Just testing the Picasa 3 software. This pic is taken from Fontana, Clark.
- mykhel
8.29.2009
8.06.2009
HALF EMPTY OR HALF FULL?
HALF EMPTY OR HALF FULL?
Remember the psychological test of showing someone a glass poured mid-way with water, then asking him whether he sees the glass as half-full or half-empty? I don't have the statistics, but I'd wager dissatisfied workers would describe their jobs as half-empty. But to overcome career blues, we must shift our perspective to the half-full.
Look at the half-fulled glass...
There may be elements of out jobs that depress us: the salary, the boss, the co-workers, the work environment, the nature of the work itself. BUt if we look hard enough, there should be elements that make us grateful for having that job. Perhaps we have forged good friendships among our colleagues. Or there were bright spots of solid accomplishments which are proud of. At the very least, we have a regular paycheck by which to pay the bills. Remember there is no perfect glass (that is, job). Put differently, if you think a half-empty glass is bad, try unemployment, which is having no glass at all.
One may retort, "But it is still half-full! The job is not what I dream it to be.: Which brings us to the next principle.
... and fill up the glass, even if drop by drop. Yes, the glass may be half-full now. But if we keep adding droplets of water into the glass, eventually it will be spilling over the brim, In the same way, we will let nowhere if we keep on complaining about out jobs being half-empty. But if we start with the half0full and take initiative to increase this part of the lass, we will be filling up our career until it is as full as we want. Some examples:
1. Salary not enough? Job description is beneath you? Then volunteer for more tasks and responsibilities until your performance earns you a merit increase or a promotion. Be a continuous learner: read books, as a questions and if you can get extra education or training. Look for wise mentors. As I wrote in a previous column, "Is we see ourselves as victims of circumstances, we will merely endure each day and drift through life, only to die with heavy regrets. But if we embrace life as one big canvass and we are the artist, then the possibilities are almost endless. Don't limit yourself to what people say you ca and cannot do."
2. Depressing environment? Okay, maybe the wall paint is peeling off and the floor tiles are chipped. Spruce up you work station as appropriate. Put photos of your loved ones or a pot of eye-pleasing flowers on your desk. Or tack an inspiring poster on your cubicle wall. Viktor Frankl was a German Jew who suffered horribly in a Nazi concentration camp. Yet he discovered that his surrounding did not have to shape his response. He chose to be gracious rather than be bitter. So can we.
3. Difficult boss? Instead of backbitting him with you fellow malcontents, earn his trust and goodwill little by little. Start with some honest soul-searching: did you do or say something which ticked him off? Adapt to his temperament or idiosyncrasies. Anticipate his needs and go the extra mile. Remember, usually one learns his best lessons from tough bosses.
Make peace with your glass.
Not all have the luxury of choosing his career. Many times we accept a profession becauseof family need or expectations. A man may be a doctor or lawyer because his father wants him to follow his footsteps. Or he toils as a lowly clerk because he has to pay for his mother's medical bills or sibling's tuition. But deep inside, the man dreams of being a novelist or pilot. So he endures his "real" job until blessed retirement... but it was still his choice.
One of the greatest lessons I learned is: everyone has a choice, but learn to accept the consequences of your choices. So if we are in a hob because we "have to," make peace with it. Replace grumbling or regrets with the satisfaction of turning each work into a masterpiece... even it it is not the work we prefer for now.
Don't compare glasses.
Have you heard of a diseases called compareitis? We compare out career with some else. The other guy;s glass looks like an exquisitely designed wine goblet, while ours is a plain cylinder holding dull water. This is a guaranteed recipe for discontentment, By all means, be inspired by someone's success and learn his secrets. But never succumb to the green-eyed monster.
Focus instead on the glass we now have and keep filling it. Who knows? In due tie, career breakthrough will come our way and we will be gifted with a brand glass. If we have been faithful to fill up the glass we were previously given, it should be no problem - even fun - to fill up the new one.
In the end, whatever kind of glass we are given or how much water is inside, don't forget to celebrate life. I invite you to raise your glass and toast to your career. May your glass be filled to overflowing!
- Nelson T. Dy
- This article by Nelson Dy really relates me. I'm not the person who easy to believe with anyone, but right now I'm agreeing what Mr. Dy's said. It reminds me when I'm in Wideout. I have to resign or give up my career in Wideout because of salary and career development issues. It's hard to decide that time. But what motivated me to decide to transfer? Of course my family, I'm doing this for them. Right now, I'm still missing Wideout.
