Soaring jobless claims trigger fear; 5 tips to lovin’ your job, if you have one

Let your mind wander to the first day of your job – assuming you're employed. The grass was greener back then, the future landscape more hopeful, and your career was on its way into a new journey of exploration.

Such thoughts elude the senses these days as we're all asked to do more with less, while wondering if we'll have a job tomorrow. The mere perception of the slumping economy and increase in jobless claims are enough to take you off track at work. New unemployment claims have reached a 26-year high, as cited in the Washington Post and media across the board.

Even if you are not immediately impacted, uncertainty has permeated the air we breath. The trick is to hang onto those moments of gratitude, creativity or innovation that might have occurred during your tenure at your current position. Here are some controversial tips to take you out of the dumps of our scary workforce situation.

1. Love your boss: This is the toughest one to swallow, but hey – you're still working. In tough economic times your employer is under an enormous amount of stress. It's hard enough for leadership to call the shots, adding to the poor morale by beating up the boss will only worsen the climate. Remember that this person or company DID hire you in the first place.

2. Appreciate your new skill set: You must have picked up something good along the way at your job. Consider how you have enhanced your career and any new skills that might make you a more valuable employee at your current job or future one.

3. Steer clear of gossip: When you dive into the water-cooler talk, you're likely to get sucked into any negativity that spouts in your direction. Surrounding yourself with positive folk will make work - more tolerable. Fear breeds negativity, and it's a nasty energy drainer on productivity and creativity.
4. Fuel your own creative juices: Give thought to why you chose this job in the first place. Try to connect with the original motivation for taking the job. There were hopes and dreams of furthering your career. Do opportunities still exist to expand your creativity?
5. Connecting with colleagues: Work is always a networking experience to some degree. Think about the friends and valuable connections you've made.  Careers don't happen over night, they are built over time. Identify potential co-workers who have been by your side through this downturn.  Camaraderie among peers often gets overlooked in a rough work environment. Cultivate those relationships, don't abandon them.