The purpose of life is not to get rid of the butterflies in your stomach, but to make them fly in formation. -- Author unknown
Did you know that your anxiety could help you at work? Anxieties are a signal; they are a warning system within us saying "Halt!" "Look!" "Listen!" Our anxieties are either honest fears or old, familiar feelings we have carried irrationally from our past. If our anxieties come from legitimate fears, we can face them honestly and move beyond them.
I like to think of anxiety as lying at the threshold of change. Often we feel anxiety when we are entering a new position, a new workplace, or a new experience. These anxieties are natural; they are telling us that we care about our performance. However, when we carry anxieties from our past, such as those that come from old stories of self-doubt, we face a challenge of another kind. We must trace the history of these anxieties and find the primary sources. These anxieties often hover about, leading us to a dead end. We can move through these anxieties by respecting and working on them instead of burying them. Otherwise, they will continue to haunt us.
Just for today, I will listen to my anxious feelings and ask myself whether they are legitimate anxieties from the present or hovering haunts that have been hiding in my closet.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss
'Fly in formation' hey! I like that. Will try this at work as my anxiety level has been quite high given that it's a new job & challenging. I'm working in a Women's Refuge for Mum's & their children fleeing domestic violence. It's a tough job as there is a lot of admin involved contacting other agencies to get them set up with Doctors, Dentists, Schools, Social Services & Counselling, etc. I'm not used to this & trying to sort out situations for 9/10 women can make the head whir. I'm learning how to priorise & deal with referrals & suchlike on the phone. This can be tough as I'm not clear on what all these things involve & how these systems are working out there in the real world. I don't think I've explained it well & that's because even now I'm only just getting a handle on things. Staff & management are supportive with each other & I've been told it takes about 6months to get comfortable in the role. In the meantime the best I can do for myself is to manage the anxiety levels & listen for the messages as suggested. Given I've taken the job so early in recovery I have to be mindful of my stress levels & to make sure John Barleycorn doesn't take advantage. I'm trying to learn this new position whilst working my Steps too & I pray for strength that the two to draw a compatible parallel. I definitely needed to move on with my life & having this opportunity is working wonders for my self~esteem though it doesn't feel that way when I threaten to panic! Thanks for the constructive words, Quetzal. Shall take them with me into work from tomorrow & keep it cool. Shall also keep everyone up to date with how I'm doing. This work means the world to me & it's so good to be able to share about the trials & triumphs. Thanks for the ongoing support, Danielle x
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Progress not perfection.. & Practice makes Progress!
