Tolkien Reading Day is Wednesday, March 25. An annual event aimed at encouraging the reading of works by J.R.R. Tolkien, the day is a great time to pick up a good book and transport yourself into its story.

To help celebrate Tolkien, who is most famous for his classic works The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, we want to take an in-depth look at one of his most notable quotes. Tolkien once said, “It is not the strength of the body that counts, but the strength of the spirit.” Here at Movin’ On Up, we couldn’t agree more.

Staying Strong in a Difficult Job Search
We know that the job search can be tough. If you’ve been struggling to find work for a while but haven’t had any solid leads or positive news, it can be easy to slip into a negative mindset about your search. But, as Tolkien points out, keeping your spirit strong is the key to success. Instead of giving up, learn to love your job search.

Stay social by networking with your peers, take a class to learn a new skill, volunteer at a local organization, read a book or newspaper, and do something positive for yourself. While the spirit may outweigh the body when it comes to staying positive during your job search, don’t forget to stay active and healthy too. In fact, physical activity can actually stimulate your brain into feeling happier and more relaxed – leading to a healthier spirit.

As with any quest, like those Frodo and Bilbo Baggins embark on in Tolkien’s classic stories, the job search often starts out tough before it gets easy. Stay positive, motivated, and realistic about your goals, and put forth the time and effort into making them happen. And remember, the strength of your spirit can take you far.

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.