I hate that work, and people at work, have the power to make me feel so small. Intellectually, I understand that most mistakes people make at most jobs are just opportunities to reflect, learn, and grow. My jobs, even if “important,” aren’t life or death, not immediately at least..?
I am almost 30 years old, and I have been brought to tears by passive aggression and people lashing out in “high stress situations” at my last two jobs. That shocks me because I can handle a crisis; I’ve had enough life experience practicing that. But when things at a job seem “life or death,” and everyone treats them as such, I can’t deal. It makes me feel so small, so incapable.
I know I am not entirely alone in this experience, but when I confide in other people, even coworkers, their advice is to “care less.” I understand this, in theory, but how do I do this in practice?
It’s so difficult to not feel like every accusation, every criticism, every passive aggressive judgment, isn’t jeopardizing my livelihood.
In the long term, I know I need to find different work, but I’m afraid I will encounter this in any field.
I am competent and willing to learn, but every job treats me like that’s either not true or not relevant.
Thanks for allowing me to vent – this weekend is really tough, as I’m working overtime both days.