Reading the book reminded me of a difficult time in my life when I was fortunate to be connected to a great spiritual support group (note to self: maybe it’s time to reconnect!)
In the Valley: I had completed a challenging two year professional masters degree program in government, a field in which I was not particularly sure I wanted to work in the first place (I had previously tried to pursue a career in music and theater). After a couple of jobs in the city I had relocated to, I was offered what looked like a promising job in a large and prestigious government agency. I somewhat reluctantly relocated again to work at the new job, but it felt like a fresh start, and I was optimistic. What I wasn’t prepared for (among other things) was politics. Not two weeks after I started the job, the manager who had hired me got promoted and did not take me with him, the kiss of death, as I was to learn.
I was then shunted around from manager to manager, finally reporting to someone who appeared to despise me. I received very little support in my job. I dreaded going in to work. Although I surreptitiously spoke to other managers and tried to get transferred to an area where I felt my talents would be better utilized, my efforts were in vain. I was involuntarily transferred to another unit at another location in the agency. (Oh, and I forgot to mention that there were constant threats of layoffs.)
My reaction to these events was to feel like a failure, a victim, to beat myself up, and to be absolutely sure I was never going to make a living. Luckily, I was connected to a spiritual group at the time, and one of my friends there said something that kind of sounded silly: “I look at every job as if it’s a temp job”. Isn’t that really the truth – nothing is permanent, we just gotta show up every day.
I wasn’t thrilled about the job I was transferred to – it was not what I was trained for, the people seemed to be very different than me. But with the help of the spiritual group I was involved with, I tried to see what the truth was in this situation, as Dr. Johnson says. Whatever I thought people thought of me was really not helpful, probably not true. I must have had a part in what had happened to me, but some of it was due to forces over which I had no control. In the meantime, I was in a situation where I had to see what was the truth of the situation and how I could best be of service – and that was by learning my new job, showing up without a chip on my shoulder and being open to new opportunities and my new colleagues.
Climbing my way out: I had to go to an administrative building to fill out paperwork for my involuntary transfer. While I was there, I saw a posting for an interesting job in another division, where I knew a former classmate worked. I called her and made some inquiries about the position, and with her encouragement, I applied for it. Guess what? I eventually got the job (but this being government, it took quite a while), and it turned out to be a very demanding, but very rewarding opportunity where I learned and grew professionally.
In the meantime, I was learning the job I was transferred to. My colleagues went to visit a former office-mate in her new job, and asked me to come along. It didn’t sound like the most fun lunch hour I would ever spend, but I thought – ok, hang out, get to know them (politics = people). I met their former office-mate, and she introduced us to the people she worked with, one of whom was this guy who seemed really sweet and had a nice sense of humor. Guess what again? Three years later I married this guy! We’re still married some years later, and he has been a most supportive partner in helping me deal with the peaks and valleys, and encouraging me to pursue my interests in the arts, but that’s another story…..
I definitely agree with Dr. Johnson’s book – in my case, working hard to change my attitude helped me to survive an uncomfortable and challenging time, to feel better about myself, and helped me to be open to other opportunities.