Prayer In Time Of Despair At Work

I am not very religious but I do believe in God and I stick by my faith and religion. However, when the going gets so tough, I run to Him and ask for guidance and strength.

The present situation in the office is so unbearable already. The management expects you to deliver in time when they don't give you the things you need within the due date of submission. And yet, you have to commit to a rigid time frame. Do I make miracles or what? Then you are given 1 million and 1 things to do on top of the normal and other ad hoc things that you do. And they expect you to finish them on time, help them with their load when they are fully aware of the volume of work you have and they just keep pushing, shoving things down your throat. Again, do I make miracles?

I am getting very tired and restless now. I don't know who to trust there. I only trust my God because in times of despair, the only one I can count on is Him.

I am sharing this prayer to all of you who are experiencing the same problems I have in the work area. I hope this prayer help you through the day as you go about your work business.

"O God of the poor and the humble, who was born in a stable and worked in a carpenter's shop, look down in pity on the workers of this world. Give us work that we may keep our families in comfort and live without fear. Teach us to be content with our lot and never let us be tempted with dishonesty. When it seems necessary to fight against injustice, O God of strength, send Your Holy Spirit upon us that we may know what is right and have strength to do it. Protect us from violence and give us peace. Good St. Joseph, friend of the workman, pray for us. Amen.

Career Move

The classified ads are brimming with vacancies again but for top management level. I know the pay will be sufficient for me to save in a short period of time but I don't think I want the stress tied to a high-end position. No thanks!

I am considering switching career from administrative to Technical Recruiter Consultant Jobs or anything to do with Human Resources. I always believe that being in the HR department gives you the chance and opportunity to go around easily as compared to the ones in the administrative and operations areas.

It has been a while since I last applied outside my current company. I think it has been 7 years to be exact and honestly, I do not know how the market goes outside now. I always re-evaluate my skills and know-how and I am happy to say that with what I know and do, I can actually command a high salary. However, the caveat is, I think it is still scary outside so I am not sure if moving out of my current employer is a wise decision. So, I am thinking whether to jump out of my very comfortable zone and have a leap of faith. I have to consider plenty of factors when I do this. I have financial obligations, my kid is still in school, we have mortgage to pay back home and we still want to save more for our retirement years. This thought is a bit tricky but I do hope that better paying opportunities arise in my current employer so I don't have to go through this dilemma. Otherwise, I may just take chances and jump!

Words Escape Me

There are times when I want to say things but the words just float inside my head. I know the exact words I want to utter but when my mouth opens, words escape me.

I am not like this. I am very articulate and I don't have problems speaking my mind which is also the cause why I get into trouble sometimes. However, I noticed lately that I am at a loss for words. Although it only happens in the office and never at home.

It is a different scenario at home. I can spit 100 words per second without a rest and yet, I get tongue-tied at work. I was not like that before. I just noticed that when the power-grabbing people started sprouting like mushrooms around me, things changed. I am having speech impediments all of a sudden. 

It has nothing to do with fear because I am not afraid of them but I am so conscious of my performance review and I still want my job. I am afraid that I may snap one day and I will greatly regret it. The power-play at work is becoming very unbearable but I have no escape. Only words escape me right now but I can't.

Job Market

I have been collecting classified ads for the past week. I am checking the trend of vacancies and the market outside my company. The jobs available are still very stringent compared to the pre-recession time when the classified ads was a separate supplement.

The administrator jobs available currently have dwindled. However, that does not mean that unemployment cases have not recovered. Our company is still hiring and other major multi-national corporations here in the UAE. The robust career-placement before is not as bullish but functioning, if I may say.

Personally, I still feel that the market outside my current post is still volatile. I am having difficulty in my decision whether to stay where I am or jump ship and take my chances.

Spaced-Out

My body has adapted very well to the fact that I can do a work of 2 people. However, my body did not expect to do those load in a very, very tight time frame.

I have been staying back since Sunday in the office until 7:00 pm. I have clocked 12 hours of work to meet deadlines! I am so sure I won't be commended for that like always. 

I did it to complete the task given. Then I realized, I shouldn't have done that. I am paid only until a certain period of time. After that is "thank you." I just allowed the company to short-change me. That's so bad but I let it happen.

