小挫折可能會導致大問題
By: Rick Warren華理克
很多時候，我對這件事很驚訝：「一些在職場上的小挫折如何在你回家時，累積成一個很大的很糟糕的態度。」如同以色列智慧的所羅門王在數千年寫道：「要給我們擒拿狐狸，就是毀壞葡萄園的小狐狸，因為我們的葡萄正在開花。」(雅歌書2章15節)
每一個工作的地方都有它獨特的問題或是議題，足以升高到毀壞最美好、最和平的一天。但是我已經學到在商場和專業的世界裡，這樣的問題通常會以三種型態出現：
打擾：意外的訪客或是電話，例如我寫這個句子時打來的這通電話!這些打擾總是在我們有期限壓力或是有其他要花時間處理的重要的事情時，以一種不聰明的姿態出現。即使是最好最完善的計畫也不能避免這樣的打擾。
不方便：打擾通常會以人的形式出現，但是不方便則常跟事情有關。當工具和現代的便利科技不能順利運作時，我們就會精神崩潰。 例如：影印機壞了，你或是其他人必須要花時間讓它正常運作；塞車了，你依然在路上而不能準時赴約；或是找不到要做報告的文件。
煩躁： 這些常是各種形式的延遲。例如：不可靠的人不遵守諾言；或是跟一個你必須用電話聯絡的人玩「鬼抓人」的遊戲－交換訊息，但是從不做直接的接觸；或是有人在一個次要的弱點上做文章，讓你覺得很難過；或者一個令人不快的顧客對一切你為他所做的事絲毫沒有一點感激。
無論你喜歡或不喜歡，打擾、不方便和煩躁就是人生所有的事實。無論你如何努力，都不能避免它們。我向你保證，這個星期你三種都會遇到。但即便你不能避免，你可以不讓他們造成你不必要的壓力。如何能處理這些小挫折呢？
不要拒絕它們：接受挫折，不要過度反應或暴怒。
不要怨恨它們：不要內化你的忿怒而加重挫折的強度。
不要任憑它們：拒絕因為一個非預期的困難就沉溺在自憐中。
聖經告訴我們，智慧的一個副產品就是耐心。我們必須用神的眼光來看我們的景況。我們要調整自己向著神，即便失控了！我們要記得祂依然掌權，就像加拉太書五章22節告訴我們的：「聖靈的果子就是仁愛、喜樂、和平…忍耐。」
© 2010《標竿人生》版權所有。摘自華里克博士專欄。華里克博士為《標竿人生》的作者。《標竿人生》已被翻譯成多國語言並在全球發行。書的內容闡釋: 基督徒應當過謹慎規劃、有清楚目標的每一天。本書被譽為改變20世紀的百大基督徒叢書之一，華里克博士也寫了《標竿人生教會》及《標竿人生耶誕節》。
思想 / 討論題目
在每天的工作中，你會遇到哪些典型的挫折?你都是如何反應？ 華里克博士將職場中最常遇到的挫折分成三種：打擾、不便和煩躁。你是否已發現避免他們的方法了？或是至少將他們減到最低？解釋你的答案。 華理克博士所提供處理挫折的建議當中，哪一些對你來說是重要和有意義的？ 當你在思想最常遇到的挫折時，相信無論如何神依然掌權是否對你有幫助？為什麼？註：若你有聖經且想要看有關此主題的其他經文，請看：
箴言15章21節、16章32節、17章27節、羅馬書5章3節、腓立比書4章6-8節、雅各書1章2-5節、彼得前書5章7節。
LITTLE FRUSTRATIONS CAN LEAD TO BIG PROBLEMS
By: Rick Warren
Many times I have been amazed to witness how minor frustrations in the workplace can mount up into one big, bad attitude by the time you leave for home. As wise King Solomon of Israel wrote thousands of years ago, “Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyard” (Song of Songs 2:15).
Each workplace is its own unique problems, the issues that can arise to ruin even the most pleasant and peaceful day. But I have learned the frustrations that we all experience in the business and professional world typically come in three varieties:
INTERRUPTIONS: These come in the form of unexpected visitors – or phone calls such as the one I received while typing this particular sentence! These interruptions have an uncanny way of showing up whenever we have a deadline to meet, or some other important matter that requires our time. Even the most thorough preparations cannot keep our best plans from being interrupted.
INCONVENIENCES: Interruptions usually come in the form of people, but inconveniences are usually situations involving things – often tools and modern “conveniences” that put us into a tailspin when they fail to function properly. For instance, the copy machine breaks down and you (or someone else) must take the time to get it operating properly. Traffic jams up, leaving you sitting still on the roadway rather than arriving for appointment on time. Or you cannot find an important document for a presentation.
IRRITATIONS: These typically are delays of various kinds: For instance, unreliable people who fail to keep commitments; playing “telephone tag” with someone you need to talk with, exchanging messages but never succeeding in making direct contact; contracting a minor illness that leaves you feeling below par; or obnoxious clients that fail to appreciate all you are trying to do for them.
Whether you like it or not, interruptions, inconveniences and irritations are all facts of life. No matter how hard you try, you cannot eliminate these. I guarantee you will encounter all three types of frustration this week. However, even though you cannot avoid them, you can learn to keep them from causing you unnecessary stress. What is the secret for managing frustrations?
– Do not resist them. Accept frustrations, but do not overreact or explode in anger.
– Do not resent them. Do not intensify the frustration by internalizing your anger.
– Do not resign to them. Refuse to indulge in self-pity simply because of an unexpected obstacle.
– Reduce them. Treat the frustration as significant, but put it into proper perspective. Regard it simply as a minor setback, a part of living, rather than as a major calamity.
The Bible teaches that one of the byproducts of wisdom is patience. We need to view our circumstances from God’s perspective. When I am in tune with God, I remember He has everything under control, even though I do not. As Galatians 5:22 tells us, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience….”
© 2010, Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved. Adapted from a column by Dr. Rick Warren, the author of numerous books, including the highly acclaimed, The Purpose-Drive Life, which has been translated into many languages and sold throughout the world. It affirms the importance of having a carefully considered, clearly expressed purpose to guide everyday life. It has been named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th Century. He also has written The Purpose-Driven Church and The Purpose of Christmas.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
What are the kinds of frustrations that you encounter in a typical work day? How do you respond when they occur? Dr. Warren classifies most workplace frustrations as interruptions, inconveniences and irritations. Are there any useful ways you have discovered for avoiding them – or at least keeping them to a minimum? Explain your answer. He offers four suggestions for managing frustrations. Which of them seems most significant or meaningful for you? When you think about the frustrations you often must deal with, does it help you to believe that in spite of everything, God is in control? Why or why not?NOTE: If you have a Bible, consider these other passages that relate to this topic:
Proverbs 15:21, 16:32, 17:27; Romans 5:3; Philippians 4:6-8; James 1:2-5; 1 Peter 5:7
