5 Practical Ways to Overcome Minor Workplace Losses
11 February 2013
Read by 1452 persons
Departure of an appreciated colleague, end of a fascinating project, move with increased commute time, transition from a private office to an open space… The list of work changes is long and requires us to find defense strategies to "grieve" without excessive negativity. Here are 5 concrete steps to open your mind and navigate these phases of change more serenely.
Develop your inner wisdom
Life's wisdom—which only experience can truly teach us—shows us that nothing truly lasts. It is better not to cling to established situations, but to live in the moment as fully as possible. This is the idea of *Carpe diem*, dear to Horace. The idea is also that if the balance is disrupted in the next moment, this new balance is also a source of new encounters, new skills to develop, and new pleasures to experience. And ultimately, the opportunity for (re)discovering oneself and new, equally interesting moments of life.
You remain in control
If the situations resulting from these changes are too unbearable—this obviously happens and there is nothing abnormal about it, nor any guilt to feel—you remain in control of your life. You can decide at any time to break this situation by leaving it on your own initiative: request a transfer to another department, terminate your employment contract, take training to advance, negotiate telecommuting time, reorganize your workspace, actively search for another job… At any time in your life, maintain this capacity for indignation, dear to Stéphane Hessel, this ability to say "no" to focus your creative energy towards a new goal that is good for you.
Manage your emotions
Emotions bring moments of intense life and we must accept them with benevolence, letting them express themselves on every occasion. Tamed, they are part of our mental and physical balance. When you want to cry, you should cry. When you want to shout your joy or despair, you should shout loudly. But to avoid being overwhelmed by our emotions, we must also learn not to indulge in them. An excess of emotions, for too long, is never helpful. It is therefore necessary to distinguish between "involuntary" emotions and those that we maintain, even develop sometimes. For example, by darkening a situation or interpreting facts. Taming your emotions therefore involves a fair assessment and analysis of the facts we experience. And by doing this work, our ideas for managing the transitional phases of our lives will be clearer.
The right attitude towards periods of change
As you know—we experience it almost every day—life is not a calm river. And when situations of disruption occur, we must first accept them at their true value. Neither underestimate nor exaggerate them. Let the time for emotions pass. And also accept that the time of this grief, if necessary, is also itself limited (a transition time). The right attitude is then to project your thoughts beyond this transition period. And this "high" aim rather quickly restores heart to the work and allows you to go through these periods with more serenity.
"Where my attention goes, my energy goes"
This belief is very helpful in these moments of doubt where the emotion of change and grief often overwhelms us. From this belief can come a concrete and beneficial action. Focusing your energy on solutions allows you to put your body and mind into action towards this target zone which is your objective. Where your attention will go, your energy will go. Believe me, it really is you who are piloting the process! So nourish your attention with positive, constructive things, with solutions… and your energy will be filled with positive ions that will put you back on the path of joy and the pleasure of living!
Gilles Payet.
Etre-bien-au-travail.fr
Posted February 11, 2013.
Develop your inner wisdom
Life's wisdom—which only experience can truly teach us—shows us that nothing truly lasts. It is better not to cling to established situations, but to live in the moment as fully as possible. This is the idea of *Carpe diem*, dear to Horace. The idea is also that if the balance is disrupted in the next moment, this new balance is also a source of new encounters, new skills to develop, and new pleasures to experience. And ultimately, the opportunity for (re)discovering oneself and new, equally interesting moments of life.
You remain in control
If the situations resulting from these changes are too unbearable—this obviously happens and there is nothing abnormal about it, nor any guilt to feel—you remain in control of your life. You can decide at any time to break this situation by leaving it on your own initiative: request a transfer to another department, terminate your employment contract, take training to advance, negotiate telecommuting time, reorganize your workspace, actively search for another job… At any time in your life, maintain this capacity for indignation, dear to Stéphane Hessel, this ability to say "no" to focus your creative energy towards a new goal that is good for you.
Manage your emotions
Emotions bring moments of intense life and we must accept them with benevolence, letting them express themselves on every occasion. Tamed, they are part of our mental and physical balance. When you want to cry, you should cry. When you want to shout your joy or despair, you should shout loudly. But to avoid being overwhelmed by our emotions, we must also learn not to indulge in them. An excess of emotions, for too long, is never helpful. It is therefore necessary to distinguish between "involuntary" emotions and those that we maintain, even develop sometimes. For example, by darkening a situation or interpreting facts. Taming your emotions therefore involves a fair assessment and analysis of the facts we experience. And by doing this work, our ideas for managing the transitional phases of our lives will be clearer.
The right attitude towards periods of change
As you know—we experience it almost every day—life is not a calm river. And when situations of disruption occur, we must first accept them at their true value. Neither underestimate nor exaggerate them. Let the time for emotions pass. And also accept that the time of this grief, if necessary, is also itself limited (a transition time). The right attitude is then to project your thoughts beyond this transition period. And this "high" aim rather quickly restores heart to the work and allows you to go through these periods with more serenity.
"Where my attention goes, my energy goes"
This belief is very helpful in these moments of doubt where the emotion of change and grief often overwhelms us. From this belief can come a concrete and beneficial action. Focusing your energy on solutions allows you to put your body and mind into action towards this target zone which is your objective. Where your attention will go, your energy will go. Believe me, it really is you who are piloting the process! So nourish your attention with positive, constructive things, with solutions… and your energy will be filled with positive ions that will put you back on the path of joy and the pleasure of living!
Gilles Payet.
Etre-bien-au-travail.fr
Posted February 11, 2013.
