Out Of Work? Grieve In Motion!

By now you may have figured out that my goal is to encourage people who are going through what I've faced for nearly holiday seasons. I'm thinking, "If I can keep it moving anyone can." It's kind of therapeutic to be able to share my challenges and successes with people who understand or are empathetic to the capable, hard working men and women who are desperately searching for a way to feed their families. So, as we enter the holiday season we have to be honest about some things.

Everyone isn't cheerfully anticipating the upcoming holiday. Let's face it, even those who are gainfully employed and doing well financially have concerns about not overdoing it with credit cards and spending. But there are those who are facing, many for the first time, an unusual feeling of anxiety. Why? Because this year presents you with the burden of not having the ability to give and be generous as you once could. That serendipitous feeling of whisking through the mall or online to purchase that perfect gift is often replaced by a sinking sense of guilt and shamefulness. No doubt no one should feel this way, but the trying financial circumstances many are facing present a reality check that's amplified during the season of "giving."

I've been there before. Heck...I'm there right now! It can make you bitter and angry when you're trying to do the right thing. It can make you ask the same rhetorical questions over and over again in your head. "With all the resumes I'm pushing out, why don't I have a job yet?" "How come no one will hire me?" "What's wrong with me?" "When will I ever be able to get or keep a job that pays me what I'm worth?" I hear you. What you're really doing is grieving. And as anyone in the grief industry will tell you, grieving is good for you, it's necessary and should not be extinguished until it is all out.

Of course there are those who will post that it shouldn't matter what you give nor how much you can or can't do for the next person. But, we all know the mantra "It is better to give than to receive." Those words ring out loud in the heads of fathers and mothers who want so desperately to work hard to reward their spouses, significant others and children during the holidays. So, you can be as idealistic as you want and you'll just be fooling yourself to think that millions of Americans, some who can even fall into a condition known as "seasonal affective disorder (S.A.D.)," can just shake it off and keep it moving without acknowledging the real pain and lack of self worth. It's agony and even deadly for some and must be faced together, constructively and sensitively.

The bottom line is that too many of us are piling into rooms brimming with Christmas cheer, eggnog and mistletoes while loved ones all around us are silently isolated and grieving while standing still. Grieving is bad enough. But, grieving and not being willing or able to move forward can lead to multiplied and mounting problems down the road. In the article Got Fired? 5 Mistakes You Should Avoid the author points out that grieving in one spot can cause you to lose your confidence and worry that you'll never get another base hit in the game of life. Like a hitter at home plate, grieving because you got one strike can dump you into a state of mind where you do nothing but stand there watching the next pitches fly by.

As the holiday season approaches, remember that it’s okay to be frustrated, angry or discouraged by your financial state or lack of job prospects. But, do me a favor and don't grieve standing still. Don't stop moving. Don't stop swinging. Don't give up or throw in the towel. It's OK to put your head down for a moment to gather yourself. But, you have to then lift up your head and realize that that was not the last pitch. There are more to come for you. And if you are working or gainfully employed be thankful for what you have because there are people who would give their lives for half of what we often throw away. So, remember, even when its hard, keep loving, living and if you have to grieve, grieve in motion...

—————————————————————————————————

John E. Girton, Jr. (aka Pastor G) is a tech guru and motivational speaker who brings empowerment and entrepreneurial expertise to every audience. Pastor G shares life lessons and biblical jewels to help people reach their full potential.

As a former instructor of Journalism and Telecommunications at Ball State University and Tennessee State University and a business owner for the past 20+ years, Pastor G remains on the cutting edge of technology and is heard and seen weekly on his Podcast, Livestream.com channel and at the virtual ministry he and his wife founded in 2008 www.thelovingchurch.org and johngirtonspeaks.com.