PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
Multitasking
10.2.05
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Transcript:
While driving in town the other day, my wife, Barbara Dan, and I saw a young woman jogging . . . pushing a baby stroller . . . leading a dog . . . and talking on a cell phone all at once.
I said to Barbara Dan, "It's called multitasking." Barbara Dan looked thoughtful and said, "No, to me, that picture illustrates a life spinning almost out of control. She looks so fragmented. She can't really focus on anything."
This is Howard Butt, Jr., of Laity Lodge. Lack of focus is always a danger in our hurry-up world. We have so much to do and so little time to do it that we risk spinning out of control. Focus is vital . . . to the high calling of our daily work.
Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
READER'S COMMENTS
I just finished listeing to you talk about "FOCUS"!!!! You came very close to my heart. When you talked about the woman who was pushing the stroller while talking on the cell phone and running at the same time as though her life were "spinning out of control". I know who she is. That sound like me. You see my dad was in the hospital with leukemia and was dying. I have no Paid Family Leave Medical Act where I work. So. I had to work 8 hours a day, attend to my family, then squeese in time also to go to the hospital and see my dying father. My life was "spinning out of control" also. The end results for me was a write up by my manager at work. And when did I recieve that? Two days after I came back to work from my dads funeral. So, I just got over one grief and got "hit" with another "grief". For weeks I walked around in a state of shock. I finally got myself into professional counseling. I learned then I suffered from anxiety and depression and it wasn't from my dad passing away but my manager on my job who caused all of it. This happened just this past February. I'm still in therapy as of 10/2 and my therapist and psychiatrist both feel it will take atleast another year to get me well and stablised to be myself again. All because I did "spin out of contoll" I think if my boss would've helped me a little more and spent some extra time with me when my dad was in the hospital none of this would've happened. He was suppose to have been trained for crisis intervension, but apprently he 'failed' that part of the class. Comments anyone?
gwen joy 10/2/2005 1:06:29 PM
Gwen, I'm very sorry for your loss, but be careful with the advice your therapists are giving you. It sounds as if all the problem is being put off on your manager and while he did play a role, we always have to ask ourselves what are we contributing to the situation. Learning better coping skills will help you in the future because there will be other crises and other unhelpful people in your life. While we can't control the actions of others, we can control ourselves and our reactions to various situations. Make sure that your therapists do not make your manager the focus of your therapy but rather are introducing you to various coping skills and ways of managing stress.
pmp68 10/3/2005 7:49:20 AM
Gwen Joy, You are doing the correct thing by getting counseling. Don't let anyone talk you out of it. "Spinning out of control" is from trying to do too many things at one time, multitasking. This is a major problem in our society today. Our lives have become more busy with family, jobs, church etc. The stress you were going through was more than your mind, body or soul could handle. Then add more stress from an unkind hardhearted manager push you to the breaking point. The sad thing this happens everyday all over this nation. I went through a similiar situation. The pain can be so overwhelming for you. Yet, hard to understand unless you walk in those shoes. So please keep going to counseling. Yes, part of the problem was the manager yet you may have reacted differently if it hadn't been your father's illness and death. When the two collided together a huge problem. It's problem hard for you to believe of yourself and others around you. Hang in there! bluejay
Gwen Joy, I am also sorry for your loss. I can empathize with your pain as my father died four years ago. I have found great comfort in John 15. Thankfully, we have a loving heavenly Father who can also empathize with our pain. Our Father is the Gardener, and Jesus Christ is the Vine, and we are the branches. He lovingly calls us to graft into the Vine and abide in Him. Yes, we need to attend to the situation and do our best to live/work most effectively, but improving the situation is not where our peace comes from. It is in Christ that we experience the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, etc. Stress management skills, communication skills are good, but true, inner, peace, comes from abiding in Christ. Although your boss may have tempted you to believe something like, "If only my boss would be more understanding of my situation, life would be more tolerable," a lack of peace is a symptom that we are not yet grafted well into the Vine. Oh, how Jesus Christ loves you and cares deeply about your circumstances. As you draw near to Him, abide in Him, He will certainly draw near to you and show you more and more of His fullness and glory!