Photo by Matthew Henry on Unsplash

Three Ways to Counter the Litany of Suck Running Through Your Mind.

Brain-monkeys keeping you up at night? Try this.

I recently left a good job. I enjoyed the work, I was paid adequately, the team was absolutely great — but there were parts of it that became so stressful that it became obviously time to leave.

I’m lucky, though — there’s another job waiting for me in a few days. It also looks to be meaningful work that will put food on the table and involve a dedicated and competent team. It’s also a move from a position as Executive Director to Assistant Director — which theoretically means a less-stressful position.

Nothing to worry about, right?

Actual Stress Monkey, as rendered by the author.

Try telling my brain that. My subconscious is an asshole, and during the transition I’ve been having trouble sleeping, waking from stress-dreams, and having trouble focusing on projects. There’s a zillion chittering monkeys in my brain, telling me I failed at my last job, I will suck at the new job, selling our house will bankrupt us, I’m too old to be switching careers.

It’s the litany of suck.