Pearls of wisdom

[darkemeralds]

I spent a worthwhile hour this morning talking to a counselor about my work situation. She gave me three gems.

The Amethyst: "Norm's been given half a job and you've been given two jobs. If you weren't stressed out by that, I'd be worried about you."

I gotta tell ya, that was incredibly validating. (For one thing, it made it--ahem--crystal clear that the "hard realities of the economy" don't apply as much to Norm as to me.)

The Ruby: Me: "I'm afraid I've been given this extra job because I'm lazy and my existing work is easier than everyone else's."

She: "Is it possible that you've internalized some messages that you don't really believe? Could it be that you're efficient, clever, and just plain fast?"

Me: \o/

The Emerald: "Suit up, show up, and be entertained".

This may be the best work advice ever.

I was already suited up, so I got on my bike and showed up, and I've been trying to be entertained all day.

it's making a big difference. By focusing on what I like to do and what's fun, I've begun digging out from under the overwhelm in some material, calculable ways.

I feel so much better! Thank you, wise counselor!

Comments

[scribblemoose]

I'm so pleased for you! She sounds like an excellent counsellor. I know the Ruby applies to me, too. So easy to do, but so paralyzing!

[darkemeralds]

She really seems to be just what I needed, though I wouldn't have thought so at first. Very experienced, very easygoing, really likes her work, and so able to see the big picture.

We all internalize messages that we should never have believed, and then treat them as "reality." I think women over a certain age in the workforce have been subject to some leftovers from the Mad Men era (which is why I cannot stand to watch that show!)--I know I was, back in the 70s when I first started working.

This woman was able to bring them right out into the open. I'm not saying I'm completely over it in a single session, but it did make a difference. And I'm going back in a couple of weeks.