How to Cure a Bad Case of Whines

Along with the start of my new job, I caught a bad case of the whines! Polished and pumped for my first day. I expected my co-workers to warmly greet and eagerly teach me. Instead, they ignored me and conversation stopped when I entered a room. Upon investigation, I discovered that my coworkers preferred someone else for my job and that hiring me took overtime pay from two single mothers who needed the extra money. No wonder I'd received such a cold reception!

It was painfully humiliating and each morning I dragged myself to work garbed in an additional layer of dread. My positive, can-do spirit quickly dissolved into a defeating case of "poor me". My self-talk became over-seasoned with "I can't" and " I don't remember." As a result, I began to repeatedly fumble and fail.

Within weeks my co-workers confronted the head of the department with their concerns that I wasn't right for the job. When she approached me, I whined about the cold reception and the lack of promised training. She readily agreed and wondered aloud if she'd made a mistake hiring me into this group of notoriously difficult people.

I left the meeting stunned.. My persuasive victim role might have cost me my new job. I needed an attitude adjustment and I needed it now!

Attitude Adjustment in Four Easy Steps

List The Positives - Both Big and Small - Then celebrate them! In my case this job was conveniently located four blocks from my home. I had competed against fifty other applicants to land this job. If I made it through this hazing period. I would learn from some of the best of my field.
Visualize the Worst Case Scenario -- I I had never been fired and thinking I might lose this job terrified and disabled me. In order to retrieve my power, I mentally rehearsed being fired. Dramatizing my worst-case scenario helped me put it all in perspective. Certainly, I would be disappointed, sick to my stomach, and angry, but I absolutely knew I would survive and then thrive. I would pick myself up and find a new job. Realizing this gave me back my power and my strength began to glow and show at work.
Recognize and STOP Negative Thoughts and Talk - Often my co-workers' whisper of my ineptness were echoes of my own self doubt. I began the mantra of "I can, I will." I savored my successes by giving myself internal standing ovations. I took mental videos of small successes and replayed them to boost my confidence. I quit complaining to friends and family about the "mean girls." Instead I lauded any act of help and kindness. My glass was now half full.
Make Each Moment a New Possibility - Don't replay bad events. Each day holds some new difficulties and not even multiple problems means the entire day is bad. Learn what you should from a problem, then move on. Nasty comments, awkward situations, or crisis usually only add up to a few moments in a twenty-four hour day. When I began replaying something unpleasant, I stopped and replaced it with a mental success video.

I worked! I began enjoying my new job and my co-workers became friendlier. Each day offered new and interesting experiences. This job became a fantastic learning experience. Most importantly I learned that both my toughest adversary and my best friend live within me and I choose, moment by moment, which relationship I will nurture and embrace.

Amy Dee Kristensen is a humorist and motivational speaker. Learn more about motivational, humorist, speaking at www.AmyDeeKris.com!