A client recently commented that for her, not a lot has changed because of the stock market, the bank decline, etc.  Because she has never really had A LOT she is not feeling as concerned or pinched as others.  She is early in her career, healthy, conservative in her spending, goal oriented and too young to have participated in the excess of the 80s.  With two small kids, second homes and lavish vacations are not the norm for her.

I am constantly amazed at the way people in job loss pull themselves up by their boot straps and carry on.  I often say that if I encounter two people who go through job loss in the same way, I'm getting out of the career consulting business.  We are all so unique in the way we receive information and process it.  We are all products of our background and experience.

Whether we see the glass half full or our career half over, if we are looking for a job or starting a business, how we see things affects the outcome.  For some of us, depending on where we've been or what is going on in our life now, dealing with the emotions of job loss can be overwhelming.

Is it better to be an optimist or a pessimist?  In general, I don't think you can change your basic nature.  I think you need your whole person engaged in your job search or career change – body, psyche, intellect and spirit.  Personally, I can't imagine climbing the mountain to career success without having my head in the game.  I can't imagine getting there without believing that I can.

I am amazed too at the resiliency of all living creatures.  A blade of grass forces its way between concrete slabs.  A child in less than ideal circumstances beats the educational odds and goes on to achieve great things.  A sick person overcomes illness or manages her disease in a way that humbles a well person.

If you are your own worst enemy, figure out why.  How are you benefitting from holding on to negative thoughts?  Why not get your head in the game?  If you can't pull yourself up by your boot straps, get help.  Most successful people will tell you that they are not self made men and women – they had help and counsel.  Glass half full view of this?  People like to help other people. Glass half empty?  Fill in the blank.