I’ve always kept my work life separate from my home life. No doubt about it. I go to work. I am cordial to my colleagues. I do what my manager would say is a “bang up” job. I go home. Period. Occasionally, you might find me at a company function that I just can’t get out of, like the Holiday Party or a team Happy Hour event.
I couldn’t even tell you why I created such a separation. I must have been born with the connotation that I go to work to work and I come home to do everything else. Early in my career journey in Information Technology the industry was dominated by Caucasian and Indian men. This set-up made it even easier to create such a divide. When I didn’t see women, African-Americans or anyone to identify with, it gave me more reason to separate. After years of this, it became awkward (to me) to co-mingle my two worlds.
In the 18 years of my career, I’d never given it a second thought until a month ago. I was at work in the middle of a One-On-One with my mentor. If I could describe him, I’d say he has a huge Christian faith, he’s a coach, he’s confident, quite fulfilled in the work he does and will shoot it to you as straight as the line from point A to point B. About 15 minutes into our conversation that day, he looked dead in my eyes and said, “You are lost and unfulfilled at work because you don’t bring your whole self with you”. After only knowing me for a few months and certainly not knowing anything about my little separation secret, I was literally in shock that he could make such a statement so confidently about me. It was crippling. I could not believe he had read me so well.
He’d picked up on the light in my eyes, the excitement in my voice and the confidence I exuded when I spoke about my passion to inspire people to be better beings, my faith, my dedication, my husband and my kids. These things are pieces of me that make me who I am. They make me whole. I am unfulfilled without them. How could I ever fulfill my purpose in life if I don't carry the gifts God gave me. At the place where I spent most of my waking hours, I repressed my gifts and didn’t allow my light to shine its brightest. I couldn’t inspire many without allowing my light to illuminate. To have someone in my workplace with profound faith, take the time to read you, confront you, force you to face your mountain, then promptly proceed to coach you up and through it was nothing less than amazing to me. His light illuminated.
After holding back the tears, I swallowed once. At that moment, I realized my life was about to change. For the first time I understood that it's not really about the work, it's about what you do through the work. The same peace and joy I have at home, I would soon have it at work also.
I will leave you with a quote from Sheryl Kara Sandberg, an American technology executive, activist and author. She is the chief operating officer of Facebook and founder of Leanin.org. "Bring your whole self to work. I don't believe we have a professional self Monday through Friday and a real self the rest of the time. It is all professional and it is all personal."
Today, I am grateful for a new definition of wholeness.
Teresa H. Snipes, Founder Watch My Feet Organization
YouTube: TeresaSnipes
www.facebook.com/watchmyfeetorg
Our goal at Watch My Feet is to positively change lives. Please support us by simply forwarding this post to your friends, commenting on the post, visiting our website to subscribe and following us on Facebook.
Kommentare