When all is not well with work by Theresa Castro

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?

Sought-after career coach and author
of the critically-acclaimed book,
The Dark Before the Dawn: 70 Secrets
to Self-discovery, Theresa Castro
suggests that 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 since 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 to nobody else. Think about
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 in accordance with
your very own beliefs.

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 you
can't get the same or better health
insurance. Fear that you would fail
in a new job. Fear of being too old.
Fear of anything and everything. It
is 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.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
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Theresa Castro, MBA, is career coach,
speaker and author of critically
acclaimed book, The Dark Before the
Dawn: 70 Secrets to Self-discovery.
Visit http://www.DiscoverYourDreamJob.com
or http://www.HealingandEnlightenment.com
to sign-up for a free 3 day mini-course.