Learn How To SUMO

Eek! Beat those stressful situations with SUMO

Millions of people suffer from stress in the workplace.

The causes are diverse - from having to meet targets and deadlines to irritating co-workers and bosses, to name but two.

Often it is easy to blow small incidences out of proportion (who's taken my holepunch again? Grrr...), or we tend to succumb to victim mentality and become all bitter and resentful, for example when overlooked for promotion and a colleague is chosen instead. Ouch.

By the time someone goes off sick due to a stress-related illness, that person may well have experienced many little incidences that one day have led to the final straw, and BOOM - a Tower moment!

Nervous breakdown,
a good day to start again

Before you get to that point, I'd like to share with you a stress-busting technique, which I learned many years ago whilst still working my socks off in the corporate world.

I learned how to SUMO.

The person, who taught me, was Paul McGee.

S.U.M.O. stands for Shut Up and Move On.

It sounds harsh at first, but in order to avoid getting stressed about stuff, it is necessary not to get worked up so easily. Simply let go and move on.

How many people needed
to put up a f*cking tent?

It doesn't mean you have to take every crap they throw at you, but look at each incident that annoys or upsets you with more logic and reason.

How can you do that?

Here are the 7 questions to help you SUMO:

1. Where is this issue on a scale of 1 - 10 (10 = death)?

Compared to death, most people will rank their issue low and often feel much better as a result. They realise it's not that bad and move on.

2. How important will this be in six months time?

Think: most issues are just water under the bridge six months later. If this is the case, then you may not need to answer the following questions, and skip along happily with a refreshed mindset.

3. Is my response appropriate and effective?

Or do you have a flair for drama? If yes, for God's sake, move on. And if you want to speak your mind, choose your words wisely.

4. How can I influence or improve the situation?

Yes, some issues are ongoing and linger in the background. They really need sorting out. You either address them appropriately or decide to accept them. Acceptance helps you reduce your stress level. Acceptance helps you to move on.

Defeat, hollow victory,
win at all cost, betrayal

5. What can I learn from this?

Sometimes we have to deal with big issues, such as change in the workplace, job losses, poor career prospects, disagreements and personality clashes that can be challenging. These situations always offer us a lesson to help us grow. Avoid self-pity and disillusion. Make sure, your answer to this question is empowering...and then move on.

6. What will I do differently next time?

Apply your lessons learned. This way you are moving on.

7. What can I find that's positive in this situation?

Losing your job or being overlooked for promotion aren't necessarily moments of joy in your life, but they can be opportunities in disguise. Every cloud has a silver lining. Time to move on.

Of course, you can use the Tarot to help you answer some of the questions above, if you are facing a stressful situation at work or, yes, even in your personal life. Any situation that irritates you, keeps simmering in the background or even makes your blood boil.

 Shuffle your deck and pick a card for each question:

1. How can I influence or improve the situation?
2. What can I learn from this?
3. What can I do differently next time?
4. What can I find that's positive in this situation?

I have been using the SUMO technique for many years, and learned to look at seemingly stressful situations from a new - more constructive - perspective. I hope it will serve you well, too. 

Let go of being a victim, learn to SUMO instead. 

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

PS: Make sure you visit the SUMO Guy and watch him in action. Funny and inspirational.



Transform your life this year:

Tarot Readings - Insightful guidance when you need it
Learn Tarot - A magickal, inspirational tool for life.

For more inspiring quotes and affirmations for each card, check out my ebook Empowering Messages from the Tarot

Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Long-term Unemployment - The Pull-Yourself-A-Job Tarot Spread

If you have been out of work for a long time and sent off loads of application forms and CVs without success, I can imagine how terribly disheartening that must be.

Not only does long-term unemployment knock your confidence, it also creates anxiety and despair about the future; after all, the vast majority of people on benefits want to get back into work as quickly as possible, so they can earn money and make a decent living.

If you have recently lost your job, here are my top 3 tips to implement immediately for a speedy return back into the workplace:

1. Get your CV professionally done
You might think that your CV looks good and reads well, but chances are, it's not quite right yet to attract the attention of employers and get you interviews.

Many people make the mistake not getting their CV done as soon as they have lost their job, and they end up wondering, why they hardly get any interviews. A couple of months down the line without any success is wasted time and money.

Here in the UK, you can access free support at your local job centre, or ask them to refer you to one of their contractors. Sometimes you need to push for this, because they tend to offer this service only to people, who have been unemployed for more than six months - but you don't want to be out of a job that long before you take a second look at your CV!

If this fails, search online for "professional cv writing service". Make sure you search for a service provider in your country, as the requirements for CVs often vary.

At this stage, be clear on the type of work you want to do but also are prepared to do, so the relevant skills, knowledge and experience are included in your CV.

