“It’s better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness.”~Chinese proverb
Years ago, practically lives ago, I was in a job that I hated. I had loved it when I started it, and in retrospect most of it was a great experience, but at the time I was miserable.
I was out to dinner with work friends and (apparently once again) complaining about how awful things were for me back at the office. One of my friends stopped me mid-sentence, with obvious annoyance. “Why don’t you just get another job,” he asked, “instead of just b—-ing about it?”
“I’m trying,” I answered. “I really am trying.”
I really was. I was interviewing and interviewing and interviewing, but I hadn’t gotten anything I wanted.
My friend’s question was justified, however, because even if I was doing something about my situation, or at least trying to, so often we don’t. So often we curse our darkness, and never take the time, or make the effort, to light a candle and cast some light onto our situation.
It usually doesn’t take much to light a single candle. It’s only one candle. But we don’t do it. We might think it won’t make much difference. (Again, it’s only one candle.) We might not be willing to make the time. We might be so worn down by the darkness (or the angry colleague, tough boss, overwhelming work and life load) that we not only don’t feel like we have the energy to maybe strike one match, but we may not even think of it. We’re so caught in where we are that it doesn’t even cross our mind.
But we can light a candle. We can set up support systems that remind us to create any light we can. We can take even small steps to lessen our distress.
Or we can curse the darkness.
Are you cursing the darkness, or lighting a candle?
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This can very well be my story today. Except, that I don’t bore people telling it. I used to LOVE my Job, but now I sort of hate it. It’s not so much what I do as to what the work place have become. New micromanaging Director contrasting to previous outgoing empowering Director. New “Sheriff” believes in the power of documenting everything and the philosophy of “his way or the highway”. Sort of a Donald Trump directing style. Yet, in the midst of all this I learned some positive lessons. First:I was doing such a good job that I became complaisant. If you find yourself thinking “I got this!” It might not be as good as you think. Second: Two or perhaps three years should be the max amount one performs the same job in the same department. Either changing role or department is a must if one wants to stay relevant. At least in my company. Otherwise you might be looked at as part of the department fixtures. Third: On that same note – spending too much time( my case 10 yrs.)with the same peers and/ or supervised personnel inevitably causes too much familiarity that may affect the overall performance of the team. In case you wonder… Yes, I would like opportunity to leave. But, so far a good one has not come.
Thank you for your comment Edwin. It is tough when a ‘good’ job becomes a ‘bad’ one, but it seems like you have a good attitude towards it, and have learned some valuable lessons. We wish you a quick and easy path to something better soon!