Now repeat it to yourself ten times.  It’s what I’m telling myself constantly these days. CHANGE IS GOOD… Then that little voice says to me: it’s good when you WANT IT. When you don’t want it? It can kinda blow if you don’t have the right attitude.

As I sat here staring at a blank screen, AGAIN, I realize that sometimes embracing change is far easier said than done. I’ve been meaning to get something written for a while now and just haven’t had the motivation for it. I’m in the midst of “forced change.” Not sure if that’s a thing, but it’s the only way I can describe it.

I find myself downsized from another job, which was an unexpected gut-punch, so the wind is out of my sails a bit. No advance notice. No severance. Just thanks for your work, goodbye, and good luck. It’s actually my second surprise layoff in a few years.

Losing a job (regardless of whether it was a layoff) does things to your confidence, no matter how resilient you are. Here I am job hunting again and it’s a real downer right now. Even still, the rest of the world doesn’t stop so I can’t either. There are things I have to do for myself and my family, so I’ve got to keep keeping on no matter how I feel.

I’m forced to switch gears and move on, when I wasn’t really prepared for it. That begs the question… WHAT NOW? The answer? Do SOMETHING. Keep moving. Embrace the change.

Change is good. Change is good. Change is good.

Negativity and self-doubt is a real bitch, let me tell ya. I DO wholeheartedly believe that everything happens for a reason, so along with my forced change I’m going to force a glass-half-full outlook about it. There’s so much I want to do, and I have to admit that this layoff has given me the opportunity to pursue some of those things.

I am part of an amaaaaazing organization whose goal is to make the world a better place. A utopian concept, I know, but ARK365DMV is a bright spot in my life and this “break” from working a 9-5 has given me the time to devote to forwarding this mission. It allows me to give back to people and organizations and it truly makes my heart smile to be a part of that. There is nothing in the world like the feeling of knowing that someone’s day, possibly someone’s life, was made better because of you. We are working on our non-profit status and my “forced change” has given me the chance to be more present in that effort.

My forced change has also given me a bit of a vacay this summer that I probably wouldn’t have taken otherwise. I’m able to enjoy the sun, get out and roam if I feel like it, see friends, and just lounge if that’s all I feel like doing. Sure, the missing paycheck has affected the things I’ve been able to do, but it hasn’t completely derailed the summer.

Maybe losing my job was God’s way of pushing me out of my comfort zone and helping me get moving on my entrepreneurial pursuits. Maybe I’m not supposed to work a 9 to 5. Admittedly, sometimes I feel paralyzed by the fear of failure and I can be my own worst critic in that regard. I definitely know that, but I’m working on it. Everyone has a gift… and everyone should share that gift with the world. I want to do that. I just need to get out of my own head, confront my fears, stop self-sabotaging, and DO IT. During my forced change, my focus definitely needs more focus so that’s the goal. To be going in a million different directions while going nowhere at all is a state where I’ve lived for a while now and I have to move out of it.

Embrace change. CHANGE IS GOOD. Be happy. Be better but understand that perfection is impossible. Shift your thinking and know that God is in control and what He has for me [you] is mine [yours].

I haven’t quite landed in that sweet spot where it’s always easy, but I’m more conscious of my attitude and always wanting to embrace whatever comes my way.

Change. Is. Good.