Turning Setbacks into Opportunities

The prospect of losing your job in the current recession may fill you with uncertainty and fear.

But Dr. Michael Frisch of Baylor University is urging people to view such life changes as an opportunity, rather than an obstacle.

The professor of psychology and neuroscience says that positive thinking and goal-setting can help the newly unemployed discover their true calling and even lead to a more satisfying career.

"Use the setback as a chance to reevaluate all of your lifetime goals, including the careers or jobs that suit you best," he suggests.

Frisch recommends people begin by thinking about what they truly want from life and writing down their goals in a specific, measurable way. These objectives should be particular to the goal-setter and not ideas imposed by someone else, like a parent or spouse. 

Next, he advises breaking larger goals down into smaller, more manageable steps. Each time you achieve one of these mini-aspirations, it serves as a "happiness booster" and provides motivation to keep going, Frisch says.

With a positive attitude and a willingness to view change as opportunity, a job loss may actually signal a bright new beginning.

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