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Archive for the ‘Attitude’ Category

Overcoming Hurt at Work

Posted in Adversity, Attitude, Boss, Encouragement, Faith and Work, Prayer, Relationships, Work, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on October 30, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

Have you been hurt at work?  Was it a co-worker a boss or a client? Have you had a hard time getting past it? How can you set that experience aside and move on with a positive attitude?

Have you been wronged at work?

If you’ve had an experience where someone has wronged you, you understand how it can affect you. It could’ve been a conversation that you overheard, an email that was inadvertently sent to you, a co-worker who took credit for work that you performed, or being blamed for something that you weren’t even responsible for.  When that happens, trust goes out the door, and you are left with a feeling of betrayal. If left unresolved, the problem just gets bigger in our minds and bitterness sets in.  You can kiss productivity and a positive attitude goodbye.

Hanging on to that experience only hurts you. The other person may not even realize that you are hurt. Decide right now to put this behind you.  Here are some suggestions…

  • Pray for the person who hurt you   –   It’s easy to love those who love you, but as Christians we are called to love and pray for our enemies as well. Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matt 5:44.  
  • Have a reconciling spirit  –   As hard as it is, if you really want to get past this, you must have a heart for reconciliation versus retribution.
  • Don’t get even  –   “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.” Romans 12:19
  • Talk it out  –  “If your brother sins against you, go to him. Tell him what he did wrong. Keep it between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won him back.” Matt 18:15
  • For your own sake, forgive  –   Remember, you don’t forgive someone for his or her sake – you forgive them for your sake.  “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Col 3:13

 

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Surviving the Ordinary at Work

Posted in Attitude, Encouragement, Excellence, Faith and Work, Leadership, Work, tagged , , , , , , , , , on October 16, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

Are there tasks in your job that you just don’t enjoy doing? Are you biding your time waiting for something better? Do you have days at work that are so routine or even boring to you? Days where you’d rather be anywhere but at work?

Do have days at work that are boring to you?

No matter what job you have, there are parts of it that you probably consider ordinary or drudgery.  We all crave for exciting jobs which align perfectly with our passions.  Truth is, even if you had the perfect job there will be days where you just don’t feel it. So, the challenge is, how do you handle those days and those responsibilities in your job with a positive, upbeat attitude?  What does your character reveal about you during those times? How do you survive the ordinary of your job?

My son is on the 8th grade junior high football team.  As a receiver, he rotates with other receivers for playing time.  For someone who typically played every down during youth football, this has been an adjustment.  He practices four hours a day and when he plays a game he may or may not have the ball thrown to him or even get that much playing time offensively.  It’s easy to see how frustration or drudgery could set in.  We talked to him about his responsibilities as a receiver, how the coaches pay attention to his attitude, about being a leader even if he’s not playing and always being upbeat and motivated no matter what. Sometimes it’s hard to maintain that attitude through all those hours of practice, to play his best every down in practice and in the game – all while waiting for that pass to come his way.

Do you sometimes feel that way at work? Do you struggle with keeping an upbeat and motivated attitude in the midst of the ordinary tasks at work?  Are you waiting for that big promotion, or big sale or recognition from your boss? If so, think about the principles below:

  1. Your actions reveal your character. How you handle the ordinary times of your job reveals a lot about your character. I recently read in My Utmost for His Highest, “The true test of a person’s character is not what he does in the extraordinary moments of life, but what he does during the ordinary times when there is nothing tremendous or exciting happening.
  2. If Jesus did menial work, so can you.  “So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.” John 13: 4-5
  3. God’s hand is in the ordinary. Oswald Chamber in My Utmost for His Highest wrote “I must realize that my obedience even in the smallest detail of life has all of the omnipotent power of the grace of God behind it. If I will do my duty, not for duty’s sake but because I believe God is engineering my circumstances, then at the very point of my obedience all of the magnificent grace of God is mine through the glorious atonement by the Cross of Christ.
  4. Just do it. “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Cor 10:31