2. Looking for a new job is a full-time job
Only because you lost your job doesn't mean you can now sleep in. Make sure you establish a daily routine of getting up early, do your job searches, contact potential employers, network, etc. Keep active, including regular exercise, which will help you stay energised and motivated.

Why not join a work club, where you can get support and meet other people? This way you will also feel less isolated. Again, search online for "work clubs" to find one in your local area.

3. Do your research
Whether you want to stay in your existing career, are thinking about a new direction or even self-employment, now is the ideal time to think your options through and find out more about new possibilities. Talk to people in your chosen field, or even try to find some voluntary work that will keep you busy, connected to the work place but also will teach you new skills - and it looks great on your CV!

If you have been out of work for longer, and you have followed my 3 tips above, then you could ask the Tarot for more insight to help you set up a new back-to-work action plan for the next 4 - 6 weeks.

Shuffle your deck and pick a card for each question:

• What kind of jobs am I currently attracting? - Do the jobs you attract align with your skills and needs? Are you happy with what you are attracting, or do you need to make any adjustments in your presentation or the kind of jobs you are focusing on?
• What impression does my CV make, when potential employers receive it?  - Does it catch their attention? Does it stand out? What impression do they get about your personality when they read it? What improvements can you make to it regarding content and presentation?
• What impression do I make in an interview? - The vibes you are radiating, e.g. energetic, positive, enthusiastic, knowledgeable, shy, introvert/extrovert or unprepared, deflated, detached etc.
• What do I need to change in order to improve my chances of getting a job? - Just one task you can focus on to make a difference and change your fortune.
• What is coming up over the next four weeks that I need to pay attention to and can turn to my advantage? - Watch out for opportunities, options, obstacles, communication issues...the card in this position contains possibilities as well as ideas how to handle them.

The Tarot is an excellent tool to stay focused at a difficult time; it's not easy getting back into employment after having been out of work for a long time, especially when it has affected your self-worth. But fortunately, there is much you can do to turn your situation around.

Try this spread, and please do let me know in the comment box below, what new insights you have gained from it. 

I'd also like to hear from you, how you have been keeping a positive mindset, how you have got back into work and any tips you'd like to pass on to others, who are currently going through this difficult situation. 

Thank you!

Warmest wishes,

Christiane



Transform your life this year:

Tarot Readings - Insightful guidance when you need it
Learn Tarot - A magickal, inspirational tool for life.

For more inspiring quotes and affirmations for each card, check out my ebookEmpowering Messages from the Tarot

Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Dealing With Unemployment: The Back-To-Work Spread

Tarot of Quotes

The current economic crisis has caused millions of people to lose their jobs. When unemployment strikes, it can easily send even the calmest and most resilient person into shock and panic.

If you find yourself in the unsettling position of "in between jobs", you know that it is most sensible to calm down after the initial upset.

Believe it or not, the Tarot can help you relax a little and be more focused on your task ahead to find a new job.

The cards have an uncanny ability to examine, empower and offer good advice on the best action to take to get yourself back into work as swiftly as possible.

Here is a simple 3-card reading you can do, if you have just lost your job and need to address the most common fears experienced in that moment:

1. What are my prospects of finding a new job soon?
2. Will I find a job in my current profession, or will I have to be more flexible?
3. What can I do right now to maximise my chances to get a new job as quickly as possible?

Different cards offer different advice, and my reading is based on the cards I have drawn as follows:

4 of Swords, Page of Pentacles, Judgement (Aquatic Tarot)

1. Four of Swords

"How quickly will I find new work?" is usually the first question you will ask, when you have just lost your job. You will most likely be worrying about your outstanding bills, ongoing financial commitments etc., and wonder how long this nightmare of financial insecurity will last.

The Four of Swords indicates a time of recuperation and healing after the initial shock.You are unlikely to find a new job overnight, so be prepared and make use of your "time-out" as best as possible by looking after your health, self-esteem and explore your career options.

It also seems best for now to avoid rash decisions about getting ANY job, especially one that doesn't pay you enough to cover your monthly essential bills. This could be an irrational knee-jerk reaction leading to a much longer period of being trapped in an unrewarding position. 

Perhaps you may also want to consider a change of direction. After all, loosing a job can be a blessing in disguise, especially when you have been harbouring a dream to do something entirely different. Now is a good time to think about this carefully.

2. Page of Pentacles

When unemployment is high, and a lot of people are long-term unemployed, it is very easy to think that you have to take on any kind of work as soon as possible. If you love the profession you have been working in so far, then at least for as long as your finances allow, you should focus on finding a new job in your preferred field of work. 

