Yes I have, was the answer to one of my team-members at the office yesterday when I received a text message asking me, and yes, we can meet to chat.
Today I headed into the office to meet one of my team who has been struggling; She has a perfectionist-nature and is having trouble, emotionally, with the fact a few things have gone wrong with her portfolio lately, mainly COVID-related and outside of her control.
For the record, she's doing a great job and I am pleased with her portfolio and performance. I was/am more concerned about her perfectionist-nature which is limiting and negative in my opinion. That and her emotional state of mind of course.
I'll not go into it here as it is personal to her, but we spoke about many things, she poured out her troubles and I believe she left feeling much better. Essentially I listened, asked her what she was going to do with the issues she identified within herself and then we set a plan to move forward. It was a good result.
This is not the first time I have done this, made the time for someone who is experiencing self-doubt, lack of confidence, emotional stress or other emotional conditions that have left them feeling paralysed or unable to see any light around them. I don't specialise in it, but at work it's part of my job and in my personal life making the time for people around me is important and something I do well.
We are all subjected to these troubling times, and whether you feel the current pandemic-situation has affected you or not, it has. I think it's quite naive for people to state otherwise.
Being locked down in close proximity to, or isolation from, others has been a challenge for many. Working from home, food and services shortages, changes in income and financial matters, worry over ones' health concerns and that of friends and family, deaths due to the pandemic, restriction of movement, the rising cost of everyday items, decline of physical fitness levels...It all adds up to stress in most of us and depression in many.
I met with a friend last week who is going through marital problems with a wife who is severely depressed, postnatal depression mainly, but this is exacerbated by the current pandemic-situation*. My friend is also highly stressed, and in my opinion depressed. I hadn't seen him for a while but I'm glad I did last week as I am concerned for his well-being. I think many suffer similar issues, maybe even people here on hive!
This post isn't really designed to say much, to be clever or highly informative. It's really just a small shout out to everyone a, hey how are you going, sort of post.
We're all affected whether we choose to admit it or not and I think those that are feeling the pressure a little more than others could benefit through some support form the community here.
For me, well I see hive as an outlet. Yes, this pandemic thing has affected me. I'm fortunate to have hive as a means to pour out my thoughts, maybe not directly but within my posts here and there you'll find bits of my real-world thoughts and feelings scattered about if you know what to look for. I also have the support of a few who chat in private messages with me from time to time (thanks knuckleheads, you know who you are.) I also have support from my wife Faith, as she has mine in return. But some might not be so lucky.
So, I ask you...
...to show a little support for those around you, here on hive and in the real world? I'd like to think you do and that you'd give up a little of it to ask someone how they're doing, and to lend an ear to them should they wish to talk. You don't need to have the answers...Listening is often all it takes.
Feel free to hit me up below in the comments. Tell me how you're going, how this situation may have affected your emotional well-being and how you may have dealt with it. I'm interested, and yes...I have the time.
Stay safe y'all, and stay connected. The worst of this pandemic situation is ahead of us, not behind.
Design and create your ideal life, don't live it by default - Tomorrow isn't promised.
Be well
Discord: galenkp#9209
I took this image of my watch...It's not great but I like it...And it seemed somewhat appropriate.
