Here are some haiku to contemplate when you find yourself in the midst of difficult, uncomfortable, tense situations at work. Read them slowly. Notice how you feel about each one.
i
Whenever I try
to see things the way you do,
fear overcomes me.
ii
I will obey you.
Whatever you say is right.
The org chart says so.
iii
Disagreeing with
everyone else about this,
I must be confused.
iv
When the yelling starts
and people blame each other,
I flee for safety.
v
You don't understand
the complexities we face.
That's why I'm yelling.
vi
When compromise fails,
I strengthen my position
by finding allies.
vii
When we don't agree,
I try everything I know
to bring you around.
viii
When I ask myself,
"Why can't we all get along?"
the answer is them.
ix
We get in trouble
whenever we're together.
Why don't you shape up?
x
It would be better
for us all if only you
wouldn't question me.
xi
My approach to this
is clearly better than yours.
Why can't you see that?
xii
She does what she wants,
when she's ready to do it.
I must tell her boss.
xiii
Whenever I hear
an offer so generous
it just can't be true.
xiv
Things look very bleak.
We may never resolve this.
Tell me what's for lunch.
xv
We warned them again,
and they tried it anyway.
Now it's their problem.
xvi
I'll never forget
the pain you caused me back then.
And now you will pay.
xvii
I might hurt myself
by trying to destroy you,
but you deserve it.
xviii
She is pure evil.
We must do all we can do
to keep her contained.
xix
Listening to you
explain the way you see things
would make me seem weak.
xx
If you respect me
you'll agree with me on this.
If you don't — you don't.
xxi
You remind me of
someone who once did me wrong.
I see him not you.
xxii
I want what I want.
What you want does not matter.
Just do as I say.
xxiii
I am everything.
Everyone must bow to me.
Especially you.
xxiv
I must divide you,
because you both threaten me.
Dividing, I conquer.
xxv
She saved us last year.
Whatever she says is true.
We follow her lead.
xxvi
If you say we can,
success is a certainty.
We believe in you.
xxvii
He rarely attends
but we schedule it for him
in case he breaks free.
xxviii
Whatever you say,
however you insult me,
I always stay cool.
xxix
He hasn't a clue
how impossible that is,
but we must do it.
Writing haiku can be a relaxing, meditative exercise. The act can clear your mind. Try it. More about haiku 
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Related articles
More articles on Emotions at Work:
The Triangulation Zone- When somebody complains to you about someone else's performance, you're entering into another dimension
— a dimension of three minds. That's the signpost up ahead — your next stop, the Triangulation
Zone.
The Unappreciative Boss- Do you work for a boss who doesn't appreciate you? Do you feel ignored or excessively criticized? If
you do, life can be a misery, if you make it so. Or you can work around it. It's up to you to choose.
The Injured Teammate: II- You're a team lead, and one of the team members is suddenly very ill or has been severely injured. How
do you handle it? Here are some suggestions for breaking the news to the team.
What Enough to Do Is Like- Most of us have had way too much to do for so long that "too much to do" has become the new
normal. We've forgotten what "enough to do" feels like. Here are some reminders.
Coercion by Presupposition- Coercion, physical or psychological, has no place in the workplace. Yet we see it and experience it
frequently. We can end the use of presupposition as a tool of coercion, but only if we take personal
responsibility for ending it.
See also Emotions at Work and Emotions at Work for more related articles.
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