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How to Manage Strong Emotions at Work
The following is adapted from my book TRUST YOURSELF: Stop Overthinking and Channel Your Emotions for Success at Work
Tell me if this sounds familiar:
Have you ever been so frustrated with matters at work that you exploded with anger at your kids at the end of an exhausting day?
Or perhaps you have become anxious or fearful, wondering why your boss or coworker hasn’t responded to one of your messages. Are they mad? Are they going to fire you?
And there have probably been times when you found yourself distracted by worry during a Zoom meeting, so much so that you weren’t able to focus on the task at hand.
If you can relate to the above, it goes to show how common it is to experience a range of different emotions, even within one day. And when you feel overwhelmed by your feelings, it’s easy to push them aside and keep working.
Even though we’re told that emotions have no place in the workplace, trying to avoid your feelings is like trying to hold a beach ball underwater — at a certain point, the ball forces its way to the surface no matter how hard you try to keep it from springing up. As long as you can hold the ball underwater, the surface of the pool is smooth and serene, but with only one hand free, your actions and energy are restricted. And when…
