Staying safe and sane at work

This title may surprise some readers. The words 'safe' and 'sane' are probably not words we may use a lot to do with work. When we say 'safe' we mean a state of feeling good or at least OK - emotional wellbeing. Not feeling threatened or capsized. When we use the word 'sane' we likewise refer to being balanced, stable and established. We use these words as there are currents, dilemmas and events in the workplace that that really do challenge our sense of safety and sanity. When people use phrases like 'Work is driving me mad' you get an idea of where we are coming from. So how do we maintain our safety and sanity in a world and work that is constantly moving and changing? 

We would like to offer this article to look at three aspects of the problem.

Outside Work
There is a  symbiotic relationship between work and our life outside work. One affects the other. In fact what happens in one can overshadow and sour the other if we are not careful. Therefore, can we maintain our work sanity and safety by what we do outside? If people have positive activities outside work this gives an powerful resource to deal with work stresses and difficulties. Each will have our own practices to achieve this. The  list is long - walking, swimming, working out, meditation, reading, dancing and so on. What we think they all have in common is that they take us out of ourselves or maybe away from our problems and actually into our authentic selves. In getting this bit right we create a good 'work problem' detox programme as well as finding ways to grow and develop. If we can get side of life right we have somewhere to go and be re-energised and refreshed. The business world is building 'quiet rooms'into their offices and building mindfulness and meditation into their work programmes. They realise the need and are prepared to bring it into the office and service space. 

Inside Work
   In work we may face lots of things that can make us feel upset and stressed. If these continue and worsen it can start to impact us on different levels - sleep, patience, hope, certainty, physical, emotional and mental levels. There are work services to support staff such as HR, staff counselling, coaching and talking to one's trade union. Usually when we have a problem there are three things we can do. They are all simple and well known. The strange thing is that we often don't do them or only do one or two but not all three. We'll mention them now as ways to start resolving what may challenge our work sanity and safety. They are
(1) See the Source - think and reflect on what is causing the problem. Don't focus so much on the effects but what is the cause.
(2) Speak to another. We can get things wrong and most of us benefit from reality checking. It's easy to see  just through an emotional lense or a fear lense. Another perspective from a colleague with insight can really help.
(3) Act. Decide that you have a choice here. Decide what you need to appropriately do and take the first step.
 We realise fear, busyness, tiredness, etc all get in the way here. But if we don't act things won't change. This path can certainly demand courage, resolution and support but the only way to a resolution is through addressing the issue. In addressing it too it is good to think of how we might manage this. How we need to be polite, professional and clear and what support we will need. This road is often difficult. It is also a road through which much valuable self discovery and self worth can emerge.

Inside Ourselves
The third of our three areas is us - ourselves. It is an admission that we can contribute to a problem or an issue at work that causes work to be a place of threat and stress. It is where we stop blaming the economy, the manager or a work colleague and own our responses and approach. We may have a number of emotions or states that we don't like but which play a part. These may include feeling very vulnerable and scared, anger. wishing to undermine others, ego, jealousy, hopelessness and passive aggressive features. We are not equating these states as some come from different places. We note them to recognise that we all need to realise the stones or pebbles we are throwing into the work pond. We may not always recognise our behaviour patterns or how we play out situations. We may when confronted by another or by our own awareness say "Well that's me! That's the way I am wired. I can't change."

Looking at our inner states will mean us facing parts of us we don't like or even deny. Yet this is part of the journey. Facing ourselves as we are is the road. One of the most eminent psycho-analysts in history Carl Jung said, “Where we stumble and fall is where we find pure gold.” Seeing and naming the problem is the fundamental.  Putting this together we would respectfully suggest a programme for positive and real change begins when we 

(1) See the inner issue

(2) Accept it as part of us but recognise that we are not pieces of wood or stone. We have the freedom to change. Accept that we can be different

(3) recognise that change will make us better people and possibly our work life better for ourselves and others. 

From here we can start to look for what we need to do to change and grow. This might mean using counselling or other disciplines. What this adds up to is a new perspective. It is a recognition that none of us is perfect and that growth is a wonderful and tremendous possibility for us all. This is a transformation that can work good in other areas of our life other than work. John remembers many years ago visiting a client in prison outside of Leeds. He was there for a violent crime. In the visit he was angry about what had happened to him. John then visited a few weeks later. He was in a very different frame of mind and outlook. He had been visited in the interim by a nun who worked with homeless people in Leeds called Sister Eileen Carroll. Eileen, who died a few years ago, was such a positive force for good in the lives of homeless people in this city. She had spoken to him about the need to let go and how holding onto this was only really hurting him. The words must have sunk into our friend's heart and mind as when we visited him he accepted he was in prison for a crime he had committed, that he was to serve his time and wouldn't hold any grudge. And that's what he did. He's never been back to prison. He had faced his own inner feelings and state, listened to a wise person and then let a new pathway open us which he followed. Change is always possible and we hold in our hands the keys to open the door to change. Change should always be infused with wisdom and patience. We cannot change things or particularly ourselves overnight. We can however take the first step right now to a better life and us if we wish. Let's take it. 

Lisa Falkingham. Service Improvement Team. Leeds Community Healthcare
John Walsh. York Street Health Practice. Leeds Community Healthcare