Question

Is your workplace emotionally toxic?

Answer
By Aimee Hughes | Published: May 25, 2017

Do you find it difficult to keep your yogic center in the workplace? If so, you’re not alone. There are many emotional toxins in the workplace. If you’re wondering how you can survive a sometimes cutthroat work environment, it’s good to know what some of the biggest emotional pitfalls can be.

Cutthroat Competition Vs. Cooperation

In much of Western society, we’ve been taught that the name of the game is getting ahead — no matter what the cost. So, we try to climb up the corporate ladder, sometimes forgetting how our actions may affect our coworkers. The more we do yoga, the more we see what folly this is and the more it makes us uncomfortable. What we need more of is cooperation, not competition. Learning to temper our competitive urges with a spirit of cooperation will alleviate toxic energy in our work environment. (Learn more in What Yoga Teaches Me About Life.)

Greed

Isn’t it ironic that corporations aren’t about cooperation? The words are so close in nature! More often than not, corporations are about money rather than service and many of us work for these large corporations. The greed that permeates the workplace is downright distasteful. CEOs step all over workers just to increase their bottom line. The corporate mentality needs to shift if there’s to ever be a less toxic work environment. If you work for a corporation, you may feel as if you don’t matter. This is natural, and it’s also toxic.

Fear

Some of you reading this might be working in a fearful environment. Your boss might have you walking on eggshells in order to make your numbers. If there is ongoing drama in your work environment, then there’s definitely something toxic going on. If you live in fear, you probably experience more anxiety than you realize. The workplace needn’t be a place of fear, but if it is, it may be time to pack up your desk and move on. (Learn a Guided Meditation for Finding Your Life’s Purpose.)

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Written by Aimee Hughes

Aimee Hughes

Aimee is a yogi and writer who's been practicing yoga daily for more than 21 years. Since a journey to India when she was 20, the practice has been her constant companion. She loves exploring the vast and seemingly endless worlds of yoga. Aimee has also written a book titled, "The Sexy Vegan Kitchen: Culinary Adventures in Love & Sex." You can find her at her new site: https://natura.yoga

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