Take a Moment to Breathe

I can’t pretend that everything has been hunky-dory lately, because it hasn’t. Officially a year into my current job, the promise that it held has faded. I’m trying to see the good in it, but the poor communication, overbearing office politics, and the lack of respect among colleagues makes that challenging. And when a situation made it difficult for me to remain calm—and leave the negativity at work—I knew I needed to take a moment to breathe.

Know Your Value

I heard a story recently about a dying father who asked his son to take a watch (a family heirloom), first to the jewelry dealer in the market, then to the pawnshop, and then finally the museum. The jeweler offered $100 for the watch because it was old. The pawnshop offered $20 because of a scratch. And the museum offered $375,000 to include the watch in its special relics collection. The moral is that the right person will value you for the right amount and the right time.

It’s how I’m starting to think about my current work situation. In a toxic work environment, it’s hard to see how you are valued, or if you are valued in the right way. And as my frustration began to mount, I knew I needed to look at my options. Because we always have a choice, and when our emotions run high, we can sometimes make a decision that doesn’t suit our needs or serve us. That was when I realized it was time to take a moment to breathe.

Take a Moment to Breathe

In life, you need to know who you are and where you want to go. In his book, The Power of Ambition, Jim Rohn calls that self-direction.¹ As I took that moment to step back from the situation facing me, I reminded myself that I know who I am and where I want to go. That helped me to gain perspective, and to not make a hasty decision, like spontaneously quitting my job.

Whatever life throws at us, it is important to take a moment to breathe. It’s an opportunity to seek clarity, and it prevents us from acting irrationally. And it’s a life lesson I carry with me always. That’s how you remain grounded in who you are and where you want to go. You master the art of staying calm.

I want to tell you today that you are loved, you are worthy, and you matter. And, best of all, you do not need anyone’s permission to be—unapologetically—who you are.

1. Rohn, J. (2022). The Power of Ambition: Awakening the Powerful Force Within You, Shippensburg, Nightingale-Conant-Corporation, p. 36. [↩]