Who will hire me at age 47?

Q:  Three years ago I quit a good paying job in a chemical plant to except my dream job out of state, which fell through. I came home later and got another job from a place were I worked years ago. It turned out to be the job from hell. It was so bad I quit, and I took a chance on an internet business, which went bust.

So I started reading and learning and found out I was doing the "Disease to please Syndrome" for 28 years. I also now understand the idea of co-creation and thought. I'm trying to "wake up" and change, but now I can't find a job that will hire me!

I think I really have to figure out how to get back into that chemical plant, even though I never liked the work, make some money, and then check out my options. But then I think, maybe now I should try to figure out what my "bliss" is, and follow an old dream of moving to Arizona - but then I'd arrive broke, pumping gas or something, at 47!

HELP!


A:  First off, it would be smart not to think you MUST get back into the Chemical Plant. If you do, fine, but if not, equally fine. That can’t possibly be the only way for you to find happiness, right? You may have to learn some new tricks, so much the better. You’re young. You weren’t planning on retiring early, were you? Never retire. Work at what you love, and it will be play, and the money, prestige, and retirement won’t matter (even as they pile up).

For now, continue to knock on every door, keep every option open, but don't make any commitments until you have that "knowing" that it is right. Visualize daily what you want: To be working at a job you enjoy. Do NOT pick the job, or the employer, or the state, or any of the details. Keep those vague. Instead, zero in on the emotions. Feeling satisfied. Imagine telling people, family and friends, that you are really busy and really happy. Imagine shaking hands with a lot of people at your new work when introductions are being made. Imagine sorting through your new desk at work. Imagine carrying around a bunch of new business cards in your pocket, put your hand in your pocket and feel them. Keep imagining all of these kinds of things. Make up your own. But mostly, FEEL THE EMOTIONS. Do this once or twice a day, 5-10 minutes tops.

Then, JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, start doing all that you can to get a job, or find your "niche", in Ohio and Arizona. Explore, read, go out. Get your resume done, and redone. Do all the common sense stuff, to the very best of your ability!

As the days go by, mental give, and feel, gratitude. Thank the Universe repeatedly for your new work and success (as if it was already done).

Now, if you look around next week, or next month, and say, hey, this isn’t working, you will mess it all up. It always works. Don’t complain. Don’t say it’s hard. Don’t look over your shoulder to see what changes are taking place. Just keep doing all that you know to do, until you've forgotten this whole exercise because you are so busy with your new life.

But I'm in a crisis mode, do I pay rent for another month here and just hope I get the chemical job (I had an interview, they may soon be hiring), or do I take action and move? I can't accept, "Do what you can, all that you can." This is real.

There's no way I could know what's best for you. You have to make the decision using BOTH your heart and your head. I can tell you that in my life there have been times that I believe the best decision seemed to be the least attractive option, but in the long run, paid off handsomely, which might be the case with you taking the chemical job. It’s not forever and could help you rid yourself of money worries, so that you are freer to think clearly without that monkey on your back. A move is a huge leap, especially to uncharted territory. But, if your heart and soul are dead to the chemical industry, AND you have powerful feelings that tell you to move, then this could be the perfect time to go. I think unless both your heart and your head are in agreement, however, then that old adage applies: When you don’t know what to do, then don’t do anything! Of course, there are other considerations that only you know of, so again, it's not a decision I can make for you.