- mykhel
Remember the psychological test of showing someone a glass poured mid-way with water, then asking him whether he sees the glass as half-full or half-empty? I don't have the statistics, but I'd wager dissatisfied workers would describe their jobs as half-empty. But to overcome career blues, we must shift our perspective to the half-full.
Look at the half-fulled glass...
There may be elements of out jobs that depress us: the salary, the boss, the co-workers, the work environment, the nature of the work itself. BUt if we look hard enough, there should be elements that make us grateful for having that job. Perhaps we have forged good friendships among our colleagues. Or there were bright spots of solid accomplishments which are proud of. At the very least, we have a regular paycheck by which to pay the bills. Remember there is no perfect glass (that is, job). Put differently, if you think a half-empty glass is bad, try unemployment, which is having no glass at all.
One may retort, "But it is still half-full! The job is not what I dream it to be.: Which brings us to the next principle.
... and fill up the glass, even if drop by drop. Yes, the glass may be half-full now. But if we keep adding droplets of water into the glass, eventually it will be spilling over the brim, In the same way, we will let nowhere if we keep on complaining about out jobs being half-empty. But if we start with the half0full and take initiative to increase this part of the lass, we will be filling up our career until it is as full as we want. Some examples:
1. Salary not enough? Job description is beneath you? Then volunteer for more tasks and responsibilities until your performance earns you a merit increase or a promotion. Be a continuous learner: read books, as a questions and if you can get extra education or training. Look for wise mentors. As I wrote in a previous column, "Is we see ourselves as victims of circumstances, we will merely endure each day and drift through life, only to die with heavy regrets. But if we embrace life as one big canvass and we are the artist, then the possibilities are almost endless. Don't limit yourself to what people say you ca and cannot do."
2. Depressing environment? Okay, maybe the wall paint is peeling off and the floor tiles are chipped. Spruce up you work station as appropriate. Put photos of your loved ones or a pot of eye-pleasing flowers on your desk. Or tack an inspiring poster on your cubicle wall. Viktor Frankl was a German Jew who suffered horribly in a Nazi concentration camp. Yet he discovered that his surrounding did not have to shape his response. He chose to be gracious rather than be bitter. So can we.
3. Difficult boss? Instead of backbitting him with you fellow malcontents, earn his trust and goodwill little by little. Start with some honest soul-searching: did you do or say something which ticked him off? Adapt to his temperament or idiosyncrasies. Anticipate his needs and go the extra mile. Remember, usually one learns his best lessons from tough bosses.
Make peace with your glass.
Not all have the luxury of choosing his career. Many times we accept a profession becauseof family need or expectations. A man may be a doctor or lawyer because his father wants him to follow his footsteps. Or he toils as a lowly clerk because he has to pay for his mother's medical bills or sibling's tuition. But deep inside, the man dreams of being a novelist or pilot. So he endures his "real" job until blessed retirement... but it was still his choice.
One of the greatest lessons I learned is: everyone has a choice, but learn to accept the consequences of your choices. So if we are in a hob because we "have to," make peace with it. Replace grumbling or regrets with the satisfaction of turning each work into a masterpiece... even it it is not the work we prefer for now.
Don't compare glasses.
Have you heard of a diseases called compareitis? We compare out career with some else. The other guy;s glass looks like an exquisitely designed wine goblet, while ours is a plain cylinder holding dull water. This is a guaranteed recipe for discontentment, By all means, be inspired by someone's success and learn his secrets. But never succumb to the green-eyed monster.
Focus instead on the glass we now have and keep filling it. Who knows? In due tie, career breakthrough will come our way and we will be gifted with a brand glass. If we have been faithful to fill up the glass we were previously given, it should be no problem - even fun - to fill up the new one.
In the end, whatever kind of glass we are given or how much water is inside, don't forget to celebrate life. I invite you to raise your glass and toast to your career. May your glass be filled to overflowing!
- Nelson T. Dy
- This article by Nelson Dy really relates me. I'm not the person who easy to believe with anyone, but right now I'm agreeing what Mr. Dy's said. It reminds me when I'm in Wideout. I have to resign or give up my career in Wideout because of salary and career development issues. It's hard to decide that time. But what motivated me to decide to transfer? Of course my family, I'm doing this for them. Right now, I'm still missing Wideout.
- mykhel
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