By the way, that pass my son’s been waiting for was thrown to him in last week’s game – a 40 yard pass for a touchdown!  All that practice and hard work and motivation paid off for just such a time as this. Now back to practice…

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Having an Attitude of Gratitude at Work

Posted in Appreciation, Attitude, Encouragement, Faith and Work, Gratitude, Work, tagged , , , , , , , on October 4, 2012 | 1 Comment »

Are you so busy at work that you sometimes forget to thank those around you for their help? Or have you been on the other side where you worked your tail off and never received a word of encouragement or thanks?  We’ve all been in both of these situations.

Have less attitude and more gratitude in your workday!

There is so much to do during the workday. And in today’s economic times, we have to do MORE work in LESS time.  As a result, we often focus only on the tasks at hand never taking the time to thank those around us who have helped. Stop and think how much you appreciate being told “thank you” for something you’ve done, especially when you weren’t really expecting it. It feels good doesn’t it?  Conversely, imagine how you’ve felt when you bend over backwards and never receive any word of encouragement. It totally deflates your enthusiasm.

I recently read a quote that said “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” It’s selfish.  I don’t think any of us wants to be characterized that way.   Having a grateful attitude and expressing it is a small thing with a huge impact.  So, give it a try and see what a difference it can make!

 Suggestions for having an attitude of gratitude:

  1. Start with a grateful heart. “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1  Thes 5:18
  2. Don’t take others for granted. Think about what your job would be like if you had to do everything, from the smallest, seemingly unimportant tasks, to the largest.  Impossible, right?
  3. Just do it!  Sometimes I have such grandiose ideas for showing my gratitude that I never get around to expressing it. A simple, genuine “thank you” can go a long way in making those around you feel encouraged about themselves and their work.  “But encourage each other every day while it is “today.” ( Hebrews 3:13)
  4. Be intentional. Commit to have an attitude of gratitude for 30 days.  See what a difference it makes in you and in those around you!

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Are You Grinding or Grounded at Work?

Posted in Attitude, Faith, Faith and Work, Prayer, Stress, Work, Workplace Prayer, tagged , , , , , on September 27, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

Do you feel like your life is so hectic? Overwhelmed at times by all the busyness?  Grinding through your day and feeling on edge about everything? You are not alone!

Are you grinding through your workday? Too busy and always feeling stressed?

Now that summer is a distant memory, life is crazy again. It’s early to rise and late to bed around our house and the pace is non-stop.  I’ve noticed that there are some days where my work seems harder, my attitude is less than stellar and my creativity has gone AWOL for the day.

Why is it that some days I feel like I’m grinding through the day and other days I feel grounded.  Is there anything in particular about my morning routine that explains the difference? Nothing obvious comes to mind. Then I thought about yesterday – it was a good day – yes, I was busy (i.e I’m writing this blog at midnight) but I felt at peace throughout the day. The possible answer? I had a morning conversation with God.

Yesterday I had a little extra time before getting ready for work, so I decided to take a quick morning walk.  While I walk, I have the best conversations with God.  I talk, but I also listen.  When I finish my walk, I have “a peace that transcends all understanding.” Phil 4:7.  And that peace keeps me feeling GROUNDED all day instead of feeling like I’m GRINDING all day.

If you can invest some time, here are a few ideas for your morning prayer time:

  1. Your prayers don’t have to be marathons.  If you don’t have a lot of time, give yourself 10 minutes. If that isn’t possible, then pray while you’re getting ready or driving to work. “Never stop praying” 1 Thes 5:17 (NLT)
  2. Listen to the bible.  I have the YouVersion Bible app on my phone. There is an option to listen to the scriptures being read. You can listen to it while getting ready, exercising or driving.
  3. Get grounded. Paul sums it up perfectly when he said “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation… present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:6-7

Want more suggestions? Check out our website on Workplace Prayer.

