Work/life is inherently stressful. It just is. But I honestly believe a majority of this stress comes from our interaction with others via working together, emails, phone calls or conversations.

Which is really our energetic fields coming in contact with other people’s energetic fields.

We can take on the stress of our boss, the financial fears of our spouses, irritability from the excessive noise of the kids if we work from home with them, an angry customer’s complaint, haters on social media, and even the negative energy of a co-worker.

Have you ever wondered why you can start work in such a great mood and by lunch you are dying to get out to eat something greasy and feel the need to vent about your day?

Or you start out happy with your smoothie and 10-minutes in to answering work emails you are feeling stressed?

Often, you’ve absorbed more than your share of lower vibrations and your body/mind is trying to cope.

Save

Wherever your work space is, if you are interacting with customers, co-workers or the public in any way, you can learn to manage your energy “like a boss” so that you aren’t subject to the energetic vampires, haters, or just overall daily stressors we all come in contact with.Save

The most exciting part is that it can be done in just 10-minutes or less every morning, in any location.

AND, if you forget these 10-minutes, the great news is you can excuse yourself, sneak to your car or do the 2-mintute version in an emergency and you’ll be back to a better place in no time.

Energetically cleanse and protect the inner you and outer you!

The basic gist is you want to cleanse and clear your energy at the very least once a day, in the morning. This takes care of the outer you. Mid-day and before bedtime is also helpful.

Then visualize cleansing and clearing from the top down, on the inside.

There are so many ways to do this and so many techniques you can use, but here is a great starting point that I’ve been using for years and LOVE. 

Save

THE OUTER YOU/SETTING UP YOUR PROTECTION BOUNDARIES:

Imagine drops of light falling all around you. Washing away any energetic debris. See it wash out of your room, down the street, where it is transmuted to beautiful golden light.

Once your energy feels clear, then imagine a beautiful bubble of light surrounding you. Start small and see it grow bigger, and bigger.

If it’s hard for you to visualize it, you can feel it or ask the Angels or your Higher Self to help you. You can say out loud or in your head, “Angels (or Higher Self), I call upon you now to surround me in a beautiful bubble of light. None but the highest vibrations may enter my field”.

Quick and easy and now you’re all set up to keep energy out of your field that doesn’t belong to YOU!

Save

THE INNER YOU/CLEARING THE INTERNAL CLUTTER

With your outer energy cleared and your protective energy “bubble” engaged, it’s a great time to go a step further and clear your energy internally.

Imagine a beam of white light, coming down from your soul star, just for you. Let it enter your crown chakra at the top of your head. Pulling it down behind your eyes, scrubbing your pineal gland, down through your throat chakra, heart, digestive systems, root chakra, legs and into the earth.

From there, see that column of white light pushing through the earth until you reach a pool of light (the color of your choice) and you pull that grounding energy back up. Through the same column, pull the grounding energy of light back up into your feet, up your legs, thighs, root chakra, and up all the way through your internal energy systems until it comes out your crown and up toward your soul star.

White light coming down from above, grounding light coming up from the earth and let it swish and swirl inside clearing out anything that no longer serves you and moving your chakras (energy systems) and getting them unstuck.

Taking a few minutes to visualize (or feel it if visualization isn’t your strong Clair)  will put you in such a great light and heart space for the day – it’s worth finding a way to squeeze this in.

The concept is visualizing connecting to divine white light and having it flow through your body from the top down to cleanse anything negative or blocked. The energy from the earth is to keep you grounded.

When you are done, it leaves you feeling connected to that light and feeling calm. it’s a great way to begin your day, maintain, or end your day!

Save

There are many ways to meditate and shield your energy, but what I like about these two is that they can be done relatively quickly and anywhere you can find a quiet spot once you have them more or less memorized (it doesn’t have to be perfect!).

It doesn’t mean that there won’t be upset co-workers or angry emails, or a hater in the comments on your blog post, but it does help with how you react to those things. Whether it sticks with you and bothers you for hours or if you can clear it out of your field and go about your day.

Basically, with these two techniques you can manage your energy like a boss, anywhere!

