Mindfulness gets a lot of attention these days, and one major understanding through a mindfulness practice is how the mind often takes us down a path that is not necessarily good for us. We go along somewhat blindly, believing that if our mind is leading us then it is a reliable guide.

But no—the mind is not always your friend, and the sooner that you realize that the better.

In relation to the job search process, taming the mind can really do wonders for our success factor. After applying to many jobs, a lot of people see the rejections pile up or the total lack of response and they start to think that something is wrong with them, that somehow they are lacking, that they don’t match up, that they are not enough of “this” or too much of “that.”
The confidence level plummets, creating an overall feeling of malaise, which in turn causes a downward spiral in energy, motivation, and perspective.

I recently shared a great LinkedIn post written by Tiffany Hardy listing these three principles that you should keep at the forefront of your mind every single day when looking for a job:

You are uniquely valuable as a candidate.

Quit downplaying how special you are. There’s no one quite like you. You might find matches to your years of experience, degrees or other qualifications. But you will add value to the organization in a way that others won’t. The key is identifying and communicating that value to the right people.

They need you as much as you need them.

Lose the scarcity mindset. Quit thinking there are scant few positions stingily awarded to the lucky ones. Remember that capturing and retaining talent is one of the key challenges businesses face and there are employers out there who are desperate for someone like you.

You are in control.

Get out of the rut of “the market’s bad out there” and “times are tough” and seize control over the actions you CAN take. One aspect that you have the greatest control over, which can have the single greatest impact on your success, is the effort you put into nurturing and growing your network – especially within the specific companies you are targeting.

To sum it up: stay positive, know your worth, and take control over what you can.