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Creation Out of Chaos

Whether chaos of career or country, it can signify a state before creation where something entirely new and yet unknown has the potential to emerge. 

I’ve seen the chaos of COVID-19 cause people to re-examine values and make big time career changes. My hope is that the chaos of the country will cause kindness, compassion and deeper spiritual growth to emerge. Meantime, I take agency and action inspired from a place of love…in my family, community and country.

Taking action for career chaos or uncertainty may include self-reflection and career research; often working with a career counselor can bring some organization to randomly spinning thoughts.

As I have been contemplating the theme of chaos lately, I came across a blog post I made on January 12, 2021 following the January 6 attack on the US Capitol.  Below is a brief excerpt of the article I quoted that may be applicable during these times.

A Speed of Soul Encouragement – Acknowledging Grief, Claiming Love, Remembering Radiance – Excerpt

By Carrie Newcomer, Artist/Musician, originally posted in www.DailyGood.org, January 9, 2021

“My encouragement today is to claim agency and to claim love. Text, zoom, call or somehow connect with someone who you think of as a treasure in your life, someone that illuminates your life, who reminds you of the power of love and the remembrance of radiance. Reach out and affirm what keeps saving us – goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gratitude, generosity, hospitality, justice and love…always love. Lay your hand on your heart and know that you also illuminate the lives of others around you. You are also doing what you can each day, in your own way, to make the world around you a kinder place.

Today we acknowledge the shadows, but we lean into the light.”

In closing from Karen: May you find some calm and creation in any chaos of career and country.

CLICK HERE for complete blog post/article.

More about Carrie Newcomer HERE

Image: Chaos by Fenyou 2012, Creative Commons License

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Uncertainty: Book Excerpt

“Uncertainty is the only certainty there is, and knowing how to live with insecurity is the only security.”

John Allen Paulos

So many unknowns can create negative emotions during your job search, such as waiting to hear back on an email or after an interview. There will be unexpected questions during an interview for which you can’t prepare. When you do get an offer, you may wonder whether to accept it or whether you’ll hit a land mine once there.

The reality is that life is filled with uncertainty, even when you have a job. Managing uncertainty is important so you don’t get lost in feelings of fear and speculation.

Focus on what you can control, such as your schedule and job search efforts. Keeping busy, whether with a class or house project can divert your mind from worry. If your mind goes into a negative “what if” spin, remind yourself, “I can’t possibly predict the future.” Another strategy is defensive pessimism; this is increasing your confidence with coping by imaging a worst-case scenario and planning for it, such as making peace with an option to downsize your home. Mindfulness and stress reduction are additional strategies. You can choose to let uncertainty keep you up at night or see it as a challenge for practicing acceptance.

Affirmation: I accept uncertainty as part of life and find ways to cope.

Copyright 2021, Karen Litzinger, Help Wanted: An A to Z Guide to Cope with the Ups and Downs of the Job Search. Permission is granted to share for non-commercial purposes with this entire notation, https://KarensCareerCoaching.com/help-wanted

For 10 complimentary excerpts of the book arriving daily: https://KarensCareerCoaching.com/help-wanted-free-excerpts

You can order the book through either link above.

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Honoring Black History Month and Careers

My heart has been broken by the dismantling of the progress our country has made following our country’s second original sin of capturing and enslaving Africans (the first being genocide of the indigenous original inhabitants of this land).  President Trump “officially recognized” Black History Month just a couple weeks after signing executive orders in his first week ending federal programs related to diversity, equity and inclusion and reversing executive enforcement of civil rights laws. This came about the same time as the Department of Defense announced it would no longer recognize months related to cultural identities.

Such has been the fear of government employees about the DEI executive order, that employees at a national museum in DC rushed to cover up displays featuring women and people of color, later rectifying it and recognizing it as a mistake in an effort to comply.

So I am honoring Black History month by stating my concerns in this piece, by highlighting accomplishments of our African American/Black citizens, and by sharing lists of films, books and events to enlighten and educate (see immediate previous blog). My words and message may be imperfect, but comes from my heart.

Sample of Black History Career Accomplishments

As a career counselor, I love learning about and being inspired by people and their work. In honor of Black History month, I want to share an eclectic sampling.  Some individuals I highlight are a shout out and some are more obscure.  I wanted to go beyond contemporaries like President Obama, Michael Jordan, and Maya Angelou and famous names like Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks and Harriet Tubman. I’m not including the many artists, activists and athletes in this list, but they are in the exploration links at the end.

George Washington Carver (1860-1943)

Renowned for his innovative agricultural research and advocacy for sustainable farming.

Thurgood Marshall (1908-1993)

First Black appointee to the U.S. Supreme Court

Katherine Johnson (1918-2020)

Black mathematician whose NASA work was crucial in the success of the first American-manned spaceflight 

Mae Jemison (b. 1956)

First black woman to travel into space aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour in 1992

Benjamin Banneker (1731–1806)

Almanac author, surveyor, and self-taught polymath who gained recognition for his work in astronomy and surveying the boundaries of the newly designed capital US Capitol.

Madam C.J. Walker (1867-1919)

First female self-made millionaire in America building her fortune on a line of beauty and hair products for Black women.

Thomas L. Jennings (1791–1859)

The first African American U.S. patent recipient in 1821, inventing a process for dry-cleaning delicate clothing known as “dry-scouring.”

Alice H. Parker (1895-death unknown)

1919 patent for central heating furnace design that made use of natural gas for the first time to keep homes warm

George Washington Carver (1860-1943)

Renowned for his innovative agricultural research and advocacy for sustainable farming.

Patricia Bath (1942-2019)

First black female doctor to receive a medical patent when she invented a laser cataract treatment device in 1986.

For more inspiration and awareness, see links below:

35 Famous Black Americans Everyone Should Know

101 African American Firsts

Famous Black Inventors