Way back when, a TV preacher used this phrase to promote one of his books and the phrase does stand the test of time. Sure it's discouraging to go through job loss. It doesn't help when it comes in the middle of a global economic recession. But that doesn't mean there isn't work to be found.
Look around. People are still driving cars. Garbage is being picked up. Mail is being delivered. Stores are open. Banks are doing business. Grocery stores have an abundance of food on their shelves. Schools are open.
So how do you hang on?
While there's lots of costly advice out there (of varying quality and effectiveness), some of the best is available for free at your public library. Here's one of the best. The Success Principles by Jack Canfield. Subtitled How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be this book's 64 chapters are filled with simple, time-proven suggestions to keep motivated and engaged.
The following are books that Canfield recommends to his readers (His book has a list of hundreds of other titles.):
- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey. Written in 1989 this book remains a top-seller and can be found on the desks of North America's most successful businesspeople.
- Chicken Soup for the Soul by Jack and Mark Victor Hansen. Any of the many Chicken Soup books will do. Filled with uplifting stories written by ordinary folks with extraordinary insight.
- The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz. Almost everyone agrees that this is the way to live and almost nobody can do it. Much harder to implement than it looks.
- Life Strategies: Doing What Works, Doing What Matters by TV's Dr. Phil McGraw. Say what you will about Dr. Phil, his no nonsense approach has helped millions. His books on relationship health are worth reading too.
Finally, published after The Success Principles was printed, is Eckhart Tolle's stunning The Power of Now. Featured on Opray (and here in Toronto tonight Jan. 30 and tomorrow Jan. 31) Tolle's work is being used by individuals and groups around the world. His second book A New Earth is equally as inspirational.
My view point on these books is that there are really as many books as people exist on this topic. What is important is not to read every such book but to live a life as if you were the book. Learn to be confident, learn to laugh , learn to be someone nice and trustworthy , learn to open the door for a stranger, learn to remain positive, learn to overlook negatives, learn to say thank you, learn to give, learn to be a good spouse, a good parent, a good sibling and a good child, learn to work hard again and again, learn to live your life as if each day was never coming back. Oops! what was that? Each day is not coming back, That is a fact, so really live each day to its fullest.
Cheers,
gautam