When all is not well with work, what do you do? Do you quickly get frustrated and feel discontent? Do you look at each situation as a tiresome challenge or as an opportunity to learn something new? Have you ever considered looking at work problems from a spiritual point of view?
When you look at work from a spiritual perspective, you will see that there are lessons for you to learn. Let's look at a couple of situations that you or someone you know may have encountered. We will look at each scenario from a typical perspective and from a spiritual perspective.
Difficulty with Boss or Co-Worker
Normally, we think that a difficult boss is just that, difficult. By all means, you are probably not the first person who didn t get along with them. Therefore, it can't be you who needs to change and instead the boss needs to change.
From a spiritual way of thinking, you should ask yourself, "What is this person trying to teach me?" (And we re not talking about job tasks.) Think for a moment, what is it about this person that really aggravates you? Make a list of all of their annoying attributes. How does this person make you feel? What bothers you the most? Compare the boss's or co-worker's list of attributes to your own behaviors. What characteristics do you have in common?
Looking at the situation from this perspective, you suddenly realize that the characteristics that annoy you are the same characteristics that you embody. Recognize and appreciate your boss or co-worker for they are showing you what you need to change. If your characteristics are not similar, look for the lesson that they are teaching you.
Not Getting a Well-deserved Pay Raise or Promotion
First of all, let's assume that your employer is not having any financial difficulties and is giving raises to other employees. Normally, we would think that our boss or employer is a louse and a cheapskate. We would wonder why we are the only person that did not get a raise.
Looking at this situation from a spiritual perspective, we need to reflect upon why this is happening to you and not to anyone else. Reflect upon how you value yourself and your work. Do you sub-consciously think that you are not worthy of a pay raise? You will discover that the perception of not being worthy begins with yourself and your mindset. It is your self image that gets projected outwards. Others see the image that you have for yourself and act accordingly.
Instead of being angry with your employer, work towards increasing your self-worth. Once, you raise your self worth then the rest of the world will recognize your shift and act accordingly by paying you what you are worth.
You Hate Your Job and You Just Can't Take It Another Day
When you hate your job, it is easy to blame your employer for the many reasons why you despise your job. Perhaps, you are upset because your boss denied your vacation request or maybe you are bothered by the fact that you are far more qualified and talented than the person who is your supervisor.
From a spiritual perspective, have you looked at why you are staying at a job that you hate so much? You might say something like, I have excellent health benefits and can't risk changing companies. Or I have already spent fifteen years with this company and I would lose my retirement if I left. Keep in mind that all of these reasons are just excuses. That's right, just excuses.
Instead of getting upset with your employer, you need to look at why you are feeling so challenged about leaving. What is really keeping you there? Most of the time, we stay in a job that we hate because of fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear that I can't get the same or better health insurance. Fear that I would fail in a new job. Fear of being too old. Fear of anything and everything. It is the fear that truly keeps you stuck in a place that you really don't want to be.
If you take the time to explore your fears, you will realize that you are being called to take a new direction in your career. Once you let go of the fear and accept change, you will see that you should have left your job a long time ago.
Whatever challenge you are given at work, look beyond the situation at the surface level. What is really happening? What is the situation trying to teach you? When you incorporate this new way of thinking into your life, you will find that your difficulties are in reality blessings in disguise.
Copyright 2005, Theresa Castro, All Rights Reserved
Theresa Castro, MBA, is career coach, speaker and author of "The Dark Before the Dawn: 70 Secrets to Self-discovery" and "The Secrets to Discovering Your Dream Job." Visit HealingandEnlightenment.com for more information and to sign up for a free 3 day mini-course.
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