Journal Entry # 6

In this activity you will apply the Wise Choice Process to improve a difficult situation in your life. Think about a current problem, one that you're comfortable sharing with your classmates and teacher. As a result of this problem, you may be angry, sad, frsutrated, depressed, overwhelmed, or afraid.

Perhaps this situation has to do with a grade you received, a teacher's comment, or a classmate's action. Maybe the problem relates to a relationship, a job, or money. The Wise Choice Process can help you make an empowering choice in any part of your life.

1. Write the six questions of the Wise Choice Process and answer each one as it relates to your situation

The Wise Choice Process

1. What's my present situation? (Describe the problem objectively and completely.)

My present situation is being an unemployed, full-time student. School is my main priority, because I know I need a good education to help me find and maintain the career I want, but It's somewhat hard to focus on school because of how stressed I get over not having a job, or any source of income coming in. There are so many things I need to pay for and so much I need to help my parents out with. Dropping out of school is out of the question. I'm gonna stay in school no matter what. I just need to find a way to find a job and balance school, as well as maintain my stress.

     2. How would I like my situation to be? (What is your ideal future outcome?)

My ideal future outcome is to get my Associate degree by 2013, and dive right into my career right after I graduate. In order to achieve this, I want to have a stable part-time job that works with my schedule, and supports me throughout my college years so that I can focus on school and not have to worry about my financial stability. Ideally, I want to control all aspects of my life, and right now I feel as though I don't have a complete grasp on what to do to better my life.

      3. What are my possible choices? (Create a long list of specific choices that might create your preferred outcome.)

• Cut back on school, and spend more time on finding a job.
• Drop out of school, and work full-time
• Try harder to find a job
• Find a job, stay in school, and alleviate my stress
• Meditate and find ways to control my stress levels even if I don't have a job.
• Realize that things will get better eventually if I just apply myself.
• Keep doing what I'm doing

      4. Whats's the likely outcome of each possible choice? (If you can't predict the likely outcome of an option, stop and gather more informartion.)

• If I cut back on school, and spend more time on finding a job, it'll take me longer to finish school.
• If I drop out of school I won't be able to find a career that truly suits me, and I'll end up working a job that I hate.
• It wouldn't hurt to try harder to find a job.
• Finding a job, staying in school, and getting rid of my stress would be perfect.
• Meditate and find ways to control my stress is what I should be doing so that I can focus on school.
• Realize that things will get better is relying on time to fix your problems, in a sense. and I don't want to wait. I want it to happen now.
• I am not going to keep doing what I'm doing because it is not working for me.

     5. Which choice(s) will I commit to doing? (Pick from your list of choices in step 3.)

• I will commit to looking harder for a job
• I will commit to finding a job, staying in school, and getting rid of my stress.
• I will commiy to Meditating and finding ways to control my stress

      6. When and how will I evaluate my plan? (Identify specifically the date and criteria by which you will determine the success of your plan.)

I will start making changes in my life today October 5,2010. I want things to change now. So I need to act now. If i procrastinate on changing, it'll only take those changes longer to happen. I'm tired of feeling like I have no control over my life, and Its time for me to get back that control. If I ever feel discouraged or frustrated, I will simply refer back to this blog to encourage me to get back on track.

2. Write what you learned or relearned by doing the Wise Choice Process.

By doing the Wise Choice Process I learned that ever problem has a solution, and its up to me to make the right choice. There are many choices I can make, but I have to weigh them and see which one is the best fit for me. Earlier in this journal I mentioned feeling like I had no control over what was happening in my life, and learning this wise choice process inspires me to change and make what I want to happen, happen now. I relearned that only we can change what goes on in our life, and I am starting my change today.