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Changing Interruptions into Opportunities at Work

Posted in Attitude, Boss, Encouragement, Faith and Work, Jesus, Work, tagged , , , , , on September 24, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

Have you ever had one of those days at work where you have more work than you can actually do?  And then something comes up that is totally unexpected and unplanned and throws a wrench into your plans? It could be another job assignment, someone who walks in your office who needs to talk, an unexpected phone call, or maybe a sick child.

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How do you handle interruptions?

I’m a type A person, and very task-oriented. And if I have something that needs to be done, it’s on a list.  Between my personality and my list, I’m a working machine. So you can imagine what my reaction often is when something unexpected comes up.  I’m sure I send out all the wrong signals – looking at my watch, my phone, acting perturbed, etc. Not pretty.

Today, it hit me.  Could these so called interruptions really be opportunities that God has placed in my day and He wants to see how I handle them? Ouch.

Do you have these same challenges? Are you SO focused on your work that you’re put off by God’s interruptions? Here are some suggestions to help you (and me) better handle interruptions at work.

  1. W.W.J.D – How many times do you read in the bible that Jesus would stop whatever he was doing to heal, to encourage, to show love. His day was full of interruptions, but it’s also where He had some of His greatest impact.
  2. Don’t ignore the small stuff. In Matthew 25:23 it says, “You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.” If God presents a situation and I ignore it, how can He trust me with something bigger?
  3. Show compassion. “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’’ Matthew 25:40
  4. God will redeem your time. “God will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” Hebrews 6:10

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Changing Your Thoughts at Work

Posted in Adversity, Attitude, Excellence, Faith, Faith and Work, Mind, Pride, Relationships, Thoughts, tagged , , , , , on September 19, 2012 | 3 Comments »

Have you ever had a misunderstanding with your boss, a co-worker, or a customer?  It could be a verbal exchange or something as simple as an email. You replay the scene in your head over and over getting more frustrated each time you think about it. Worse yet, as the day goes on you have a hard time focusing on the tasks at hand, your energy is zapped and you become less pleasant to be around.

Are you frustrated by an email you received?

I think many of us have experienced this from time to time.  We’re human, right? But when our thoughts are preoccupied and distracted over the course of the day, don’t we end up hurting ourselves even more?  So, how can you reign-in your out-of-control thoughts?

Strategies to control your thoughts:

  1. Don’t speculate. How many times do you make assumptions that you don’t even know are true? Paul says in Philippians 4:8  “…whatever is true…think about such things.”  Don’t read anything more in a situation then what you know is REAL. Don’t speculate, don’t assume, don’t read between the lines.
  2. Take control of your mind. Literally!  Is the situation stuck in your head, like a broken record?  Paul writes “Take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ.”  When you start thinking about the situation, say this scripture instead.  You’ll be amazed how powerful God’s Word can be to help you get your mind back on track.
  3. Do NOT get offended. People are imperfect and as long as we come in contact with other people, there will be misunderstandings. Our pride can rear its ugly head in many ways and getting easily offended is one example.  Be proactive.  Decide right now NOT to get offended when someone rubs you the wrong way.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true…think about such things. Phil 4:8

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Changing Your Attitude at Work

Posted in Attitude, Excellence, Faith and Work, Pride, Work, tagged , , , , , , , , , on September 18, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

When school starts, I always have big plans to do things a little differently. You know, get back into a routine:  exercise more, eat better, spend more quality time with my family and my friends… I have great intentions, but life gets in the way, and before I know it, I wake up and nothing has changed.

Do you need a change of attitude?

Out with the Old and In with the New

It’s the same with our Christian walk. As Christians we are called to be different, but it’s far easier to stay the same rather than pay the price to change. In Ephesians 4:22-24 Paul writes “… to put off your old self, … to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

So, what are some “old” behaviors or attitudes that might apply in the workplace? How about:

  • Pride
  • Envy
  • Short Temper
  • Impatience
  • Careless Words
  • Swearing
  • Complaining

I don’t know about you, but some of these hit too close to home for me. It’s not that we intentionally try to act this way, but things happen and before we know it we react in an inappropriate way. The truth is, we are called to BE more like Christ – in other words, to ACT more like Christ.  We need to let go of some of our old attitudes and behaviors and make room for the new…in EVERY aspect of our life, including our work.