Commit to this process for 30 days and then skip a day to feel the difference. I’m convinced you will feel the difference in your stress level and ability to get caught up in the negative on the day you skip it! Which is such a great reminder that the process works and is worth devoting a small amount of time to.

If you would also like to end your day on a high note, repeat this process before bedtime so that you can sleep well. Even teach it to your kids so that they also sleep with happy dreams and don’t interrupt your sleep with their nightmares.

What if you still have a day that feels a little “energetically icky?”

If you do have a day that still feels a little energetically icky despite using this process, a salt bath can really help. My favorite salt is this one and I add a calming essential oil such as balance, serenity or lavender to relax and feel the negative attachments literally melt off me. I then visualize the negative energy going down the drain and thank mother earth for accepting it so that it leaves the house entirely.Save

You may also like these helpful resources:Save

And I highly recommend learning more about energy in the “Energy Wise” portion of WRITE YOUR FUTURE.

How about you? Do you have any additional ways you set up and manage your energy throughout the workday? Please let the readers know your favorite ways to keep your energy YOURS and positive, in the comments.

XOXO,

Save

PIN IT FOR LATER:

What should you do when you find yourself in the position where you hate going to work every day and it’s draining your energy? Leave!

Well, that’s the more obvious answer, but truly if you are unhappy at your job and things aren’t looking up, it’s time to consider your options. While you are considering your options, the best thing you can do is give 100%. Why would you do your job better when you are discouraged, mistreated, unappreciated or just over it? Because you need to shift your energy.

First of all it’s easier to get another job when you have one. It helps with the pressure. You want to be able to play a little hard to get when you negotiate your salary, and if you are desperate, it’s much harder to do (see: Salary Negotiation Tips to Know Your Worth and Align Your Energy To It).

Most importantly though, it’s hard to get your next job if you have an energy of defeat or seem down. If you speak poorly about your current position or your current boss, it comes across as negative. The person interviewing you doesn’t know if you are a constant complainer, have a problem with authority or are in the wrong position for your skill set. Think about it. In an interview that person has 60 minutes or less to decide if they think you are someone that will fit in their company for the next 5-10 years. They are hoping you will be there for the long haul and are someone who can evolve with change. They don’t have time to sort out if you are truly at a bad company or if you bring drama, they just want to figure out your skill set and whether or not you will thrive in their position. Which means you need your energy positive and high. (Not to be confused with fake and perky.)

AUTHENTICALLY YOU!

No one feels good about themselves when they are doing a crappy job or getting negative feedback. The best thing you can do for yourself and others is commit to being present and do your best when you are on the job. But also set some boundaries. Try not to take things personally or take on the problems of others. Will you be able to get your next job if you are working 60 hours a week and have no time to look? No! Decide what you can commit to. What hours you truly need to be there to get your job done and have laser-like focus to do it.

If you trust your boss or your Human Resources department you can even tell them where you are having issues and see if they can make some changes. Maybe they didn’t realize the problems and can shift some things around. Trying hard and having a good attitude will get you far. It will help you have references, someone may give you a lead on your next job, or the workplace may rise to meet your new vibe.

The worst thing I’ve seen time and time again that drives me crazy is the person giving 40% who doesn’t quit, doesn’t thrive, just comes in unhappy every single day. That brings everyone down. No one is happy in that situation. Believe me, your boss isn’t going home thinking how great it is to have someone moping and texting all day when they should be working. Odds are that boss isn’t comfortable having a heart-to-heart conversation about the work and figures some work getting done is better than none. Which it isn’t. The unengaged person is generally doing much worse than you know until they are gone and you find out you don’t even miss them. We’ve all seen it. One person can be in a meeting and drag everyone down and drive everyone crazy time and time again. Don’t be that person!

Now if you are already giving 100% and trying to be a positive person, keep doing your best, but start putting in effort as to how you can keep your vibe up.

Work on energy-shielding techniques, get out into nature, start listing your skills and write up your vision for your next position so you can start calling that into your field. Ask the universe to support you and help you find the job that meets your needs. Make sure to define what you are looking for so the universe knows!

What has even worked for me in the past is to look online for new jobs. That simple step toward action can shift you into a better place. It’s like daydreaming with intent! Keep in mind – the high vibe person attracts the high-vibe job. Win win. Save Save Save

Believe me, I know it’s not easy but if you can step back and see the big picture, your effort will turn into something much better.

