The normal practice when looking for teaching jobs and attending interviews is to prepare yourself as much as you can by collecting as many possible questions which may be asked, practicing your answers by writing them down, having mock interviews to prepare you for what might come, and to have the ‘perfect’ observation lesson planned.

But what if there was another way? What if preparing for an interview was about every choice we make and how we live each day – the way in which we care for, love and nurture ourselves?

I recently had a job interview and chose to prepare for it in a very different way to what I would have done in the past. This awareness to make a different choice has come from being inspired by the presentations of Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine, who have shown me there is another way – a way to live and be that is truly loving and caring of me and my body.

The week before the interview I was very aware that everything, all the choices I made, from when I went to bed to what I ate, would have an impact on the day.

With this, I chose to focus on being very present with my body, in how I expressed myself through every action, word and thought. For example:

• How I chose to walk – gently and with joy.
• The way in which I dressed – I honored what I felt to wear and how I put the clothes on my body.
• The way in which I drove my car – in presence, focussed on the driving, my body and the road, with no thoughts about anything else.
• How I cooked and ate my food – making sure I chose and cooked food that was lovingly prepared and nourishing for my body.
• How and when I went to bed – preparing for sleep by allowing myself to let go of the day.
• Making sure I honored my body – when I felt to stop and take a rest, be it at work or home.
• Not getting involved in conversations or discussions that I knew were there to try and make me doubt myself and my choices.

With this I allowed no space for self-doubt, anxiety or stress. If any of these did try to sneak in, I would stop, say no, and make a more loving choice, which allowed no room for these self–doubting thoughts.

I prepared my overnight bag a few days before, taking care how I placed everything in it. I made sure I had early nights in the days before so as to prepare for the long drive ahead. I packed the car in the early evening the night before, to leave room and space in the morning for my normal routine, and not allow any anxiety or rush to sneak in. I then prepared lunch and drink for the long journey, and made sure I wound down and very lovingly and gently got ready for bed.

There was not one part of my day or night that was not included in my preparation for this interview. I also learnt to trust myself, by choosing the lesson to teach for my interview that I knew within me was the correct one for exactly what was needed that day, even if it did go against the grain and what other people said. I listened and trusted what my body so clearly shared with me.

So as the day came, I left to go to work in joy; there was no worry, stress or overwhelm, and it was no big deal that I had an interview coming up. It was simply just another part of my day that I would equally be me in, no more or less to any other day.

On the drive up, I made sure I drove in joy and gentleness, appreciating each moment and appreciating the care I had taken with preparing for the interview. I stopped along the way to take a break, stretch my legs, have a drink and enjoy speaking to the people I met.

I didn’t push myself to get there or worry about the time as I knew this would have an impact on the next moment and the next day.

As I arrived at my accommodation for the night, I could feel a little part of me went, “oh no”, as it did not look as good as it did in photos, but immediately I made the choice to not let this expectation I had affect me. I made the room as loving and supportive as I could, then went for a walk to allow my body the space to unwind from the drive and the day.

I could feel there was a little more I wanted to prepare for the interview lesson, but knew I was tired, so instead of rushing and stressing before bed as I would have done in the past, I chose to honour my body and go to bed, knowing I would have space the next morning to do it then.

The next day I went to the interview with not one ounce of anxiety or stress, nor any need to get the job. I was there to be seen, and to express all of me, without holding back who I am, and to have fun with it as well.

The day was amazing and I felt so much joy. Everyone I met was lovely and open and such a joy to be with.

I didn’t prepare any questions or answers, as I trusted myself and my body in the knowing that because of the way I had chosen to prepare for the interview, everything I needed would be within me to answer any questions asked.

I trusted that the answers would come from a knowing in my body, from my truth, my lived experience and not from trying to say the ‘right’ things in my head. There was not one ounce of me that held back that day.

I was offered the job, but honoured my body, as the job and where it was did not feel true for me. This was also part of the process, knowing I didn’t need to panic and accept a job just because it was there.

What this whole experience has confirmed to me is that, yes, we can prepare for interviews and certain aspects of life, but that true preparation doesn’t come from knowledge in the sense of going into our heads with anxiousness and drive.

True preparation comes from a commitment to be present, aware, loving and steady with ourselves and our bodies in every moment and with every choice, and most of all, from trusting what we feel inside.

With love and deep thanks to Serge Benhayon.

By Gyl Rae, 37, Teacher, Scotland

Further reading:
What causes anxiousness?
A True Commitment to Work, Getting a Job… and Life
The Interview Process and the Power of Everyday Living