March 8th, 1985 I came within 5 minutes of dying.
All because my job and my work environment had become increasingly toxic to me.
Over the course of the prededing 3 years I had been hospitalized 3 times for clinical depression — and, suicide attempts.
Over those same 3 years I had read countless books on stress management — and, even taught several workshops on the topic (teaching is how I learn best). I had become a master at employing the 3 kinds of stress reduction strategies: Thinking Strategies, Feeling Strategies, and Behaving Strategies.
What I failed to understand at the time was that I needed to employ a 4th strategy.
What was it?
It was the Get-The-Fuck-Out-Before-This-Kills-You Strategy!
Yep!
You can get really good at coping with a toxic job and job enviroment.
But, coping ain’t enough.
Sometimes the best strategy is to LEAVE!
Or, you could do like I did. Stay.
Let the stress build, build, build…
But, maybe you won’t be lucky like I was.
Maybe your overdose will work or your rope won’t break — like mine did. TWICE!
And, you’ll be dead.
Instead of alive … like I was thanks to the Grace of God.
Pick your choice.
