Sally Pushes from Panic to Power

We are no longer puppets being manipulated by outside powerful forces; we become the powerful force ourselves. 

                                            -Leo Buscaglia

     Sally had lost much.  Recently divorced, she went from a house in the suburbs to

an apartment in the city. She was living a life she hadn’t planned - a single mother to a young daughter. Her standard of living dropped, and her need for a job was urgent.  The idea of getting a dream job was just that – a dream.  She had immediate needs, like money to pay for rent and food.

     With much to consider, Sally did the math.  She clarified her exact financial situation and what she needed to earn each month. But as she reviewed possible jobs in the paper, she panicked. Could she do this? An office? Work clothes? Long hours away from her child? What about day care costs? Health insurance? She had doubts about her ability to provide even basic needs. Sally felt intimidated and overwhelmed.

     It was in this time of loss, turmoil, and need that Sally had a decision to make: would she own her power to overcome her circumstances? Or stay stuck in the spin of her panic?

Reality is something you rise above.  -Liza Minnelli

     With courage and determination, Sally made up her mind. She looked over at her child. Sally would take a stand, and make a plan. 

     First, she took her fear and panic captive.  She pictured herself stomping on them, squashing them like a bug under her feet, and grinding them down with her heels. She put them in their place! If they tried to come back, stomp!

     Then, she made a plan. Realistically, she would need any work right away. She chose not to go 8-5. She looked for an option where she could make money, have flexible hours at home with her child, and improve her basic situation. Sally would clean houses.

     But how to get the work? After thinking a while, Sally reasoned she was someone people liked. She could go door-to-door and ask. After a day walking door-to-door, Sally had a full schedule of houses to clean!  Not only that, the need for this service was great and people were paying well. As the money came in, her sense of urgency eased.  Her confidence in her ability to make ends meet began to climb.

     As she owned this power to make changes happen and take control of her life, Sally found she was more confident overall. Instead of feeling like a puppet on a string moving at the whims of others, fearful and self-doubting, she felt she could climb the puppet strings and cut them at their source. She was proud to model confidence and taking action for her daughter. So once their basic needs were taken care of, Sally decided to look again at her job options and future job goals.

     Sally pushed past her fears of office work and full-time days. If she could get a full-time office job, she’d have much-needed benefits. So what happened? She took advantage of their tuition reimbursement program, and got her degree! Today, she has much to celebrate.  She works in her dream job, and lives in a home that she owns!

     As Sally reflects, wondering how she did it, it is easy to see. Sally became the powerful force in her own life. We are all capable of amazing things, when we own our power. By taking the time to consider all your needs and the job possibilities – both short term and long term – you too can harness that power, and push through to your goals.

Here’s to empowerment,