These are unarguably tough times, but these tough times will soon pass as we have seemingly turned the corner in the worst recession in decades. The question I want to ask all the unemployed people I encounter on a daily basis is; how will life be different when tough times pass? The first obvious answer I’d expect of course will be most people will have jobs. But at a deeper level I hope they will say that the stress and pressure of these several months is finally relieved. They will say that they are now able to catch up on the mounds of bills and reestablish some sense of normalcy. My hope is that they also say that though being unemployed was the most difficult thing ever to happen, they are also able to look back on this time with a sense of gratitude. Gratitude for the people they have met along the way, grateful for the time to rediscover themselves, grateful for having been forced to re-examine their values and gain an appreciation of what is enough. Enoughness is defined as knowing what sustains us beyond just a want or basic need. Knowing what sustains us not just on a materialistic level but at a core level. Tough times force a reassessment of values and how life choices are guided by those values. My hope is that when I ask those eventually re-employed what will be different, they say they will keep their resumes up to date, their network alive and that they no longer have the pressure of having it all. They are able to say, they have enough.
Karen recently talked with Peter McClellan about enoughness on his MN Business radio show on AM 1570.
[audio:http://www.cultivatingcareers.com/wp-content/uploads/PM_3_01_10.mp3]
