Adventuring into Living Authentically

Hello loves!

Lately, I've been hardcore struggling with job hunting. I know I'm not the only one, a lot of my friends and peers are in the same boat as me. And although we've been encouraging each other and trying to remind ourselves that everything happens for a reason, it's still hard.

And I've definitely been feeling more and more defeated about it lately.

Until a conversation with my sister, Sam, helped me reframe my thinking.

I was telling her the struggles of doing everything right-- sending applications, follow-up emails, thank-you emails, getting my resume workshopped, etc.-- and still not seeing any results.

"I don't know, I just feel like it's never going to end," I said. "Like what if there's not a light at the end of the tunnel."

"You're going to get a job," She reassured me before adding, "The job hunting is hard, but I think you're looking at this all wrong. You're actually really lucky."

I didn't know how being unemployed and living at home again was lucky until she continued.

"You don't have any obligations tying you down. You don't have a job, a partner or kids you're responsible for, or a lease. You can literally do anything right now." She shrugged. "You could be a ranch hand in Montana or be a tour guide in Europe."

"Yeah, I don't really think I'm cut out to be a ranch hand," I stated.

"My point is you have the chance to do whatever you want," Sam said. "You've always talked about moving to New York or London or New Zealand; you can actually do that now. Or apply for the out-of-the-box jobs that maybe don't have anything to do with your major. The job hunting sucks, but you're also in a situation where you can just say eff it and go. A lot of people wish they could do that."

I thought about what she was saying. It was a bummer I was unemployed (plus, hello, I need money to live and everything since I don't want to mooch off my parents) but it was also a bit of a blessing in disguise.

Without a 9-5, I had the time to work on other projects, such as this blog or the book I'm currently writing. I can see friends more, and make plans without having to jump around multiple schedules. Without an apartment lease or significant other keeping me in one spot, I could look at jobs in any State or country.

My sister helped me look at this crappy time in a new light.

Struggling to find a job is literally no joke. It's a lot of stress, a lot of rejections, and getting ghosted by companies more frequently than by Tinder dates. The endless send-out of resumes and cover letters getting blocked by AI, interviews that go nowhere, or having all the qualifications but the company wanted to inside-hire all along is way disheartening.

I'm extremely blessed and lucky to have an amazing, supportive family and friends around me. I've managed to pick up a few freelance jobs to get some income. And now, thanks to Sam, I have the ability to look at what I once thought was a prison as a freeing opportunity.

So I've decided to stop stressing, say 'eff it', and just start living more authentically.

The jobs I've told myself I'm unqualified for? I'm going to apply anyway, just to see what happens.

The locations I've said would seem impractical to move to? I'm going to look into them more seriously.

Life's too short to be lived in fear.

Which is why now, I'm challenging myself to start saying 'yes' more, to start asking 'why not me' when it comes to applying for certain opportunities-- and I think we should all live a little more freely like that.

I'm going to see where approaching life with this mindset takes me; it could be nowhere or it could be to places I've only dreamed of. Either way, I'm going to take the risks and enjoy the flow of life a bit more.

The only thing holding us back is ourselves. It's time to start living the life that's authentic to who we are.

Love y'all!

"For you were called to freedom. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself'." -- Galatians 5:13-14