I am so spaced-out. My brain and the whole of me are literally begging for a break. Like any well-oiled machine, it has to rest or else it will break-down.

I will not allow these things to happen again next time. I should have known. The company can replace me easily but the time I lost is gone forever. Note to self..."No one is indispensable."

Stretched

I feel like a rubber band. I am stretched to the max. I am afraid that I may not hold my elasticity much longer and snap.

Snapping is never a positive experience. I keep reminding myself to suck it in and swallow whatever I want to say which I know is not good at the moment. I still need this job so I better be good.

I just wonder how long I can hold on to this. It's not fun anymore. It hasn't been fun at all for the past few years. I don't know where to derive motivation apart from the obvious - getting salary every end of the month for the service rendered.

I just feel the need to change my environment. I am looking for lateral positions within the company now. I think I better act soon because the longer I stay where I am, the more toxic I feel as a person. That can't be good. Besides, I am overworked and underpaid. I think I deserve more than that. A recognition, perhaps or increase in salary if they don't want to promote me?

I hope God gives me more patience (and strength) to go through this misery. I know the right opportunity will come. I just pray it comes soon! And with that, I just pray for more patience... I think I badly need it.

5 Days of Over - Thank You

Instead of over time in the office, I am calling it over "thank you" because I have stayed back 5 days in a row for free. Even if I ask for compensation, I will have to justify the reason why I stayed back. I really do not appreciate being asked why I stayed when the management has been stretching all the employees' limits. How can they possibly ask why a person has to render over time? Obviously, 8.5 hours, 5 days in a week is no longer enough to finish the gargantuan work they are passing to us. It just keeps piling and piling. You finish one and 1 million new tasks come in. Arrrggghhhh!

Again Lord, please, make it 2013 now...

Too Fast, Too Soon

You might wonder what my post will be about based on the title. It can be weight loss, growth, expansion or just about anything about getting big and wider. However, that is not the case. It has nothing to do with expansion or increment. It's all about the dexterity of my mouth to out-run my thoughts. Simply put, my mouth is faster than my thoughts. And I have noticed that this week.

As usual, I become a different person only when I am in the office. I am very calm and happy at home because home is where my heart is. Lately, "my mouth speaks what my heart feels" and this is not telling my colleagues, it is telling my bosses! No, I am not venting out my sentiments and grievances to them but I am already giving them a piece of my mind - in an assertive and yet stern manner, still doused with respect. 

I used to just say yes this and yes that even if I have to beg for extra appendages to do my work. Now, I just tell them straight that I cannot finish this or that on time or they move the deadline. I have been vocal about what I can and cannot do now because the bosses are compromising me without consulting me first or asking what other projects I have. This is the problem with people, they think of some bright ideas and I get to do the dirty work. And who else gets the credit? Of course, NOT ME. So now, forgive me if I am wrong but I believe it is my right to advise them if I can meet the deadline or not by being realistic and being in the "real world" and not somewhere else where I can warp time to their advantage. I know I should think a million times before I say something especially in the work area. I am beyond that now. I am tired. I need to speak up or forever hold my peace. 

People are just asking the impossible these days. I feel that they are pushing their staff to the limit by requesting impossible feats in short notice. I am already bugged with so many work I can barely breathe and here they come, throwing more work to me and asking me to deliver the end product in 10 minutes time. Say what?!? Unless I am the goddess Shiva (is she the one with plenty of arms?), then yes I can commit. Hello, last time I checked, I only have 2 arms, 10 fingers, 2 legs, 2 feet, 10 toes and 1 torso. For crying out loud!

Same Old Stuff, Different Day

Ah, the saga of the corporate bondage continues and this time under a different dictatorship. I really don't understand how big guys up there decide on things in the office. Sometimes it leaves me so baffled that my mind gets numb. Oftentimes, I am left reeling, palpitating and praying that I discover another portal to transport myself to a corporate utopia.

The office is very lucky to have me as a staff. And this I tell you without any sign of modesty because I know what kind of person I am. I am self-motivated despite the lack of support and boost of morale from the higher echelon. Unfortunately, my dedication is never noticed. I am not sure if they actually do not see what I do inspite of the numerous emails I forward them regarding the projects I have accomplished or they simply want to turn the cheek and look on the opposite direction. Hmmmmm... What kind of game are they really playing there?

