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I have noticed that after experiencing business failure or a job loss, people always focus on the financial struggle that comes with it- the bills that are piling up, the responsibility of not being able to provide for family, but nobody talks about the mental toll this takes. The effect it has on one's mind, confidence and interactions with the outside world.
The human body is designed for activity. The interactions, responsibilities, conversations and tasks that make up our days usually keep our mind active and our bodies ready to act when needed. When you are constantly solving problem, working with people, making decisions and achieving goals, your brain stays alert due to being constantly challenged.
But after a business or job failure, that can suddenly come to an end.
Many people who lost their jobs don't get another one immediately, and as a result spent months at home looking for suitable employment. Many of these people refuse to take lower paying jobs because they feel they deserve better, based on the salary they were used to or their work experiences.
And that's not necessarily wrong in terms of wanting better. But the longer you stay away from something engaging, the harder it is to go back to the person you used to be. The brain gets less responsive. It becomes harder to be creative.
Things that you once found simple to perform now seem to take much greater effort. You start lacking confidence when you have to interact with people, solely due to spending too much time in sitting home away from the world.
This is exactly what I am currently dealing with.
Since my business failed two years ago, I have spent the past two years mostly at home, and within this time, I have began seeing change in myself that I never expected. Because during the years I was running a business interacting with people was so normal for me. I was used to the conversations, negotiation, relationship building, discovering opportunities, and problem solving.
But after being away from it for so long, I no longer see myself as the same person. Interacting with people is now something I find more difficult than before. Responsiveness outside my house has decreased. Activities that once seemed easy take more effort than before.
And the most bitter part is that now that I am in the process of trying to start a business again, I have realized that my confidence and zeal are no longer what they used to be. The drive to pursue opportunities is now very weaker. Even to engage in creative thoughts on how best to kick start the new business venture has become a very hard work.
Now , I wonder where the person in me, who could come up with business ideas quickly and execute them has gone.
I now understand how staying away from being active can contribute to people becoming slacking and sluggish over the things they could easily do effectively before. While lacking money is one thing about losing a job; becoming drained of confidence, creativity, and interaction with the outside world is yet another challenge.
I believe that in order to keep yourself psychologically and mentally fit when unemployed or experiencing business failure, people need to find something to engage themselves in to keep their minds and body busy even when things are not going as planned. This might involved taking up a less pay job or anything else that can keep the mind and body active. Because you will need your mind, your confidence, and your energy ready when a new and better opportunity show up.
