Overcoming Uncertainity: Possibilites and Passions

Uncertainty and lack of job security can seem like impending doom at times.  However, uncertainty can also inspire reflective thinking, proactive approaches, and reevaluation of goals.  Resisting the temptation to panic when you are unsure of contract renewal or career developments takes practice, but is well worth the effort.

Uncertainty opens the door of possibility.  Now is the time to contemplate options, alternatives, and your career needs and wants.  Once you've established the things that are absolutely essential in a career path (eg. you need to make X amount of dollars a month in order to eat) look towards what job opportunities are available to fulfill those essentials.  What professional development can your undertake to make your career goals more attainable? Thinking outside of the box is encouraged.  Just because you've always had a certain type of job, doesn't mean you are not capable of doing something completely different.

Sometimes we focus so hard on a closed door that we can't see the window that has been opened.  It is hard to plan when you don't know what is going to happen in the near future.  However, there are lots of things you can do to avoid going crazy.   Think though many possible scenarios (best and worst case), come up with solutions for these possibilities, and accept that some things are just out of your control.  

Explore your passions.  Gaps in work contracts might seem devastating at first.  What are you going to do until your new contract starts in a few months? Being a sloth in your pajamas might be okay for the first little while, but it isn't overly helpful in the long run.  Use this time productively - rework your cv, gain new experience through volunteering, focus on writing you've been putting off, or contribute to a community group you haven't had time for. 

Uncertainty is part of life, but it doesn't have to be a bad part.