There was a time I dreaded work every morning. Now, I wake up thankful for the same job I once complained about. Here’s how i made that change.
Before stepping into November, I took some time to reflect deeply on my life especially my work. My job can be quite stressful; it constantly pushes me out of my comfort zone, demanding that I talk to people and build connections something that doesn’t come naturally to me. And because of that, it sometimes takes a toll on my mental health.
Most evenings, when I get home from work, I feel so relieved. But as night falls and I realize I have to go back again the next day, a strange sadness creeps in. It became a cycle being happy to leave work, but dreading the thought of returning.
Then, one quiet evening, I decided to really reflect on this pattern. I asked myself why I was feeling this way, and that’s when I realized something important: I’ve been so focused on the negative sides of my job that I’ve completely ignored the positive ones.
In all my complaints, I forgot how much this job has helped me grow. I forgot how it pushed me to leave my shell, how it forced me to speak up, connect, and believe in myself. I forgot that this very job — the one I sometimes complain about — is the same kind of opportunity fresh graduates like me would go to war for.
That realization hit me hard. I saw how I was only being grateful for the things that came easily to me — the things that favored me. Everything that stretched me or made me uncomfortable, I labeled as “bad.” But in truth, those challenges have shaped me more than anything else.
Funny enough, last week’s writing prompt made me reflect even deeper and inspired this post. It opened my eyes to something I had been blind to for months — how much of a blessing my job really is.
So, I made a decision. Instead of shutting my work life out completely the moment I get home, I decided to embrace it. I stopped treating it like a burden and started seeing it as a blessing — one that helps me grow, provides for me, and strengthens me in ways I didn’t even notice before.
And honestly? That shift changed everything. The same job that once drained me now gives me a sense of purpose and energy. I’m more at peace, more grateful, and more aware of how lucky I am to have a job that pays well just months after graduation — in a country where many talented graduates are still struggling to find something, even with lower pay.
For me, I’ve learnt that gratitude has become one of my strongest coping tools. In moments when life feels uncertain, or when work demands never seem to end, I try to pause and reflect on what’s still going right — the people I love, the progress I’ve made, and the small wins that often go unnoticed.
These days, I’ve also learnt that mental peace doesn’t come from escaping work or life’s stress — it comes from changing how I see them. Perspective really changes everything.
! Thank you ❤️