Expect and Accept Problems and Hassles at Work

We all want to have meaningful jobs. It is ideal when we can earn a living and enjoy the tasks inherent in doing so. However, this is not always or perhaps usually the case. We often have aspects of work that we dislike. I recommend that you go to work each day with a realistic point of view instead of an idealistic one. Expect there to be problems and difficulties at work. Expect a lack of teamwork and inefficiency. Expect change and ego related problems with people. Expect these things and when they occur it will be easier to avoid demanding that they not exist.

 

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy teaches the philosophy of tolerance. It is good to want to have a job that is ideal in all aspects but see that there is no law of the universe that says your job, coworkers, manager, and organization absolutely must be as you want them to be. If you cling to a realistic and tolerant philosophy you will avoid unhealthy anger and depression. You will feel healthy and motivating feelings like displeasure, disappointment, and concern which will help you productively influence your coworkers, manager, and organization. If you avoid demanding that your organization be as you think it absolutely should be you will live within it better. You will be better able to change what you can change and gracefully live with what is more difficult to change. You will avoid impulsive acts and statements which will not serve your long term best interests. When we demand that our organization be a particular way we will be inclined to look for a new job wishfully hoping to find one where managers, coworkers, and systems work ideally. Although some organizations may have advantages and greater efficiency over others, it is very unlikely on this planet that you will find an organization which is a Utopian organization. This is because all organizations are made up of highly fallible humans. These fallible humans have all sorts of irrational ideas that lead to irrational feelings and strategies.

So before you submit your resignation work on changing your irrational beliefs about your organization, coworkers, manager and job related tasks. See that you can tolerate them even when these things are less than ideal. After you modify the rigid beliefs that make you prone to anger and depression at work you may just decide that the grass is not sufficiently greener on the other side of the hill to leave your present organization!

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