I’d heard “fake it until you make it” before, but I didn’t really get it. I mean, I understood the concept, but I didn’t really believe it.

But when I took my job last year, a job that was different than any of my previous jobs, I embraced fake it until you make it real hard. I’d previously worked in editorial and so transitioning to social media, which fell under digital marketing at my company, was a huge change. Sure, I knew a ton about social media from reading about it and using it, and I’d used social media at other jobs, but this job was my first step outside of editorial–and it was scary at times.

But I had no choice but to fake it until I made it. I had to project confidence in what I was suggesting to the editors and sales/marketing teams I was working with, or they’d never listen to me. I started learning to apply the principle outside of work, too. In situations I was nervous about, I summoned up my strength and tried to put on a confident face and really think through things–if I tried x that was scary, what was the worst that could happen? Would the potential benefit of whatever scary thing I was trying outweigh the risks? (The answer is usually yes.)

I thought of this because you all keep commenting what a great attitude I have about being laid off. It’s not easy, and I’m definitely pretty emotional and anxious right now, but that won’t help anything. That won’t help me find my next job. I’m trying really hard to stay positive so that positive things happen to me.

And yes. My blog will be a little emo these days.

But on to happy stuff. Food. I’ve been so busy and in no mood to cook lately, so I haven’t gone grocery shopping in a while. But with more time on my hands and a need to spend less, I finally dragged myself to Trader Joe’s today.

I bought some really basic stuff to ease myself back into cooking. For lunch, I made Brussels sprouts, some chicken meatballs and brown rice and topped it with a bit of BBQ sauce.

This sparkling water was amazing, and only 79 cents! I’ve become really into sparking water lately, out of nowhere.

I am obsessed with both of these items.

What sort of stuff do you cook when you’re easing yourself back into it? (You know, tell me what else I should make ;))