Is the glass half full or half empty?
It depends on perspective. The difference between a career half empty and a career half full could be your perspective.
If you are shy, your point of view about that glass is your quiet secret. You are likely to not share your thoughts with anyone. Just suffer in silence. It doesn’t have to be that way. You can find a way to adjust a bit or flex your shyness to find more joy in your career.
According to Mary Hynes in the CBCRadio show Tapestry, before his retirement, Chade-Meng Tan was an award winning engineer with Google with the cool title of the Jolly Good Fellow (Which Nobody Can Deny). He helped coworkers manage stress through mindfulness. Mindfulness is a very trendy concept these days. But there might be something to it that can help shy people.
In his new book, Joy On Demand, Chade-Meng Tan offers 3 practical exercises to train yourself to experience joy.
Exercise #1: Look for thin slices of joy.
Little moments that make you feel good. These moments might last just a second or two but they add up. Noticing these moments will make you appreciate the joy in your life.
Exercise #2: 10 seconds of loving kindness.
This exercise happens in your head. That is perfect for shy people! Identify two people you see somewhere around you. In your head say to yourself, “I wish for this person to be happy”. That is all. You don’t even have to talk to anyone or make accidental eye contact.
Exercise #3: One mindful breath.
Breath in and out, noticing your breath for one minute. Maybe put on your headphones for greater privacy while you take this personal moment.
Do this every day to become more aware of the joy already in your life and in your career. You might be able to start seeing your co-workers, your family, your friends and your career as a glass half full because you appreciate the place they fill in your life.
While practicing these three simple, short exercises you might take a look at our Career Advancement Tip Sheet for more practical tips on moving your career forward.