Workplace blues: Moments of despair and disappointment are bound to arise in every job. — 123rf.com
Providing a safe space to express emotions at the workplace vital for helping individuals cope
Have there ever been moments in your teaching career when you were simply overwhelmed with emotion and needed to get away to a place where you could be alone with your thoughts and feelings?
A place where you could safely vent your anger, frustrations, or have a good cry over how you feel?
The truth is, almost everyone – not just educators – has experienced moments like these. It could have been caused by unkind words that made you feel like marching straight up to your boss and handing in your resignation, or by unfair judgements passed about your work performance.
A part of you screams, “I don’t need to stay in a place where I am not appreciated”, as your rational inner voice tells you to take a deep breath, find a place to sort your feelings out, and re-evaluate the situation.
While there is nothing like a good cry to provide emotional release, not all of us have the privilege or access to a safe “crying space” in the office – if there is one at all.
Often, private venting, tears and even screams are expressed in places like the office washroom, school storeroom or in the privacy of your own car.
My teacher friends have told me that in most schools, unless you hold an administrative or leadership position, you will not be assigned a private office or room of your own.
“All 50 of us are in one open space, separated by thin cubicle walls, if you are lucky. At times, when it all gets too overwhelming, I will go to the washroom and cry my eyes out,” said a teacher who has been teaching in a secondary school for 15 years.
“Then, I will wash my face and return to work, usually feeling much better. A good cry is amazingly therapeutic,” she shared, smiling.
In some workplaces, crying or tearing up can be construed as a sign of weakness, although the display of emotions is often an indicator of how deeply you feel about a certain situation and a reflection of your passion for what you do.
As we become more invested in our jobs, we may sometimes blur the boundaries of work-life balance.
People who are deeply committed to their work will tell you that it is not always easy to “remove” your responsibilities like a cloak and tuck them away at the end of the day. Often, you end up wearing that cloak to bed.
Educators, similar to those in the entertainment business who face audiences daily, often need to put on a brave front and face their students, even when they are going through personal heartache or an emotionally rough time.
“This is one of the most challenging things about teaching.How do you face your charges and continue teaching when everything inside you is crumbling?
“We are like entertainers who need to keep the crowd engaged no matter what we are feeling inside.
“No one really knows how broken we feel, but classes need to go on, lessons must be taught, and tests have to be graded. The show must go on,” said a teacher nearing retirement.
Indeed, it takes courage to rise up in the midst of personal sorrow and continue the job of educating.
I have seen it time and time again in the teachers I have had the privilege to work alongside – teachers who have clambered back from soul-wrenching losses or crushing defeats, not always with renewed spirits and sometimes with a broken wing or two, but always back in the classroom to continue their teaching duties.
Although some people may boast about being able to compartmentalise their feelings and bury these emotions at the workplace, most of us have to deal with our fluctuating emotions, which can range from heights of elation to depths of disappointment.
While it is great to have a workplace that is always full of laughter, positive comments and encouraging words, there will inevitably be moments of dissatisfaction, annoyance or plain despair brought about by the workplace itself or other external factors.
As clichéd as it sounds, tough times do eventually pass, but having a private “crying space” at the workplace is truly comforting and can go a long way in helping individuals cope.
Dr G Mallika Vasugi, who currently teaches at a local university, provides insights into the teaching profession. The views expressed here are the writer’s own.
