¹¹ For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. ¹² Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.

2 Thessalonians 3:11-12 [NKJV]

Some Weekly Updates & Reflections

Hey guys, first of all, I just want to say just how grateful and appreciative I am for today being a public holiday here. It is our nation’s birthday. Plus it always helps when we get to have a public holiday that falls on either a Friday or Monday. It means that we all get to enjoy a nice long weekend. I think it is especially meaningful in my case because everything that I have been facing and dealing with at work lately. Besides, from a mental health perspective, I really could use the break (well, or at least, to just slow down enough so I could finally catch my breath). For the past two months since I have been offered this new career opportunity as a front-end developer, I have been pushing myself to the maximum capacity. Even after beginning my part-time specialist diploma course in early July, I chose to continue giving my maximum effort (despite not being able to operate at 100%). Between work and studies, I would say that during this period of adjustment, I’m most likely operating at somewhere between 80%~90% of my top capacity.

Yet, as exhausted and draining as it has been for me, this morning, I have been reminded that it is perhaps a good thing that I am so busy and preoccupied with my work right now. It doesn’t exactly leave any space left for me to be distracted by other unimportant things. The last thing I need is for a repeat of everything that had happened back in 2016. That distraction back then cost me an amazing career opportunity. Though it wasn’t the main reason behind why the company decided to let most of us go (mass retrenchment), I still see my responsibility in the fact that as a result of the distraction during that time in my life, I couldn’t end up giving my best to my career opportunity at that time. It is just another way for me to say that I failed to make the most of the opportunity that had been given to me.

So that continues to remain a daily reminder for me. It is a constantly reminder that I’ve been given this more than amazing second chance in my life. This is a second chance (and slightly different chance) to take that major step towards my ultimate career goal of moving towards a UX-driven role. Something in me tells me that this is not one of those things that will come around again. This is one of those opportunities that I need to grab with both hands, and do everything I can [together with the grace of God] to make the best of it. Anyway, I am really grateful to be given this career opportunity. So, I will not complain about needing to work during a public holiday, or over the long weekend. This is my passion. It’s not so much work really. Yet, because this is a next-level kind of challenge, it means there will be many things for me to learn. Much of this new career opportunity is outside of my comfort zone, and so naturally, spending more time on my work now comes with the new responsibility.

Daily Devotion Proper

My weekly updates might not be directly related to today’s topic and reflection, but it does in some ways, doesn’t it? In very much the same way, when I am so busy with my new career opportunity, it really doesn’t leave any room for me to be distracted by anything else. While I am not working in a usual corporate environment with office politics, those distractions that I had experienced in the past can be liken to what office politics is like. It is a total distraction, and it zaps away our energy. Energy that could be put to better use, like getting our work done more efficiently and better.

As someone that used to be a part of the corporate world, there’s a huge reason why I don’t like working in a normal corporate office environment. I hated when people around begin participating in office politics. What is even worst is when they start involving me in it. It is such a major distraction. A distraction I clearly didn’t need. While the biggest reason I took the leap of faith to quit my job was to follow my passions, part of it is also because I preferred to work alone as a consultant. While I still have to occasionally collaborate with teams as an external consultant, I don’t have to get involved in their own internal office politics. I can instead focus on the work that I needed to do. It turned out that when I didn’t have those distractions getting in the way of my work, my work quality improved significantly. That is how I understood that I am not very good at working in a team environment. To me, to work as a part of a team is more of a necessity that a personal desire. While I do appreciate the true value of team collaboration and effort, I still find that I am most productive when I am working alone without someone looking over my shoulder (i.e. micro-managing). I also end up doing my best work when I don’t have someone trying to look over my shoulder.

Sorry, I know I get side-tracked sometimes. My point being, if you have time for office politics, then something is clearly wrong. That time and energy that you have been spending gossiping and passing rumors about a colleague or boss, or supervisor, can be put to more constructive, productive use. Stop wasting it on meaningless office politics. Trust me, it is not going to help you to get ahead in any way. In fact, speaking from my own corporate experience with office politics, folks that are often engaging in office politics are usually also the ones that are under performing at work. Please, do not be that person.

Personal Prayer for Today

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for blessing me today by speaking to me through Your word. Thank You for reminding me to remain watchful of potential distractions and how they can affect my focus on my current career opportunity. Thank You for reminding me of what happened back in 2016. Thank You for reminding me that I need to continue making the most of my current career opportunity.

I also thank you for showing me a different perspective when it comes to being so preoccupied, exhausted, and drained every day with my new responsibilities as a front-end developer. Because I have been so preoccupied and exhausted daily, I have zero space for any other potential distractions. And perhaps in that way, it is a good thing. The last thing I need right now is a distraction that could potentially take me away from fulfilling my purpose, my 生き甲斐 (“ikigai”).

Finally, I want to thank You for reminding me of my lessons about office politics and how it can be so distracting to our work. As a result of my own negative experiences with office politics, You have blessed me with a lesson about why people should always avoid it. I mean, really, it is not helpful and can take away the energy needed for us to do our jobs better. And maybe, just maybe, my experiences will be beneficial to someone else.

As I remain grateful for this lovely, long weekend, I ask that You continue to bless and watch over me. I know there is still work to be done, and I will remain committed to pacing myself this weekend. I also ask that You bless me with good-quality rest and breaks this long weekend. Help me recharge myself so that I can go further. This is, after all, a marathon and not a sprint.

I vow to give You all of the praise and all the glory. In Jesus’ mighty name, I pray.

Amen.