MYSTIC MONA: Lady-Bugged

Dear Lady Bug,

I'm answering your question mostly because you made me smile by saying "yes, my life is all about me." (That's a hint for my readers: Amusing your local psychic gives your query priority.)

You battle depression because you've allowed others to take advantage of you in some way. This pattern has repeated itself throughout your working, personal, and scholastic life. I applaud that you're now pissed off enough to do something about it. Also, whatever you're doing these days for R&R is actually stressing you out more. Make your time off only about what benefits you mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Don't over-obligate your personal time to other people.

Continually tell yourself that you'll leave your current job by October. Mentally plan for it. Tell trusted friends you'll be in a new job by the end of October. When you're interviewing for the new job, tell the prospective employer that you're looking to begin your new position in October. The more you make October your target month, the more likely it'll be the month you begin the next job.

A man with blue or green eyes and brown hair will offer this new position to you. He's looking for someone to manage a division or project and wants you to report results. This isn't a micromanager; he's too busy to look over your shoulder. Your cards state that you won't be entirely happy unless you're in charge and I know you've avoided leadership positions in the past.

Your next opportunity will be to guide others. The best position for you is one where you connect with a lot of people throughout your day. There's an aspect of your character people naturally trust—expand on that. Your ideal job is not one where you close yourself off in a room and are left alone to do your work. Your connections to people will propel your career.

You can talk (or think) about the most uncomfortable situation with a sense of humor. It's a wonderfully direct and somewhat acerbic wit. While you work toward this new opportunity, you'll benefit at your current job by stating the obvious faults of the job now with your humor. Bottom-line the obvious, then jokingly state the solution. Practice with co-workers who'll most appreciate your observations. Learning to recognize co-workers' foibles and not take situations personally will do wonders reducing your stress.

Dear Thought Again,

The cards say that even if you get called back to work you won't be there for long. There's a much better opportunity that'll be presented to you as soon as you realize you did the right thing by leaving that last job. Fear has motivated you to try reconnecting with your previous employer. You were fed up there for a reason and I encourage you not to return.

You'll improve your chances of a job opportunity if you connect with people you know and tell them the type of work you'd like to do next. Describe on paper the ideal job situation, the salary you want, the work environment, the camaraderie of your co-workers and the days/hours you'd like to work. Put this paper in an envelope and place it on your refrigerator with a magnet. Your career is supposed to move forward, not backward.