I have been given numerous tasks with deadlines happening on the same time. Same time! Same time! Same time! Whew, I thought if I tell myself that over and over again, I might come into a realization that everything is just a nightmare and I would wake up from this mess. So far, reality bites so hard that no matter how much I deny myself about the deadlines, they are going to happen and I have to commit and deliver. How? Don't ask me because I have no idea.

Oh man, it is just the same old stuff and different kind-of-thing day for me in the office. I just wish 2013 rolls in as fast as the lightning. I just want to get out. So help me God...

Too Tired For Anything

I am willing my fingers to type right now. I just posted earlier how stressed I was today. I felt like all my energy had been zapped. I don't know where to get more for reserve.

I don't know what is wrong today. All I know is that there are plenty of work to be done and all with a strict deadline to follow. I don't know if I have enough time to finish all the pending tasks in the office by end of the week.

I missed a decent meal today at lunch because I lost my appetite. The stress at work and my lack of energy now are like appetite suppressants. I don't feel hungry anymore. I would rather sleep after I post this than eat.

I am not sure how much longer I can take all these nonsense. To think that I am very sensible enough to put my health and welfare on the fore and yet here I am, skipping meals to give way to some deadlines! The irony...

Life Wheel - Finding Balance in Your Life

I am a mom, wife, daughter, sister, friend, and a career woman at the same time. It is really difficult to strike a balance between family and work and my social life as well. I sometimes feel in a quagmire and wish that I can replicate myself so I can do everything and be with everyone all at the same time.

Although I know what my priorities in life are and my family definitely tops that. There are moments where I am caught in a middle because I have to deliver to my career and to my personal life as well. It is in those moments where I pause and take a step back so I can have a broader view of what my life has become.

I found this site which I want to share to everyone because it is informative and an eye-opener. The Wheel of Life is commonly used by life coaches and it is also used by some companies to aid their employees having trouble balancing their work and personal life.

Here's the site to visit: Mindtools.com

What's in store for US of A?

Now that Mr. Obama has been elected as the 44th president of the US of A, he has a lot of cleaning up to do. He is going to face a big challenge when he starts his official day in the White House.

I cannot help but hope for the best to come for USA. I have always have this soft spot for the US since I have relatives and friends there. I hope and pray that US will come out of the financial quagmire it is in at the moment with the help of the able President Obama and his Vice.

We all go through burdens in our lives and so are our countries no matter where we reside. However, with the mighty US as one economic giant affecting other countries like my home country, we could only pray for positive things.

So, what's in store for US now that they have a new president? If I were to voice out my hopes, I want US to pull out from the crazy war and solve the war within (poverty, economic crisis, homeless people, recession, diseases and the thinning moral fiber of a nation), better education, support for the US troops and to provide more jobs to their people and to those who find greener pasture in the land of milk and honey.

These are just hopes from someone who is neither an American nor a resident of the US. Someone who believes that US will come out of whatever battle it has at the moment - a winner!

Dilly-Dally

I have been contemplating for so long now about my next career step. For some reason, I always end up with no definite answer. I keep telling myself "tomorrow...tomorrow...tomorrow." It's been many, many tomorrows already and yet...

I really admire my SAHM (stay-at-home-mom) pals who have so many time on their hands to do the things they want, to care for the folks who really matter the most and to own their time. I met new friends thru the blogging community as well who are SAHMs and they seem to be pretty content with their situation and condition. It's not that I am unhappy with what's happening at present but I feel like there is more to life than a "corporate world." It's rather difficult to put into words how I feel about my career but I know what it is and unable to do something at this point.

I long to find the answer either this year or the near future. Although it will not be a hasty decision but to soul-search about this "career life" altering choice will be my concern. I need to define what truly matter at some point. I cannot keep dilly-dallying on this one. As I always tell myself, life is full of tough choices but someone's got to do it. Here's hoping I'll reach the point when I know that "this is it." I know I will be guided on this quest by His divine grace. He never let's me down and I hope that I don't let Him down too when I finally decide on my mid-CAREER crisis.