Hello Strangers With Faces In A Small Box

As I write this, I am putting my words out there into the Universe. I believe as a human being, working hard and not giving up is naturally instilled in me. At the same time, I also have a strong faith in manifestations and affirmations (throw in some Unicorn magic into the mix if you may).

Today, I strongly felt like writing. I want to write and let the world know that I am ready for an adventure. I took a risk of leaving my job (serving notice period) to pursue the magic out there. Now, did I ever think this was a foolish decision? Yes! At least a hundred times for the past month I argued with myself. But at the same time, I have this super strong feeling that my career journey is about to have a whole different chapter. A chapter that will further burn my passion and let me utilize my talent in an entirely different environment.

Following my heart and that gut feeling, this feels right. I have learnt a lot and gained so much from my previous company that my growth should no longer be limited now. There’s so much to explore out there. I know it’s a risk, especially in the pandemic, but this is my first courageous step to put myself out there in the competitive game after almost 10 years!

My managers have been super supportive and understanding. They further convinced me on the skills that I have, the talent I have and what can I offer out there. If they believe in me, I believe in me a hundred times more.

I am sharing this little part of my decision with the Universe, and fellow readers. I have faith that from here on, as I continue to search for opportunities, my sequel story is being written.

Wish me luck!

1.       I took it in that I am not alone in this. My colleagues, my friends, my manager and the whole company is in this together with me.

2.       Once I came to terms that I’m not alone, I started a conversation. I realized that I build up a lot by not addressing my emotions at work as I fear that I might be labeled negatively. However, that is not the case. Conversations can bring clarity and a fresh point of view from different individuals. Share to understand, understand to acknowledge.

3.       My first conversation started with my team mates. I learnt a lot from them. The kind of stress they have, the challenges they faced and we compared our coping mechanisms.

4.       Next conversation – my manager. Speaking to my manager right after speaking to my colleagues felt as a better option as I felt lighter. The flow was natural because I was aware that I have had “the talk” beforehand. Addressing what I feel in spoken words/verbally and having my manager’s full attention assured me that I was heard.

5.       One thing I can take from the conversation is that, perception is different than reality. I cannot assume that individuals around me know what I am experiencing just because we are all working together in a pandemic. They will only know what I tell them and vice versa.

6.       Being empathetic does not equal to having weak people values, especially during a global pandemic. A sensible approach towards a conversation can lead up to so much and solutions can be discussed mutually.

7.       Mental health is important and should be addressed transparently. I was very open regarding my stress and exhaustion. Acknowledging that productivity and motivation does not come from exhaustion, our team came up with creative ideas on how to lend support to one another and new methods of working adapting to the crisis around us. Flexibility was deeply implemented.

 I realized that the core for a change is to have a conversation. Ignite the spark by addressing what is lacking, what is challenging and what is required. Dealing with mental exhaustion in silence at work (and life) is not a reasonable approach. Best believe that help is available, just take the first step towards it. We are still in a very challenging climate and adapting is a wild hit. Perhaps it’s best to also put a mask on the traditional methods and break the classic working stereotypes….

- April 14th 2020, quarantine, another day in