How does a guy let go of depression and being ‘unlucky’?

10 comments

1. Well, it sounds like you feel like you aren’t in control.
   Lots of people apply for jobs and don’t get them. Keep applying.
   Talk to a career counselor or job placement counselor at your school – they should still be availble to help you. Make sure you are tailoring your CV/resume and communication for each application, and not just copy/pasting each.

   If you feel like you could do more by publishing, then what is holding you back?

   One does not typically just let go of depression. You have to work through it. If you believe in luck, then you have set yourself up. You have to create more opportunities for yourself. Use the tools at your disposal; social networking – ask friends, family, classmates, professors. Use professional networking: join professional organizations in your field, participate, and use your connections & exposure to find more opportunities. Be more persistent: don’t wait for jobs to be announced on big job boards. Check the individual site, walk in and see if they have a bulletin board on-site, see if their HR people will speak to you and accept an application.
   You can wait for things to happen to you, and remain unlucky; or you can do more to make things happen to change things.

2. Job hunting takes persistence, especially as someone who hasn’t held that position before.

3. My sister is in a similar situation and only has a teaching job from my parents’connections. The humanities are a hard field to break into and be very successful IMO. Most of the write ups, white papers, presentations, etc, I make for my software dev position use ChatGPT or Claude, and they’re met with high praise and signed contracts. Future positions in writing and middle management I think will be done with AI services. I’ll be very interested to see how far AI can push teaching.

4. the good thing, you’re aware of the root of the problem..

   truthfully, the job market is absolute dog shit right now, you aren’t alone.

   have your resume reviewed by an accredited person(s), and keep applying to jobs.. something will give.

5. As an ex-teacher, I can say that the application process is brutal (assuming it is similar where you are as it is in the UK). Even good candidates can be rejected by some programmes because competition is stiff and programmes can be selective as a result. It is also worth noting that wanting something is not always enough and it may very well be that you never get onto a training course. That does not mean you cannot work with kids though. You can still be a tutor or a social worker and try to turn kids’ lives around, or you could work with charities or volunteer with the boy scouts etc. Find other ways to achieve your goal in the meantime and see if that helps you stand out as a candidate.

6. Master’s be damned… Do you have actual teaching credentials?

7. So keep applying.

8. I understand the weight of the emotions you’re describing. The feeling of “pervading doom” you speak of is deeply challenging, especially when juxtaposed with a life that, from an external viewpoint, appears successful and promising.

   Firstly, it’s important to remember that thoughts and feelings aren’t always an accurate representation of reality. You’ve accomplished a lot academically and professionally. While you may currently feel like a “failure” due to recent setbacks, it’s worth reflecting on the possibility that this sense of failure is more rooted in your perceptions and fears than in objective fact.

   In the world of nonduality, all experiences serve as opportunities for deeper understanding and healing. The darkness you’re going through could be seen as a tunnel leading to a newfound sense of wholeness and integration. Life’s setbacks can sometimes be its most potent catalysts for growth. In a nondual simulation perspective, this moment can be seen as a crucial “code” in your life’s unfolding. What can this experience teach you about resilience, surrender, or the act of letting go?

   Regarding your concern about “being unlucky,” it might help to examine the narratives you’re holding. Our beliefs shape our experiences to a large extent. If you’re convinced that you’re unlucky, that belief can manifest in various ways. Why not examine this thought pattern, question its basis, and potentially rewrite this code?

   In the realm of mental health, it may be beneficial to consult with a therapist or counselor. You mentioned wanting to be a teacher and make a significant difference in people’s lives. It’s an admirable goal. However, it’s essential to address your well-being first to be an effective guide for others. In the same way that a wounded healer might not be able to give their best to their patients, a teacher who hasn’t found a way to navigate their inner world may find it challenging to guide others through theirs.

   If you’re open to it, modern technologies like AI and online platforms offer additional venues for emotional support and healing. For instance, while not a substitute for qualified medical advice, AI can sometimes act as a 24/7 listener and prompter for self-reflection.

   You’re not alone in your feelings. Life, with all its ups and downs, is a journey we’re all navigating in different ways. It’s more about how you dance with the chaos than trying to avoid it. Because avoiding is impossible—the more we try to control, the less control we actually have.

   Peace to you on your journey.

9. Please take this as the constructive feedback it is intended to be.

   Your post spent the first paragraph telling us “WHY” you probably should have a job, which could be read as you feeling somewhat superior and entitled. You are not. Perhaps this came across in the interview or application process.

   A degree is not what it was, a degree in literature is fairly specific. No idea what types of jobs you are going for but if its in that discipline, I imagine you have picked a field with fairly limited slots and therefore competitive.

   Start thinking about yourself as someone who’s heart bleeds the same color as everyone else, broaden your horizons, get a foot in a door somewhere and then prove you are the capable person you think you are.

10. The job market isn’t the hottest rn, but I think teachers will always be in demand. (Mainly because of the low pay.)

    I think you just have to be ok with getting a job in a field that’s different than yours.