that benefit you all Winter long. Going along with the teacher thought, I want to raise the idea of “training.” In all businesses there is an element of training. This training is usually meant to stretch the worker to a place where she/he will be more productive.

Along the way to increased productivity unfortunately we meet Mr. discomfort and sometimes … Mr. pain. Do you know him?

Training is about opening your mind. Many of us have minds that are so closed they must be pried open. That has been my mind this summer. I’ve been teaching 8th graders that cuss and insult adults and consider themselves adults on top of it all. I realize now, with only 2 days remaining in the session, that this has been training. Like ankle weights for when I return to my 4th grade class. I don’t like to dwell too much on my own occupation in these posts. It is meant to be a parallel to your job, your “training.”

As you probably know from reading my blog, I am always analyzing and seeking new cognitive strategies to battle life’s troubles. Sometimes I even see it as a sport. I am a student of psychology and a fan of all human things that inspire.

But sometimes you have to just live it.

I have 900+ posts and counting here. Each post has some sort of cognitive mechanism conveyed. In a simpler word: ADVICE FOR YOU. And, maybe myself? Well, this post is here to stop the advice. I hope you can transfer that to your life whether you are a Type A personality or not, you give yourself advice I know. It is occasionally time to stop training and just live your stuff out. The yellow pad is a great tool but you can’t walk through life with it at your side. You are creative, you are responsible. Why not lay down the cognitive stuff and simply trust yourself for a while. I think you will be proud of yourself in a while when you stop and look back on what you’ve lived. You will also find your mind was more open because you let go. To close, remember this: you can shop for treadmills all day, but until you get on one, you aren’t exercising.