I feel this 100%. Holding everyone else’s worries is exhausting - tough to let go of, and not anyone's job, but as an introverted empath, that is a very hard lesson to learn.
Isn't it? It feels like it should be easy to override once you're aware of it but... nope. Still picking up worries right and left. At least now I am aware I'm doing it and can make myself (usually) set them back down.
Thank you :) It’s funny, a year ago I would never have called myself a writer. A ghostwriter, maybe. An editor and manager of writers, definitely. But not a single person in my life had ever seen my writing outside of work. It’s amazing the difference a year can make.
There never was a burning building. Yes. On my last day, I took calls until 4:30pm to soothe colleagues nervous about client handoffs. The machine has crunched on just fine without me, and I got to start writing and be fully present with my kids.
''You're work is not your worth''. This is a phrase that I have repeated to myself over and over again. Sometimes I believe it most times I don't. Yet I know so well what attaching my worth to my work has done to me. It's a very hard lesson to learn and I hope one day to say it and believe it.
I know, it’s so easy to say and so hard to believe. I fought with this one a good few years—and still do anytime I get too near an over-functioning work culture. But you’re a good decade ahead of me in even asking the right questions! :)
Oh wow this piece hits close to home for me. I left my job three months ago and you perfectly describe what I was feeling. I’m very fortunate to be able to take some time off before I identify what’s next but I’m hopeful to some day say: “it’s just work!”.
Love this. I'm thinking to myself - what skills do I have that can transfer to freelance? I too, am done with the emotional labor. I want to do a "job" and provide a service and then clock out. But how? I have those same sticky notes on my desk!
This has led me into deep introspection about my relationship with work. Thank you for the reminder that work is important but it is not everything. Really excellent and perspective-setting piece❤️!
Isn’t it? It took me a long time to realize that I was doing it in both areas of my life. (This, of course, was patently obvious to everyone else). +1 on learning when to walk away.
I feel this 100%. Holding everyone else’s worries is exhausting - tough to let go of, and not anyone's job, but as an introverted empath, that is a very hard lesson to learn.
Isn't it? It feels like it should be easy to override once you're aware of it but... nope. Still picking up worries right and left. At least now I am aware I'm doing it and can make myself (usually) set them back down.
Clearly Liz, you are a writer! I love the way this piece swirls around and circles back to the sticky note in the trash. Such poetic justice!
Thank you :) It’s funny, a year ago I would never have called myself a writer. A ghostwriter, maybe. An editor and manager of writers, definitely. But not a single person in my life had ever seen my writing outside of work. It’s amazing the difference a year can make.
Yes indeed! Having readers really validates the fact that we are writers. :)
Oh this landed in a spot that I so needed to fill. Thanks for this!
"I was hollowing my heart out for work, but my job was never going to love me back."
Yup (*gulp*)
Ah, I’m glad, thanks for reading!
To be fair, you were the best Mom and Dad! Miss you, friend and so happy you've found balance!
Ha, thank you! ❤️ I have fond memories of that team and of that time. It was such a great group.
There never was a burning building. Yes. On my last day, I took calls until 4:30pm to soothe colleagues nervous about client handoffs. The machine has crunched on just fine without me, and I got to start writing and be fully present with my kids.
Exactly. And I LOVE your LinkedIn description as chief people officer. I hope one day you write about that.
''You're work is not your worth''. This is a phrase that I have repeated to myself over and over again. Sometimes I believe it most times I don't. Yet I know so well what attaching my worth to my work has done to me. It's a very hard lesson to learn and I hope one day to say it and believe it.
I know, it’s so easy to say and so hard to believe. I fought with this one a good few years—and still do anytime I get too near an over-functioning work culture. But you’re a good decade ahead of me in even asking the right questions! :)
Oh wow this piece hits close to home for me. I left my job three months ago and you perfectly describe what I was feeling. I’m very fortunate to be able to take some time off before I identify what’s next but I’m hopeful to some day say: “it’s just work!”.
Congratulations on the transition. The interim time can feel like a funky place, but it’s great that you have the space to consider what’s next.
Love this. I'm thinking to myself - what skills do I have that can transfer to freelance? I too, am done with the emotional labor. I want to do a "job" and provide a service and then clock out. But how? I have those same sticky notes on my desk!
As we say in Italia, Brava :)
I feel like you have a lot of skills already transitioned to freelance! I don’t even have a website up yet and it’s been 7 months already, whoops. :)
This has led me into deep introspection about my relationship with work. Thank you for the reminder that work is important but it is not everything. Really excellent and perspective-setting piece❤️!
Oh no, what have I done?? I meant to say that freelance is terrible! You would hate it! :)
Just kidding. Glad you have some time away (and more soon!) for rest and reflection.
Being the “fixer” is exhausting, both professionally and personally. I’m finding ways to balance it and then simply knowing when to walk away.
Isn’t it? It took me a long time to realize that I was doing it in both areas of my life. (This, of course, was patently obvious to everyone else). +1 on learning when to walk away.