Everytime I turn around I hear of someone else who has been hit hard by some aspect of the recession. The statistics are staggering:

– Did you know that as of Feb 2009 the number of unemployed people in the U.S. reached 12.5M?

– Not only that, but 29% of those still having a job are documented as being afraid of being laid off.

– Another scary statistic is this: 13% of Americans polled by CNN are not confident they can pay their debts.

The recession has hit almost every American in one way or another, including myself. Costs have increased for food, clothes, and healthcare. Layoffs are occuring in many companies at all levels. The employees who are still employed have to pick up even more responsibilities which typically leave them even less time with their families. And those who are laid off are struggling desperately to try to make ends meet financially, causing them to have to pay bills late or not at all which inevitably turns into a downward spiral of debt.

The title of this article, “What Life? The Recession Took That Too!” is very appropriate.

Additional stress, fear, and anger is flooding this country with uncertainty which typically causes people to get stuck in their circumstances and brings a constant feeling that their lives are out of control along with a sense of helplessness that often impedes forward movement. At that point people no longer feel they have a life; they feel like they are in a prison of their circumstances with no way out.

There are five steps a person can take to avoid becoming stuck in their circumstances and achieve a thriving quality of life more consistently. They are as follows:

1. Stay clear & focused on your goals and direction. When you create clear short / long-term goals and commit to working them you’ll find that every day provides at least one opportunity to take a step towards them.

2. Strategize your actions so that you always know what you need week in and week out. Consistently make sure your daily actions are aligned with your goals so you can juggle your priorities more effectively.

3. Upgrade your skills so you can carry out your plan with confidence & certainty. Spend some time being honest with yourself and determine if their are any skills you are lacking which may prevent you from achieving your long-term goals. Then find a way to invest in yourself to enhance those skills.

4. Optimize your environment so there are fewer distractions and so achieving your goals becomes effortless. Take some time to organize your workspace so you can find things more easily. You may also want to turn off your phone and email or close your office door when working on your goals to stay more productive during a scheduled time block.

5. Master your psychology to overcome any fears, doubts, limiting beliefs, or insecurities that might be holding you back. Consciously take note of how you are approaching your circumstances. If the “gremlins” in your head are getting in the way of your goals, find a way to invest in a program or read a book which will help you gain more power over them.

The recession may be real, but it doesn’t have to control you or take away your life. You always have choices with regards to your attitude and your actions in every circumstance. If you are currently feeling “stuck” in your circumstances, follow the five steps above and over time you’ll see that you have quite a bit of control over your life which will hopefully become the catalyst to get you “un-stuck.” If not, however, feel free to give me a call to see if I can be a resource to you.

I look forward to your comments.   Have a fabulous day and don’t forget to keep an eye out for all the amazing possibilities within and around you!

Sincerely,

Kris Cavanaugh
C.E.O. Catalyst & Life Coach
www.begintoshift.com