Lazy Days Are Gone

Today, someone called me lazy. It was in one of the Facebook groups I'm in, so the person doesn't really know me, but it got me thinking. Lazy isn't possible. You want to know why?

Interest can't be manufactured. You're either interested in something or you are not. Now, we can definitely make it possible for you to FAKE interest a lot better than you are right now. This is done through praise or punishment; the carrot or the stick.

If you don't have a natural interest in coming into work every day at 8am, are you lazy? I'd say no. I'd call that normal. Regardless, the employer needs you there at 8am. So she ensures that happens UNnaturally by bribing you (giving you a salary). Otherwise, you'd never do it. And if you take that carrot and you still don't find the motivation to get there by 8am? Well...now it's time for the stick: You'll probably be written-up, punished, docked pay and even fired for not faking your interest better than you did.

But make no mistake: The word "lazy" is just another stick. It's meant to shame so that a person will act when they have no natural interest in the first place.

Don't fall for it (unless there's a good reason).

See Stephanie's site Work Stress Solutions for more information like this.

Keep Your Enemies Closer?

I have a friend that I met through Facebook. We've met in "real life" too and confirmed it. Yep. We're friends alright. She just posted this in one of the groups we are in...and it's really gorgeous. Thought I'd share it here and have you consider it the next time you have workplace conflict:

A Soulforce Credo About My Adversary

I believe that my adversary is also a child of the Creator, that we are both members of the same human family, that we are sisters and brothers in need of reconciliation.

I believe that my adversary is not my enemy, but a victim of misinformation as I have been.

I believe that my only task is to bring my adversary truth in love (nonviolence) relentlessly.

I believe that my adversary's motives are as pure as mine and of no relevance to our discussion.

I believe that even my worst adversary has an amazing potential for positive change.

I believe that my adversary may have an insight into truth that I do not have.

I believe that one day my adversary and I will understand each other and that if we conduct our search for truth guided by the principles of love, we will find a new position to satisfy us both.

~From http://soulforce.com/

See Stephanie's site Work Stress Solutions for more information like this.

Anger Is Never Justified

"Anger is never justified." ~ A Course in Miracles - Foundation for Inner Peace

Now this is tricky...because anger is necessary, it's just not okay to express it or repress it. Expressing anger hurts others. Repressing it hurts you. It's a matter of choosing others over yourself when you "sit on it" (or eat it away, drink it away, smoke it away, etc.). Not okay with me. We get to choose ourselves as LEAST as much as we choose others. I'm quite sure God/dess would agree with that!

So, what to do? Well, anger is an invitation. Anger is a catalyst. Anger is self-protection in action. When you feel it, that's your cue to find what you REALLY want to express. It's the force inside you to dig deeper, go further, GROW and find the real response in you.

This may be sadness, it may be fear, it may be a request for someone to love you better. It's okay to share THESE. These are justified. You are justified.

Try it. Test it. See for yourself.

See Stephanie's site Work Stress Solutions for more information like this.

Being Right vs. Doing the Right Thing

'Being Right' and 'Doing the Right Thing' are not synonymous. In fact, to do the right thing often involves admitting you were wrong, apologizing, letting someone else take the credit and so on.

Doing the right thing is not about keeping score. It's about recognizing that the only truth worth living is, "Everybody wins or nobody wins." That's Bruce Springsteen's quote, and I'm sure he won't mind me using it here (esp. since I have dedicated my life to drooling over his album covers whenever time permits).

Anyway (straightens shirts and smooths hair), as I was saying.

Being right is a tragic thing to pursue. The school system enforced this horrible notion and it's high time we dropped it collectively. The right thing is: Did you learn the math? Being right is: Did you learn it on this date, for this test, and outmatch your peers in the proving of this learning?

What a lot of effort for no pay-off except self-congratulations. Because let's be clear: the right person is no fun to be around. Haven't you noticed the lack of lunch companions?

See Stephanie's site Work Stress Solutions for more information like this.