It's a Monk Eat Monk World
advertisment
Related Content
- Everything Changes But You, Monk (24/09/2008)
- A Monk in the City (01/04/2008)
- Pret a Monk (13/04/2008)
- All You Need is Love, Monk (07/05/2008)
- Monk and the Office Rottweiler (30/05/2008)
- Monk and The Master: Part 2 - Zen & S.x (06/01/2009)
When I started my first job in the City, one of the most surprising things to me was the lengths some people will go to get on. It really is a monk eat monk world.
I think I had a slightly naive belief that we were all intelligent grown adults, and so we'd do our hardest to achieve our personal goals. I didn't realise that this might involved a bit of dirty business, a bit of tell tale-ing, even a bit of good old fashioned, old-as-the-hills 'et tu Brute' back stabbing. How wrong I was!
So as a monk in the City, how do you deal with this? Well, it is difficult. You have to practice with it, because it's the easiest thing in the world to get drawn into. When you first get hit, your natural reaction is to hit back. It's an old saying, but like most old sayings it has an element of truth. There's no need to stoop to their level. You pretty much have to accept it. Suck it up.
I can feel hackles rising all over the City, but let's think of it this way. When you accept it, you form a 'space' between yourself and the person doing the dirty on you. What that space does, is opens up a big spotlight on the deed itself. And because you aren't jumping into that spotlight, nobody around you will see you as part of it, nor will you feel part of it.
What they will do though is look at where it's come from. So the focus is back on the do-er, and it isn't a positive one. You'll slowly gain trust from those around you. At first, people might think you are a push over. You might even feel like you're attracting other people's shit for a while as well, as the universe ups the ante and puts your new skills to the test.
Zen is about doing the right thing at the right moment. If someone throws a punch at you, get out of the way!
Notice who back stabs. Who tittle-tattles. Bear witness (can you listen without getting involved?). I promise you, like attracts like. It'll take a while, but practice this for a year or 18 months, and you'll find yourself surrounded by more people you like. People you trust and you might call up at the weekend. You'll probably find you are attracting the interest of your superiors, or even find yourself airlifted by a headhunter out of a poisonous environment, with a cheeky pay rise on top.
It's up to you. It worked for me.
Only one way to find out.
So as a monk in the City, how do you deal with this? Well, it is difficult. You have to practice with it, because it's the easiest thing in the world to get drawn into. When you first get hit, your natural reaction is to hit back. It's an old saying, but like most old sayings it has an element of truth. There's no need to stoop to their level. You pretty much have to accept it. Suck it up.
I can feel hackles rising all over the City, but let's think of it this way. When you accept it, you form a 'space' between yourself and the person doing the dirty on you. What that space does, is opens up a big spotlight on the deed itself. And because you aren't jumping into that spotlight, nobody around you will see you as part of it, nor will you feel part of it.
What they will do though is look at where it's come from. So the focus is back on the do-er, and it isn't a positive one. You'll slowly gain trust from those around you. At first, people might think you are a push over. You might even feel like you're attracting other people's shit for a while as well, as the universe ups the ante and puts your new skills to the test.
Zen is about doing the right thing at the right moment. If someone throws a punch at you, get out of the way!
Notice who back stabs. Who tittle-tattles. Bear witness (can you listen without getting involved?). I promise you, like attracts like. It'll take a while, but practice this for a year or 18 months, and you'll find yourself surrounded by more people you like. People you trust and you might call up at the weekend. You'll probably find you are attracting the interest of your superiors, or even find yourself airlifted by a headhunter out of a poisonous environment, with a cheeky pay rise on top.
It's up to you. It worked for me.
Only one way to find out.
Here Is The Writer : MonkintheCity
Monk in the City works for a large investment bank. He went to Asia in his 20's for a bit of jaunt, realised he knew very little about anything useful, stayed a lot longer than expected, and returned with sore knees from meditation and a head full of quirky ideas. He has a soft spot for dance music and a pint, and suffers from karaoke flashbacks. You can read more from him here.
view more articles by MonkintheCity
