In addition to COVID-19 creating a New Normal, it has also forced many people to seek new jobs, as a significant number have lost their employment. In such circumstances, there is a psychological principle called Reality Therapy that I believe can be applied to help individuals discover their unique identity for success, which can serve as their "selling point" when looking for new jobs, making it easier and more distinctive in the job market.

Reality Therapy is a concept developed by William Glasser, a psychologist who introduced a new counseling approach emphasizing that "you must take responsibility and control your own life and face the consequences of your actions." In essence, Reality Therapy encourages individuals to take greater responsibility for their lives and to have the courage to accept and confront the outcomes of their actions. This process ultimately allows individuals to discover their unique identity for success, which can be applied to create a "selling point" for job applications or to identify personal strengths that can be leveraged for income generation. Here are 9 techniques to consider:

1. Set life goals. Before planning to find a new job or starting a business, take a moment to reflect on what your "life goals" are. How do you envision yourself in 10 or 20 years? When you have a clear picture of your desired future, you can plan and follow through to achieve your life goals.

2. Stay in the present. When faced with job changes or unemployment, the first thing not to do is "blame yourself," as no one intentionally makes themselves unemployed. Most job losses are due to economic conditions beyond our control. Blaming yourself won’t improve the situation. Therefore, staying present, which is a core principle of Reality Therapy, involves assessing what resources you have to move forward, including knowledge, skills, finances, motivation, and life choices. These factors will enable you to continue living a fulfilling life.

3. Believe in yourself. You may have heard the saying, "Destiny or determination?" This saying serves as encouragement to persevere through tough times. The only person who is always with you is yourself, and you are the only one who can lead yourself out of difficult situations. Psychological research confirms that individuals with high self-belief tend to achieve more success than those who rely on external powers.

4. Be brave in facing problems. There is no room in this world for those who give up. Reality Therapy teaches that to discover your identity for success, you must confront challenges. You need to train and develop yourself to tackle various problems. Facing challenges will make you stronger, more resilient, and feel more valuable.

5. Encouragement is essential. Psychology states that what humans need to survive is "love." Being loved or loving someone makes us feel valued and wanted. During life's crises, love and support from those around us are crucial, as no one wants to be left alone.

6. Know what you want. Understanding your own desires is a key psychological principle for self-discovery. When you know what you want, you can respond to your needs appropriately. Reality Therapy suggests that fulfilling your own needs leads to satisfaction, which in turn fosters a willingness to pursue other endeavors and stabilizes your emotions.

7. Use reason over emotion. Often, "anger" can lead to problems and missed opportunities. Therefore, if we can maintain our composure and manage our emotions, it will positively impact our ability to take action.

8. Use recognized strengths as your "selling point." If you struggle to identify your strengths or doubt whether your interests and skills are valuable to others, ask those around you what they see as your strengths. Once you receive feedback, practice and develop those strengths into a "selling point" for job hunting or business ventures.

9. Accept your mistakes. In the previous point, we discussed finding your "selling point." Now, let’s focus on identifying areas to let go of. Reflect on past work experiences to identify where you went wrong and how to correct it. According to psychological principles and Reality Therapy, "the past is meant for learning," and those who succeed are those who can apply lessons learned from the past to the present.

Life's challenges are part of its richness. Even if you stumble today, remember that you have "gifts," abilities, and loved ones around you. I encourage you to apply the 9 techniques mentioned above. I believe that soon you will rise again with grace. This is just one more piece of encouragement for you.

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Author's background: Chanthama Changsalak, a graduate with a major in clinical psychology, second-class honors from Chiang Mai University, and a master's degree in social development from NIDA. She has 4 years of experience in child psychology, 1 year as a research assistant in psychology, and is currently a practicing social worker applying psychological principles in her work for over 5 years.

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