To be crystal clear, I don’t mean kill yourself trying to work overtime to impress a boss that will only criticize everything you do. Instead, set boundaries, show up, be present, contribute when you can, shield your energy, surround yourself with any positive people you can connect to – and change your work life for the better. Take any positive steps such us updating your resume (see: Is Your Resume Great or Sad By Comparison?), networking, listing what makes your dream job your dream job and practicing potential interview questions. Leave with good references. You will be happy later that you did.

Networking is so important these days and it’s much better if you don’t burn any bridges. You may even find you weren’t aligned with the right role anymore and just needed a change. Find ways to light up your work life, and if it’s not your current position, time to call in the one more suited for you. Let me know in the comments if you are raising your vibe to call in a new job. I’d love to hear about it!

XOXO,

Save Save Save Save Save

Salary Negotiation Tips to Know Your Worth and Align Your Energy to It

When I worked in Human Resources, it really bothered me how many people weren’t prepared to negotiate their salaries and waited until it’s too late to figure out their target numbers. Did you know the salary negotiation can start as soon as the first phone interview? It’s so important to be prepared, know what the position can pay, and embody your number from the get go.

Now that I’m a freelance writer, I can let you in on how to get the money you DESERVE!

“It’s estimated that people who negotiate earn $1 million more during their career for no other reason than negotiating.”*

PEOPLE WHO NEGOTIATE, MAKE MORE MONEY. PERIOD.

So why doesn’t everyone negotiate?

Here are some reasons I’ve found that people are hesitant:

1)      It’s uncomfortable.
2)      Many people think the offered salary is what the job pays.
3)      They worry they won’t get the job if they appear greedy or ask for too much.
4)      They have a hard time feeling they are worth more and/or selling their skills.
5)      They don’t understand what the market rate is for their position.

It’s more than just setting a value when you negotiate. It’s the energy of your asking and the feeling of being worth that amount. If you ask for $100,000 per year but feel deep down you are truly worth $80,000, which number are you more likely to manifest?

Worse, if you ask for $20,000 below market because you didn’t know how much it would pay, you are more likely to get something close to your asking price – and the company may feel you are happy and they are getting a bargain.

But here’s the good news, if you feel confident and determined about your number – most likely you will negotiate less and the company may even hit your number right out of the gate. Isn’t that great? Being comfortable negotiating may mean you do less negotiating!

Here are the three steps to take prior to any salary negotiation to choose a target number and then align your energy behind it — ONE – TWO – THREE for a higher paid you!

1. Do Your Homework!

In order to hit your target number, you have to know what it is!

BEFORE THE FIRST PHONE INTERVIEW:

I can’t stress this enough. Have a target number in mind before your first conversation with a company. If you ask for $40,000 per year in your phone interview, then do your homework and suddenly want $60,000 when the offer is presented, it can feel like a blindside to the Company because they brought you in to interview thinking you were in their price range, or possibly altered the position to be in that price range. The salary negotiation can start as early as this first phone call!

MARKET RESEARCH:

Here are some tips to determine the market for your position and your skill set. And please, don’t underestimate your skills. What can you do that no one else can? What do you bring to the table??? You are your best salesperson during the hiring process. DO YOUR HOMEWORK – Do not skip this step!

There are many free resources to determine what a position can pay and where you fall in the spectrum. I recommend doing all four of these:

SALARY.COM.

There are free resources like salary.com where you can match your skills to jobs in your area to figure out what they pay. There are percentiles of pay but if you choose the 50th percentile it should give you a start. You may not want to work at a company that pays in the 10th percentile anyway since that means they pay on the low end.

JOB BOARDS.

Look at every job posting you can find from indeed.com, monster.com, careerbuilder.com, LinkedIn, and Craigslist to find the postings that include a pay range. Those pay ranges should start to paint a picture along with salary.com.

RECRUITERS.

Talk to at least three recruiters. Recruiters are paid by the company when they place a person in the company and therefore free to you. Often times they will review your resume and provide a salary range in an attempt to place you. Some will give you the range the company wants to pay, which is very helpful. Bonus, one of those recruiters may find a job for you before you do!

