Not too long ago, my wife and I spent a few days at an amusement park where I constantly had to resist the urge to buy a wizard's cape. It was my mother-in-law's birthday and it was technically a time to celebrate (again, I was at a place that sold wizard capes!).

But I'd been out of work for months and all I could think about was the job search waiting for me back home. I had a few freelance gigs that were helping us make rent and buy groceries, but I was still consumed by the fact that I wanted a full-time position ASAP—and was having the hardest time finding one.