CAREER | PSYCHOLOGY

How I Deciphered My Career Wounds in One Laundry Cycle

When loads of workplace woes scream for attention

Photo credit: Author, and her laundry that continues to sacrifice a little more with each load

Of course I think too much. Always have. As a quiet kid I surveilled the dynamics of my family and friends, and pondered the longing looks of family pets. Observation led to the linking together of thoughts that attempted to make sense of my world. Apparently, I had so many questions that I simply couldn’t turn this tendency down a notch. The result: a life-long curiosity for human behavior and a couple college degrees to feed the need.

I love to dig into the “why” and “how” of behavior, mine or anyone else’s. Here’s what that looks like: first, I take the superficial visuals and audio, apply the tenants of psychology, generate options, synthesize, digest, try out some ideas, flip it upside, take a nap, eat something, say it out loud or write it down, and then hopefully share my perspective with a good listener.

Managing this minefield includes sifting my thoughts and feelings through a filtration of sorts that involves physical activity, finding the humor as often as possible, and pinpointing real or imaginary metaphors that slice open closed thought processes.