Meet Cindy Elizabeth

Emotions in the workplace can be a funny thing. I absolutely grew up where at my part-time high school and college jobs, it was “leave your emotions at the door” policy. It was easy. I wasn’t spending 40-50 hours a week at this place. Even when I started my working at my current employer as a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed college graduate it was easy to follow that same policy. However, I find that the older I get, the more I am biting my tongue at my desk to fight back emotions. And to be completely honest, I usually lose. The number of times over the last six months I’ve been sniffling and unable to control what was going on emotionally in my life enough to concentrate on work is astounding.

Now, I don’t think there is anything wrong with what I mentioned above. But what is the right balance? We spend so much time at work during the week that it is hard to be so black and white all the time. And by black and white, I guess I really mean emotionless. Things happen to us in life that we can’t control and often we can’t control the way our hearts decide to react.

I started thinking about this recently as I had my dainty, little heart broken. (ah, yes, this is full disclosure.) For whatever reason, I was unable to keep my emotions at bay at work. Walking to coffee with my best friend at work (holla, gallup!) I burst into an incredible amount of tears out in front of the building. Sitting in my cube, I’d cry. In meetings, I could feel it coming on. I just couldn’t control it. I know this is highly personal and different for every person.

But I’m more curious to know how people handle the emotional parts of our lives that come up while at work. Has this changed over the last few years? I have my own thoughts, but I’d love to hear yours, too.