Monday, October 24, 2011

First post after a month at work

Where have I been you ask?

It's been about 1 month since I've started at my new workplace. In summary... I'm on a ridiculously steep learning curve.

I've had 1 traumatic event, which happened to be my first ever case done as an employee. That sure was scarring, but I learnt valuable lessons: to not be intimidated, to find ways out from being cornered to give solutions.

And then though i had expressed reservations about working with a certain population of folks, i'm now working with them and I must say they are generally a delightful bunch once you can engage them.

There have been times that i mentally try to plan an escape route for myself... I entertain strange thoughts like running away to work in a cafe, run away to be employed in something less taxing on the social front... Things like that. Because things can get so hard. In the initial weeks, I was really shaking in my shoes, worried that I'll be assigned a counselee. I felt like I wasn't ready, I felt indescribably anxious. I was a wreck behind my desk. Stressed, worried, desperately praying, fearful, feeling inadequate. You name it.

To some extent, my anxiety has lessened... and I'm not sure if it's because my self psycho-ing is working or whether it's because I'm suppressing my fear. I've written out all the words of encouragement and prayer that people have given me and stuck them on my cubicle walls. I read them and meditate on them when I'm afraid. I have to constantly tell myself that I want to love my job, i'm just here to help, I'm just here to love, just here to be human to another human being. I want my life's purpose to be in sync with my job, and I want to see it as part of my life and not separate.

I knew this was a journey with the Lord, my choices have all along been made with the intention of following the Lord's guidance. I also knew that this wasn't an easy path to take, but I know that the Lord has meant for me to be here, right now. That's the thing that gives me the assurance to carry on and to carry on in good faith that He will protect me and lead me through no matter what.

I know that it's not an easy path to take because i began with the understanding that it's part of God's plan to mould me. And as we all know, a moulding and refining process is never easy. Hence the struggling. I'm faced with my personal fears every day. Which would explain my heightened levels of anxiety.

Yet looking back, i think i've come some way. About 2 years ago, i was way more anxious. While I waited for a student to walk in for counselling, I was in a state of near panic. I would be getting sweaty palms, elevated heart rate, racing thoughts. I remember jumping in my seat every time i heard the sound of the lift landing at the floor I was on.

I don't feel that kind of panic now, but i do still feel pretty stressed. So i take the time to examine my thoughts and try to plant more helpful thoughts in my head to stop myself from over thinking and reacting.

So yeah. This has been the state of affairs. Some might think i'm being too hard on myself. Maybe I am. I guess it's because i just don't want to hurt anyone. I just want to get better at what i do so that I would be able to bring more help than confusion.

Lord. Let me know that You are near. That I'm never alone in that counselling room. You are the greatest counsellor who ever lived and who still lives. Help me to love your people just like you do, and attend to their deepest needs wherever they are at. Help me to grow and mature, and to sharpen my skills so that I can help bring light to what has been in darkness. I'm determined to walk through this because you have ordained this so. Lord, have your way! In Jesus's precious name I pray, Amen.

12 comments:

make ur faith stronger than ur fearsz said...

oh honey, tats the same for everybody. we all get jittery in our jobs. when i was a therapist, b4 each patient comes in, i will hope very hard tat this patient dun give me whopping big cavities. My conclusion is 1) increase job knowledge-this will give u more self-confidence to deal with watever tat ends up in ur work path.knowledge is power 2) after each time u conquered ur fears or achieve sth u didnt thot u can....take a look at the situation.isnt it NOT AS tough as u thought it will be?
3) there will always be new tough challenges as u continue on. it is all part n parcel of hw we will emerge stronger n wiser. accept difficulties. nothing is easy in life.

lets go jitterbugs not jittery said...

we are all jittery. but do watever u can, to make urself less so. if u feel ur experience is not there yet, talk to ur colleagues during lunchtime,they will tell u more of their own learning journeys.n u will learn valuable things abt others at work too. no worry, those coming to see u know less than u.i also gt jittery now n then. but i tell myself, for life to be great, your faith must be stronger than ur fears. fear not, jo!

reganiforex said...

use full information thankq
ForexTraining Hyderabad

Ray said...

Joline, I sometimes hesitate to comment to total strangers because of the way the world is and the way people can be ... you know. But I feel led to share a bit with you. I always feel the need to explain, so a bit of explanation. My daughter has a blog (http://secondhandcheese.blogspot.com/) and sometimes I click the "next blog" button to see where it will take me. This time, it took me to your blog, so that's how I got here. I live in the US and my daughter lives nearer to you all, in Indonesia. So now, to the point: I've found that sometimes our anxieties can be brought into perspective by comparing our situations/lives to others' situations/lives. I'm not trying to minimize the very real stress/fear/anxiety you may be experiencing, but to simply offer you a means to move away from it a bit and to put it into the context of a bigger picture, a larger world. So, that said, when you have time, please go here http://kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/ and read about Katie. Her story is amazing! Blessings to you ... and peace! Ray

vuhelp.net said...

so nice blogger

penjual sandal said...

Jual Sandal brand ternama bisa COD

angeldress said...

Nice post, thank you for sharing

Abdul said...

it’s very amazing. Thanks for it.

Unknown said...

We have seen situations i always in your head seek to approach an escape way intended for myself personally... When i think about weird thought processes including managing absent to figure within a bistro, disappear for being working at anything fewer tiring within the societal entry... Stuff like of which. Mainly because factors might get and so tricky. From the primary 2 or 3 weeks, When i got wiggling around my shoes and boots, nervous of which We will be issued some sort of counselee. When i believed including When i weren't completely ready, When i believed indescribably restless. When i seemed to be some sort of break driving the workspace. Harassed, nervous, desperately praying, frightened, emotion substandard. upcoming movies

Unknown said...

Biet thu dep tai HCM
Biet thu Dep HCM
Mau Thiet ke biet thu Dep
Mau thiet ke biet thu dep nhat 2017

Noman Raza said...


The Return Of Raju Full Movie Hindi Dubbed

Admin said...

Very nice post.
Sugar & Coco