PEOPLE who smile a lot and say “have a nice day” are headed to an early grave while the grumpy stay fit.
Psychologists at Frankfurt University cite flight attendants, sales personnel, call centre operators, waiters and others in contact with the public for extended periods of time as being at risk of seriously harming their health. The people-pleasers are also in danger.
With over 40,000 call center agents in the Philippines, I assume most employers implement some sort of de-stressing activities for their employees especially during the break. or not? It must be tough for customer service workers to keep a gleaming smile with a friendly voice all day long. Especially when dealing with whiny and bitchy customers. I know all they have to do is detach themselves from their customers and let it go.
It used to bother me when people around me create havoc with their crabby attitudes. Negative vibes shatter my mental frame of mind. Then I learned that we can’t change people and that we are in control of our own attitudes. It takes practice to believe that “this person is having a problem. I’m not. So don’t get riled up, okay? Let it go.” This is a recovery principle which I work constantly with this Serenity Prayer.
There is a longer version ( from Ireland)
God take and receive my liberty,
my memory, my understanding and will,
All that I am and have He has given meGod grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the differenceLiving one day at a time
Enjoying one moment at a time
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace
Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have itTrusting that He will make all things right
If I surrender to his will
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy in the next. AMEN
Now this is scary. Should I change industry? I am working for a manning company. I am in the accounts department and it requires me to accomodate various people when inquiring about accounting matters. I usually talk to not less than 30 people a day all of whom I try to be friendly. Not to mention I am the official information center as my desk is the first to be seen when you enter our floor. I am considered “masungit” as I sometimes tend to answer persons who asks for direction rather rudely. Imagine answering the same question over and over everyday? it’s getting tiring sometimes. Thanks for the prayer. I’ll include it in my prayer everyday. I always pray for God to give me patience and understanding as people are sometimes irritating and sometimes they do not even know it.
Like I said, we can’t change other people’s attitudes but we are in control of our attitudes towards them. It takes a lot of superhuman patience to answer the same questions all over again. So I can sympathize with you.