From Sad to Glad (3 Ls. Love it / Leave it /Lead it)

Recommended by Ivy Liu (An ex-coworker from Shenzhen)

There’s no doubt about it, we’re a war-torn nation. The economy sucks, businesses are losing money, and scammers are like greedy wolves, ready to pounce on the challenged, desperate and unemployed. With a tanking economy, up-and-down stock markets, ever-growing unemployment, all this doom and gloom leaves us broke and depressed. If we look at unemployment another way, it just might be the solution to the over-worked and unfulfilled of us, who for the first time have some open time to look around for other ways to earn a living. The fastest way to bring change is to accept change. You probably already noticed that worrying spikes your anxiety, anger, rage, panic and even your resistance to doing anything at all to help yourself. Another way to go would be to just accept that you’re not sure what to do, so you do nothing. There are many infinite reasons why we think the world is going to “crap” around us. The most common complaint heard by most of us is, “I’m really worried. I don’t know what to do!” W

When I’m faced with indecision and anxiety, I allow myself these three options “Love it” which means peacefully accepting whatever’s happening. If that’s not possible, I think “Leave it,” or simply walk away from the whole dilemma and turn my attention to what I can do rather than what I cannot do. My third option is “Lead it,” which requires me to use whatever power I have to devise a solution on my own. I’ve found these three L’s are invaluable when trading volleys with the fates. Humans were created with a clever mind, resourceful nature, and the will to survive. It is our choice how we react to unforeseen circumstances.

Since we live in a democracy, we have a duty to have informed opinions and to challenge the opinions of others while having our own challenged. The solutions we come up with when facing adversity are infinitely personal. It is my hope we be fair, respectful and civil as a matter of fact, it would be a kind thing to do this new year to forget about ourselves and help someone else. “Unresolved issues, unspoken anger, unhealed hurt. Unless we get rid of them, they all hinder our happiness.” says the outspoken and always combative, Dr. Phil.

It is my hope instead of looking at unemployment as bad luck, the unemployed turn their gristle to muscle; push their limits so as to exceed their expectations; use their time wisely to learn a new skill, overcome a fear, or learn to cook from scratch. Who knows where a favourite past-time can lead? We’re like buildings, cunningly made and crafted to fit together perfectly and without waste, so we can perform with absolute precision. Each of us has one chief purpose and our life experiences are the building blocks that lead us to our inborn gifts. Many of us are interested in work-at-home ideas. Search the internet. Use your computer for more than game-playing. Open and build yourself a website. Anyone can be famous on the web. Check out photography and music on You-Tube. Most of us would rather be charred to ashes from over-excitement than turned to dust a failure before our time. I agree with Jack London, a well-known artist, who says “I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.”

Has your life been a series of unfulfilled jobs? If so, it is never too late to be what you might have been. Maybe being laid off was a blessing in disguise. Maybe, it is time for you to conquer your fears and go for broke. Find joy and self-fulfilment by following your dreams. Sometimes these kinds of drastic transformations are better-assisted with the help of a professional of some kind, a therapist, a counsellor and/or your spouse or special friend. We all have an inner voice leading us in the direction of our true gifts. If we want to go from sad to glad in a non-doing sort of way, try sitting, doodling and/or scribbling. If you’re smiling, Lookout you’re having fun! Having fun is what Art Therapy and creative expression are all about. Here’s a great art quote by Pierre Bonnard that speaks to the therapeutic nature of art. “Painting has to get back to its original goal, examining the inner lives of human beings.” Introduce yourself to your inner child who wants to talk to you and play with you. Sculpting the Heart in the arts can turn the unemployed from sad to glad.