Never Complain About Workplace Unfairness, Choose to Face It with a Spacious Heart (4)

But inwardly, he told himself: “Just wait and see—I will become a star salesman! Today I’ll revisit those customers and sell more policies than all of you combined.” With this mindset, Allen returned to the neighborhood, visited everyone, and sold 66 new accident insurance policies. This was truly an impressive achievement, and it kept motivating him, ultimately making him a real star salesman.

As a salesman, Allen performed outstandingly. Faced with workplace grievances, he didn’t wallow in self-pity or give up; instead, he worked diligently and ultimately became a ‘gold-medal’ salesman. His experience reminds us that, while everyone’s work and circumstances differ, we all may encounter setbacks and injustice. For the same problem, some people become dispirited and complain, while others handle it more positively. Dwelling on these small matters only wastes your time and opportunities.

A successful entrepreneur once encouraged employees: “At the end of a thorny road, a beautiful garden awaits. You should believe that the job you currently have—whether in good times or bad—is the best training and test for yourself. Only then can you remain joyful and work efficiently, even in the face of gains and grievances.”

2. Little Tips to Regain Workplace Happiness—Be a Joyful Employee with Heart.

While work brings us income and allows us to realize our social value, it also brings troubles: low salary that doesn’t match our effort; excessive pressure causing mental distress; long hours leaving little time for family; complex relationships we can’t handle... Complaining and getting angry only diminishes your sense of happiness.

Perhaps the following story will offer you some insight.

A philosopher passing by a mountain encountered two craftsmen, both chiseling hard stones from the mountainside to carve them into various shapes as requested by customers. Seeing their efforts, the philosopher asked the first craftsman, “Do you like this job?” The craftsman frowned and replied, “Who would like facing these emotionless stones every day? They have no feelings, understand nothing—I only do this job because I have no other choice!” The philosopher nodded, thinking: understandable.

Then he approached the second craftsman and asked, “You must be tired of this job, right?” The craftsman wiped the sweat from his brow and smiled, saying, “No, I like this job. I feel I can give these ordinary stones new life by carving them into beautiful shapes. When people admire my work, the sense of pride is something only I can feel—it’s my treasure!” The philosopher was deeply moved; he hadn’t expected such thoughtful views from a craftsman doing this kind of work.

Years later, the second craftsman became a renowned sculptor, while the first remained full of complaints, repeating the same mechanical actions day after day.

In fact, life gives everyone equal opportunities for success; it’s just that people’s mindsets differ, resulting in different outcomes. Some are full of distress and see their work as a reluctant duty, muddling through and living in unhappiness and complaint, achieving nothing; others approach their work with joy and enthusiasm, building their future with passion, so life rewards them with beautiful returns.

If we can all find happiness in our work, wouldn’t that be wonderful? Why not try to be like the second craftsman and turn the ordinary into something extraordinary? Let’s strive to be joyful employees!

(1) Make more plans, fewer complaints.

Consider every aspect of your ideal career—from work format to environment—then define your standards or goals. Specifically, break your ideal career into as many short phases as possible.

If you’re currently just an ordinary employee, you must find a path for promotion to another position. Observe if you can transfer to another department, or first take a lower-level job and then seek opportunities for advancement. At the very least, identify obstacles that hinder your future development. Remember, gradual progress is the best way to change an uninspiring job.

(2) Treat your work as an independent contractor—hone yourself.

Imagine you’re an independent contractor; your employer is a major client. Allocate your time wisely to not only satisfy your client but also develop yourself in all aspects. For example, if your job is to prepare various reports, your word choice may not matter to your boss, but for you—as an independent contractor—you should realize that your writing skills may open up a whole new sales market. On the surface, you’re pleasing your boss, but in reality, you’re positioning yourself as an independent contractor.

(3) Reframe your mindset and attitude toward work.

“How long must I stay in this small position? I really don’t want to do this anymore.” “I must keep this job to support my family.” Do you often struggle with these two choices? Try changing them to: “Although this job isn’t very important, I can learn a lot from it. I need a stage to accumulate experience, so I can strive for promotion or a job change at the right time.” This way, your mindset will gradually recover its calm, and unhappiness will quietly fade away.

(4) Don’t be as fragile as glass.

Some people always focus only on themselves, so their vision is limited. They like to blame heaven and others, which makes them disliked. Without bitterness, there’s no sweetness. Don’t be as fragile as glass; instead, be transparent like crystal, radiant like the sun, and resilient like winter plum blossoms. Since you can enjoy the cool breeze, don’t resent the tiny grains of sand in the wind.

(5) Work hard, but also play hard.

Some people only know how to work hard. At first, they work overtime for an hour or two in the evening; soon, they work overtime all week, and eventually, even weekends become office hours. Thus, work becomes a domineering guest that occupies all their time.

These people have almost no social life outside of work. Over time, it’s inevitable that they’ll develop resentment toward their jobs.

(6) Take hobbies and leisure seriously.

Treat your hobbies and leisure activities as seriously as your main job, and take pride in them. Many people only see office achievements as true success, so they’re only happy when things go well at work. When trouble hits, they feel defeated. If your self-esteem is tied to things outside your job, it’s easier to stay positive when work setbacks occur.

(7) Don’t dislike others—learn to like them.

If you dread going to work every morning, it’s likely because you don’t get along with your coworkers. Even if you dislike working with them, you should at least strive for harmony. When you smile at someone in the elevator, they’ll smile back; the same goes for the office. You can’t expect to build close relationships overnight, but if you sincerely try to improve them, your colleagues will eventually notice. If you’re annoyed by everything—your job, your boss—you need to engage with people positively and talk about things you enjoy. You may find common ground with coworkers.

Extended Reading—Relieve Work Stress.

1. Relax with words and imagination—train your mind to wander through images like “I’m sitting on a grassy field under blue skies and white clouds” or “I’m comfortably soaking in a bathtub, listening to gentle music.” In a short time, you’ll relax, recharge, and feel peaceful and calm.

2. Break down stress—List all sources of stress in your life, one by one. Once you write them down, you’ll find that you can tackle them one at a time, gradually resolving them.

3. Cry if you need to—Psychologists believe crying relieves stress. Tests show that 87% of people with normal blood pressure say they cry occasionally, while most high blood pressure patients say they never cry. So expressing emotions is much healthier than bottling them up.

4. Reading dispels worries—When you immerse yourself in books, all sadness and troubles fade away. Reading broadens your mind, makes you tolerant, and helps you face pressure with courage.

5. Hug a tree—In some Australian parks, people hug trees every morning to relieve psychological stress. Hugging a tree releases feel-good hormones, making you cheerful, while stress hormones fade away.

6. Exercise to vent—France has new ‘exercise venting centers’ where coaches teach people to yell, twist towels, punch pillows, and pound sofas in energetic ‘stress relief workouts.’ The centers are lined with foam for safe, vigorous activity.

7. Smell essential oils—Aromatherapy is popular in Europe and Japan, especially among young women. Essential oils extracted from plants stimulate or calm the brain’s limbic system, helping relieve tension and stress.

8. Snack—Eating snacks isn’t just about satisfying hunger; it can also ease tension and inner conflict.

9. Wear your favorite old clothes—Putting on beloved old pants and a loose shirt unknowingly reduces psychological stress. Old clothes evoke memories and nostalgia, lifting your spirits.

10. Keep pets for health—Psychological studies show that watching your goldfish or tropical fish swim gracefully helps you forget worries and greatly reduces stress.