In life, you have to let go of one in order to grab another; you cannot have it all or hold onto all at the same time. Sometimes we are scared to let go, and we let it hold us back in most cases because of the fear of not being able to get a replacement or the fear that something that good won't come our way again. After all, there is a popular saying that "opportunity comes but once," and for that reason, we are forced to keep holding on instead of letting go.
If you fail to let go, you will keep finding yourself in situations and places that are not good for your growth and your mental health. Failure to let go when needed can actually take away your peace and leave you with a disturbed mind and in an unstable mental state. Sometimes letting go is the answer, and until we summon the courage to do just that, we will never know what lies on the other side.
A toxic workspace will mess with your mental health; it can drive you insane. The frustration, the annoyance, and the anger will eat you up from the inside out. That was exactly how I felt working under a boss that showed no appreciation at all. He always had something to complain about; it was impossible to please him. No matter how hard you tried, there was always something. A boss who complains when you come to work early instead of complimenting you and still wouldn't let you experience peace when you come to work late. It was impossible not to get him to nag; everything we did in the office was not to his taste, and he would complain and keep shouting at everyone.
He was the proud type and felt like he was perfect and every other person was flawed. Even when he makes a mistake, he would find a way to make the blame fall on you. All of that made my workspace toxic. Every morning I wake up and don't feel the zeal to show up, as you can give your all and still have it thrown in your face like it is nothing. Efforts were not appreciated; hard work was trashed and discarded like they were never meant to be noticed or applauded.
"Why don't you just quit the job instead of carrying all this bitterness inside of you every morning, afternoon and night? I doubt if there is a time when you are happy," Dera, my friend whom I always vent to, advised.
"If I quit, how do I get another job with good or better pay? You know how long it took me to get this one; I cannot just throw it all away without securing another one," I responded.
"Take a look at yourself, look at yourself in the mirror and see what you look like now," Dera said, pushing me towards the mirror in my room.
"You won't understand. I also want to quit, but I don't want to make rash decisions because of how I feel and how frustrating it is working under my boss…" I said, trying to make Dera understand.
"Bro, you are emaciating. You have eye bags, the stress, the bitterness, and the frustration that come with the job are written all over you and it is not worth it," Dera said, pointing at my face.
I went to work that day with Dera's advice ringing in my head. I really wanted to quit, but if I do, I'd become jobless and start job hunting again, which is also scary and tiring. But the frustration that came with working under my boss was really equivalent to everything that comes with job hunting and being jobless. I made up my mind to quit while at work that day. I submitted a resignation letter that day, and a few days later, I quit the job. I went job hunting for a few weeks, and I was able to secure a better job and with better pay. After a few weeks of working there, I can tell the boss is completely different from my previous experience, one who appreciates you even though you are working for him.
"Sometimes we just let fear hold us back even when it is obviously closing time. Look at yourself now and when you were working under your former boss; the difference is clear," Dera said, showing me a picture of myself from when I was working under my former boss.