DREAM BIG!

When you know the range, set your sights on the top! Don’t settle. Changing jobs is the easiest way to increase your pay and considering most companies are paying 3% annual increases, you will want to come in high knowing you may only go up 3% each year after or until a promotion opportunity comes up.

2. Embody Your Target Number

You have to believe you are worth the amount you ask for!

Once you have an idea of the range the position can potentially pay, figure out where you are in the spectrum. If it pays x for 10 years experience and you have 5, does that mean you should make less or can you really sell why you can do that job with 5 years experience in an interview?

You need to know YOU!

Make a list. Why can you do that job really well? Have that list on hand every time to you talk to the company. That way you keep your energy up and have a reminder of why you will be great at their job.

Companies put in a range when hiring, 1-5 years experience, or 5-10. It’s a big range. Then they have a range they will pay for the salary and usually a budget for the position. It’s not unreasonable to get the high end and even then maybe one or two thousand higher if they think you will really be the best fit. Companies love a hard worker who is going to do a great job and are really looking for top talent.

So you know what the position CAN pay, you know what you would like to make, you’ve really looked at your skills and what you can offer – What’s next?

Believe it or not, the next step is to make sure ALL of you believes in your target number.

If part of you feels like you are asking too much or are uncomfortable, it will come across. So what can you do?

BONUS – Align Your Energy to Your Target Number

This is the part that most people miss.

You have to BELIEVE you are worth what you are asking for. Even if you aren’t sure you can get the amount, even if it’s what you are only hoping for, you have to believe it’s possible and feel confident when you ask.

Here are some tips to help you get aligned:

• Sit with the number. How do you feel? Can you say it without hesitation? What is making you hesitate?

• Journal. Write in a journal questions like “If I make $75,000 people will think _______.” “If I make $90,000 per year, I’m afraid that___________.” See what comes up. Listen to it.

• Plaster it! Put the number around the house. On post-its.

• Affirm it.  Write affirmations “I receive $75,000 year and I welcome it.”

• Color therapy. Wear red! Red is a great power color which supports our root chakra. Some people also really like orange as a power color and will diffuse orange or wear it. For me, I like red. It makes me feel in charge. Blue is also great to support the throat chakra and speaking up!

• Practice makes confidence. Practice with friends asking for your salary. Have them say you are crazy and you’re way too high. Get comfortable with every scenario.

• Theme song. Play “Worth It.” Make it your theme song when you are job hunting. Put it as a ringtone on your phone!

• Money is not emotional. Don’t take it personally or look at money emotionally. It’s like buying a car. You can’t be emotionally invested but you should be prepared to look elsewhere if need be.

3. Get SUPER Comfortable with Negotiating

It’s time to ask for what you are worth!

Now you are ready! You know your target number and have done your research. Your energy is aligned. You have it in your head that people can earn 1 million more in their lifetime just by asking. So it’s time to ask.

For the actual negotiation BE RESPECTFUL. Not arrogant.

Always reiterate how much you like the company and why you will do a great job. Be specific with metrics, such as, “At my last company I increased customer satisfaction by x,” “I reduced turnover by x %,” “brought in x in sales,” “received the highest rating for _____,” “improved processes,” “resolved issues outstanding for years in just two months.” Be your own cheerleader!

If you truly don’t reach your number, consider the overall package the company offers (consider this anyway!). Are their benefits more comprehensive/affordable? Will they give you and extra week vacation? Is there room to grow? If there is no room to grow and the pay isn’t want you want, will you be happy there or do you know in your heart you will want to move on within a year?

If you need help figuring out your pay, consider getting a mentor. Enlisting a coach can mean the difference of a million dollars over your lifetime. I can’t tell you how many people I interview who ask for a lesser salary than is budgeted for the position or who do not know their salary expectations. Spending even a half hour with a coach may be just the support you need to get you to that next level!

Whatever you do, don’t leave money on the table, just because you didn’t want to ask for it or you didn’t know what someone with your experience can earn.

Believe me, after your first negotiation, it feels easier and easier.

You can do it!

XOXO,

*https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/negotiate-your-salary-offer-1009