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This article from NYTimes.com, Cracking Under the Pressure? It’s Just the Opposite, for Some, talks about job stress and why some people crack under the strain, whilst others thrive on it.
At the same time, I believe, the article uncovers the very reasons for a serious mental health benefit of working for yourself - that of gaining back control.
Being just another cog in a machine with no say over what happens is almost guaranteed to cause burnout. But even in the most grueling work environment, people can cope if they feel they have some control.
Lets face it, most of us had, or have, “cog in a machine” jobs, or we would be immensely satisfied and wouldn’t have left or want to leave them.
We probably hate/hated getting up for them and watched the clock until the daily escape hour.
Yet, when we work for ourselves, we’re suddenly prepared to work very long hours with little or no complaint and it seems almost fraudulent to call it work at all, when one is enjoying it so much.
Some people are afraid to “go it alone” because they fear it will be harder. What they are really saying is that don’t believe they are up to it, but that is only through lack of relevant experience. How do you get experience? Well, you just have to have a go!
We have responsibilities for decisions that are much greater than those we were allowed to have on the J.O.B. and, even when business depends on it, we somehow we manage to rise to the challenge.
And it is certainly true that when you are captain of your own ship, even if it’s just a tiny rowing boat, you gain a sense of personal accomplishment, pride and self-respect. And that’s what inspires us and keeps from cracking under the pressure.
Sponzurz
