Monday, August 27, 2007
YES YOU CAN (Small Wins do make a difference)
Reprinted with permission of author, Dr. InaNorma Yanez, Ch.t from The Arizona Networking News
Although most people would prefer to succeed in life privately, and by their own talents, there are times when professional counseling can be helpful. The following case history is about a gentle, timid man who was having a hard time finding employment in his chosen field. When he finally sought counseling, Michael was seriously and chronically depressed.
Michael had used up many months sending out his professionally prepared resume, but to no avail. There were few if any replies, or... he was told he simply did not fit the bill. His frustration level was eating him up. He felt defeated.
Reluctant to seek help, his life was one of sadness and wasted time. Even the unemployment insurance was about to run out. A friend suggested he seek help immediately when he saw Michael in a supermarket looking disheveled and unclean, which was definitely NOT his normal appearance.
With no way out of this mess, Michael timidly visited a well-recommended counselor.... and his healing began on that very same day. His therapist did an in-depth intake and established a regimen to turn back the black tide of depression.
It consisted of achieving small wins that would re-build his self-esteem. Michael admitted that he had become very sloppy and was living in a dirty apartment. His first two tasks were to get a professional hair-cut and spend a day scrubbing his home. When he returned for another therapy session, Michael felt he was moving forward in the right direction.
Next he was to invite some trusted friends over for a home-cooked meal, which was something he liked doing prior to his finances becoming tight from being down-sized from the former employment. The evening went so well that he was invited to go to his friend's home for dinner in return. Michael joined his host with a home-made baked pie. The pie turned out delicious. One of the dinner guests asked him where he purchased it. Michael said he had made the tasty pastry. The same guest owned a famous bakery and was currently in the market to hire someone talented for her shop. She asked Michael if he would consider taking the part time position at $15.00 per hour for evenings totaling 10 hours per week. Michael accepted this and still had his days free to seek employment.
Without taking those initial steps for obtaining small wins, would Michael have moved out of the severe depression? Possibly. But... at what price? After a few months he was hired at $750.00 per week as the shop's full-time head baker and store manager.
Was this just dumb luck? Again, had he not chosen to put himself back in touch with the real world, could this enjoyable position have manifested itself?
His counselor was so delighted to learn of Michael's employment, that she went out of her way to visit the bake shop for her own pastry purchases. She liked Michael's creations very much. They eventually started their own bakery shop about one year later. What an irony this all turned into! grin :) This job opening then allowed another unemployed talented person to fill the job Michael left in order to go into his own bakery business. Their new sweet business is thriving. :)
His counselor was so delighted to learn of Michael's employment, that she went out of her way to visit the bake shop for her own pastry purchases. She liked Michael's creations very much. They eventually started their own bakery shop about one year later. What an irony this all turned into! grin :) This job opening then allowed another unemployed talented person to fill the job Michael left in order to go into his own bakery business. Their new sweet business is thriving. :)
