I got a new pair of eye glasses today, in preparation for my upcoming move to the United Kingdom. They’re simple, understated and smart, with a little flare in the right places.
The moment I put them on, my vision went nuts. I could feel my eyeballs struggling and straining to adapt. This is what happens, apparently, when one is forced to see clearly for the first time.
Which brings me to the topic of perspective.
I’ve been feeling stressed and apprehensive about my upcoming trip. And I’ve grown pessimistic about my chances of landing my dream job overseas.
Bottom line: I’m in a pre-trip funk. Worse yet, I’ve been thinking things like:
- It’s going to be an uphill battle for me to find professional work in another country.
- The British economy sucks right now. If so many locals are out of work, what hope do I have of success?
- I don’t have any British work experience — which will automatically disqualify me from interesting work.
- I’ll have to spend months searching. But I’ll find some professional work — if I’m lucky.
This perspective is unsustainable, unhelpful and it’s untrue. It’s time for a change.
Gone are the unhelpful and untrue thoughts. From here on out, it’s all positive messages about myself and this journey:
- I’m smart, independent, a fast learner and a hard worker.
- I’m the real deal: a talented writer and PR professional. Employers would be lucky to have me on their team.
- My sheer drive to succeed will put me head and shoulders above the competition.
- Once I get that first face-to-face meeting, an employer will jump at the chance to hire me.
Repeating these things to myself might feel a little strange, at first. But over time, I’ll adapt. And I’ll soon learn to see clearly that I’m the one holding all the cards.