The Page of Pentacles suggests new beginnings in work, training and learning a new skill. Pages often indicate a new direction and new experiences, or at least the need to be open-minded to all possibilities. The Page is asking you to be flexible but not giving up on finding work in your current profession. You may want to consider enrolling on a course, where you can enhance your knowledge and practical skills relevant to your current profession. This will also keep you busy and motivated. 

3. Judgement

Taking initiative and being proactive is the best way to beat the stress caused by unemployment. There is always something you can do to feel less powerless and more in charge of your situation, even if it's just a small step at a time, as long as you keep taking those steps every day.

In this case, Judgement is asking you not to blame yourself or others for the situation you are in. Whatever the circumstances of your job loss, blame can result in bitterness, anger and resentment, which is so damaging at a time when you are already very vulnerable to so many negative emotions. 

Release the past and start afresh. Learn your lesson from your experience and move on. Your confidence may have been knocked, but keep believing in your abilities and worth. Now is a good time to consider all possibilities and stay in the driver's seat rather than waiting for opportunities to come up. It is your responsibility to make the most and best of the situation without expecting help from others. 

Judgement is more about tuning your mindset into a positive get-up-and-go attitude rather than a specific practical task like going to the job centre and sign on (common sense should tell you that signing on has to be on top of your to-do list anyway ;)). Don't let blame, harsh self-criticism and lingering disappointment about your situation hold you back. Judgement heralds a new era; embrace it rather than fear it.

As you can see, the Tarot can help you focus in times of uncertainty. It often provides some clarity and encourages you to think rationally about your situation, rather than letting your anxiety get out of control.

Give this spread a try, if you are currently out of work. You can use my ebook to help you with card interpretations. And please do let me know, how useful it was for you; your feedback means a lot to me. Leave me a message in the comment box below; I'd love to hear from you.

Alternatively, you can purchase an email reading to receive impartial insight and guidance on your situation. For this reading, you will need to select the 3-card reading option.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

Transform your life this year:

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SWOT Analysis Tarot Spread

If you would like to assess your potential and prospects in your current job, or want to explore, whether a new job/career move will be beneficial, then this spread can help you make a more confident decision on which direction to choose.

SWOT stands for Strengths - Weaknesses - Opportunities - Threats

Strengths and weaknesses are internal; they relate to your personality and talents; what you can bring to the work you do (or want to do), and where you may experience difficulties.

Opportunities and threats are external; they relate to what you can expect to be offered in terms of career progression, training and development, management and leadership, but also limitations that are out of your control, e.g. changes in the professions, at the workplace, company, organisation etc.

Here is an example, how you can assess your current situation, evaluate your SWOTs and decide on the action to take:

1. Present Situation - Eight of Swords
2. Strengths - Queen of Pentacles
3. Weaknesses - The Chariot
4. Opportunities - Strength
5. Threats - Three of Wands
6. Next Step - Knight of Pentacles

1. The Eight of Swords suggests limitations and restrictions in the current work/career environment.Feelings of frustration about being stifled and blocked. At the same time, this also seems like a comfort zone; familiarity with the difficulties encountered, which are used as protection against unknown possibilities. Fear of change, which needs to be overcome.

2. Queen of Pentacles strengths: reliable, practical, hands-on approach, productive, efficient, disciplined, taking pride in her work and loving it; creative; patient and determined to succeed. Enjoys working on her own, but can also be a nurturing and supportive leader.

3. Chariot weaknesses: restless, getting easily bored, sometimes ruled by emotions, moody, clingy, insecure, disliking change and upheaval, can get stressed easily, lacking control and foresight; giving up quickly, not persevering.

4. Strength opportunities: an inspiring manager, mentor or guide may offer opportunities in developing confidence and leadership qualities; possibilities of promotion and a strong position in the future.

5. Three of Wands threats: aspirations and ambitious goals may be out of reach; unrealistic expectations, misjudgement, lack of focus and direction; business may not achieve success it hoped for; slow reaction to changing markets and demands.

6. The Knight of Pentacles suggests to stay put, but also be open-minded about the future; keep watching changing markets, economy, within the workplace and changes of customers' needs and demands; act quickly, if necessary. Short-term there are good opportunities to hone skills, knowledge and experience to become more confident to make a move when the time is right. Investing in training and perhaps even a mentor will sow the seeds for accelerating career advancement. Utilise strengths to alleviate weaknesses; try to avoid moodiness and find ways to relax and unwind to increase resilience when under pressure. Patience, hard work, determination and perseverance will pay off.

As you can see, the SWOT analysis spread can give some useful insight. Why don't you give it a try to assess your work situation?

If you have just started learning the Tarot, you may want to use my ebook as a guide to help you interpret the cards. Alternatively, you can request a career reading by e-mail.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

Transform your life this year: 

Tarot Readings - Insightful guidance when you need it 

Learn Tarot - A magickal, inspirational tool for life.

You can also connect with me on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.