Is there some attitude or behavior that you would like to change about yourself?  Ask God to reveal what he wants you to change and then ask Him to give you the strength and discipline to make it happen. And don’t be discouraged, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27)

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Eph 4:22-24

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3 Ways to Deal with Difficulties at Work

Posted in Attitude, Bible, tagged on June 14, 2012 | 2 Comments »

This week I have been reminded of the difficulties in work and life. Stuff happens. Sometimes it comes through the anxiety of our ever increasing workload. Sometimes it comes through an event (or two) that happen unexpectedly. Sometimes, we have very personal issues at home that we must live with at work.

What is yours today?

And what will you do about it?

Here are three suggestions for you:

  1. Read Psalm 34:19.
  2. Have you been on your knees lately?
  3. Genuinely encourage someone else. Send a text, a tweet, an email or just stop someone at work.

I hope this helps you wherever you are today. God bless your work.

David

Colossians 3:23

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How is Constantly Feeling Overwhelmed Working for You?

Posted in Attitude, Balance, Prayer, Rest on March 12, 2012 | 2 Comments »

Overwhelmed.  I hear this word or something like it so often these days.  The feeling that there is just so much to do that we constantly feel under great pressure accompanied by anxiety and feelings of failure because we just can’t get it all done.  This seems to be especially true in the working world.  How many times have you heard people express something of that sort.  Probably more than you even realize as it seems to be said so often that you don’t really even “hear” it.

I have experienced this feeling so many times in my life and work that I think I have allowed myself to be deceived into almost thinking that if  I am NOT feeling this way, then I must not be DOING enough.  What a crock!  Jesus does not want us to live perpetually in this state which is entirely inconsistent with the teachings of the Prince of PEACE.

The only way I have found my way out of this state is giving up the illusion that I am in control of hardly anything.  Only through prayer am I able to mysteriously let go of the worry and anxiety that so often accompanies these times of feeling overwhelmed.  I don’t really understand how it works, I just KNOW that it does.

If you are feeling overwhelmed at work today, stop for a moment and give it to Jesus.  Lay it in His hands and he will gladly accept it and you will not only experience a sense of relief, but often times you will experience insight and new directions that, if you will be honest, you know could only have come from the Lord.

I love how Philippians 4:6-7 is stated in The Message.  It says, “Don’t fret or worry.  Instead of worrying, pray…….Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good will come and settle you down.  It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry as the center of your life.

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Encouragement at Work

Posted in Attitude, Encouragement on August 4, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

Is there a better “feel good” word than encouragement? Have you ever received bad encouragement? Do you receive too much encouragement? Do you give too much encouragement?

This past Monday I participated in a very simple, but incredibly powerful exercise on encouragement. Prior to sharing a devo and our WorkMatters vision with the employees of NorthStar Partnering Group in Fayetteville, AR, they passed out a sheet of paper and a pen to every team member. Each person was asked to write their name at the top of the page and hand it to someone else in the room. They wrote one encouraging statement about that coworker, then passed it on to someone else. After each paper had four comments written, it was folded in half and placed in a bowl to be distributed back to the owner.

As I reviewed the encouraging comments that came back to me, I was struck by the power those words carried. The entire room was uplifted!

In the marketplace, it’s so easy to become critical and judgmental. The pace, the pressure to deliver, demanding bosses, different approaches to solving the same problems, and the list goes on…

Here are three simple suggestions for us all:

  1. Play the “Encouragement game” in your place of work.
  2. Before you criticize or judge, think it through. See if there is a better way to communicate your message.
  3. Be intentional with your encouragement of coworkers, peers, bosses (spouses, children…you get the point).
“Therefore, encourage one another with these words.”  1 Thessalonians 4:18

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