Giving Back

In a society that exists by using money as its means for exchange, it can be difficult to identify ways for an unemployed person to give back to society. And why should we? Don't we have a right to be angry? We know there's money somewhere in this country. Let someone else do the dirty work.

No. No, because if they were going to do that, they'd be doing it already. No, because even if we're angry and stressed and scared and confused, we still live in this society and it's ours to make better. Even during the hard times, there are ways for us to provide a benefit for society, and the onus is on each of us to do that.

In my second post, I suggested that we make a list of our resources. Not just our money, but our abilities, talents, packs, health, time, et cetera. What's in your corner? If you have that list handy, pull it out and if not, make one now. What on your list can be used to better the lives of the people around you? This needs to be done in a way that doesn't set you back further, so think down the road a little to the probable impact on your life.

Can you volunteer? Help a friend? Provide information? Create something beautiful? Walk dogs for the humane society? Read to a child? Most churches, social service agencies and not-for-profit organizations would love for someone to lend them a hand; they're all under-funded. We all have things we do well that can be our gift to society.

Lately, I haven't given money to any causes. However, I've volunteered to be on the security team at my church, I've offered free trumpet lessons to the 10-year-old next door, and I've been writing this blog, as well as a book. What would I get out of doing any of these things? I don't know, but that isn't the point.

This isn't me being charitable. This is me doing my part. The dearth of jobs in the United States is not expected to abate. While the corporations will recover financially by creating new markets overseas, the United States expects to move forward with nearly 20% of the workforce being jobless. (This figure is higher than the unemployment rate, which is based on those jobless individuals who are currently receiving benefits.) Our society can go either of two directions. We can collapse into a cesspool of drugs, crime and poverty, or we can pull together, think creatively, redefine value, and work together to help one another.

If spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion. - Ethiopian proverb

Healthy worry

All things exist in balance, including our levels of stress. Some stress is good. Short-term stress provides a burst of energy and clarity to see us through a crisis. However, we're meant to resolve our stressors and resume a sense of 'normal' - whatever that 'normal' is. Severe or long-term stress is damaging. Long-term stress knocks out our immune systems, makes physical pain more prevalent, creates cognitive lapses, facilitates unhealthy weight gain and worsens any mental health issues. Making matters worse, all of the effects of stress create more stress.

Neurologists have determined that our thoughts are the filter between our circumstances and our feelings. As in, a situation occurs, we quickly consider a few possibilities as to how to interpret the matter, and our feelings surface. This is where worry management comes into play. How do we manage worry when the circumstances haven't changed?

Healthy worry is realistic and planful. What's your goal for how you respond to a given crisis? And what are the steps you could take to achieve that goal? Break these tasks down. Make them small. If you're just getting started, it's ok to do the easiest tasks first to break the ice. Remember that maybe the reasons for your goal could be met by taking a few different paths. For example, your goal may be to find a job, but until you do, you can create better financial stability by applying for unemployment and having a garage sale.

I'm going to use weight loss as an example for healthy worry. Maybe you'd like to lose weight, but constantly beating yourself up about your size is wearing you down. The parts of weight-loss that are within your control are your exercise, eating, fluid intake, sleep, and - well, stress levels. So you make a point to eat a balanced diet with high fiber and low saturated fat. And you decide to walk twenty minutes a day, drink eight glasses of water a day and sleep eight hours a night. At this point, the scale is secondary because your body will release extra weight when it's ready.

Another form of worry is free-floating anxiety. This is a sort of stress that's constantly present, and seeks a reason for being there. This is often the result of negative circumstances from the past, but it will continue to be a problem unless it's addressed head-on. People with free-floating worry need to take excellent emotional and physical care of themselves. Some ways of doing this are maintaining a routine, keeping positive distractions available, having friends or family to talk with, and having a reachable challenge for each day. Moderate exercise, gratitude lists, thought-stopping, slow deep breaths and meditation all work wonders for free-floating worry.

Bear in mind that this is your life you're living. If we dwell on the one negative thing in front of us, we won't see the blessings.

Assessing our Assets

An enormous fallacy has been drilled into our minds: the idea that our net worth is determined by our finances.  It's true that someone's bank account is one type of asset, however this two-dimensional black-and-red spreadsheet overlooks many things a person could draw upon in a time of need.

Let's sculpt this image further.  What personal characteristics, assets, or resources can each of us use to our advantage?  If you have pen and paper handy, jot out a list.  Time is an asset, as are your skills.  A spare room in your house could be used by a roommate or by someone willing to pay for safe storage.  Your yard could be used to grow food inexpensively, and if you have no yard, containers placed on a balcony or in front of a window could do the same.  All that stuff in your attic that you've been meaning to pitch - what could that get you on Ebay?  If you have a car, keep it in good working condition.  Social service agencies don't help with transportation, as this is not seen as a need.  Anybody who has walked four miles carrying groceries knows that it is.

When I lost my job, I decided to keep my travel plans for the following week.  (The airfare was non-refundable.)  I would have spent less money had I stayed home, however I also would have forgone one of my greatest resources: time spent with my friends.  They listened to me, made me laugh, helped me have fun, and gave me ideas to use on my job hunt.  They softened the blow immensely.

Humans are pack animals.  We are meant to function as a member of various societies.  When we lose our job, we lose one of our packs - often the one that defines our sense of purpose.  What other packs do you have?  Your family?  Friends?  Any organizations?  While you might be low on money, you likely have more time.  Consider investing your time into a few of your packs.  Volunteer work has the added benefit of being a resume-filler, and could even become a job.

When you list your resources, make it as long a list as you can.  My cat is on my list of resources, not because she makes me money, but because she's funny and affectionate, and I'm motivated to maintain a place for her to live.  

When the going gets tough . . .

Having once upon a time worked myself ragged to get my master's degree, I now find myself jobless and in a race against . . . well, not time exactly, but certainly my bank account . . . to find a new job.  Over the past couple of years, my state's budget cuts for social services have been deep.  Few open positions in my field exist.  The job search is more difficult than I'd anticipated.

Therefore, I find myself using the suggestions I once would have given my clients.  Ways to remain focused, to hold depression at bay, to combat anxiety.  And additionally, ways to make the best use of every ten cents I have.