...life can be translucent

Menu

Stay or Go? Nos. #34, #1, and #28

petrosianii

visitor
Joined
Oct 3, 2007
Messages
89
Reaction score
1
My job environment has been crossing me up of late. Without going into too much detail, large sweeping managment changes have created instability, confusion and anxiety among myself and those with whom I work. In addition, my superiors have been systematically undercutting the fair market value of my position. As a result, three or four people have left; two directors were axed, and this of course has left that much more work for the rest of us. Moreover, prior promises of advancement, promotion, and raises have been suspended or taken off the table altogether.

I have been question the oracle as to whether now is the proper time to leave, and what the changes mean. I asked the orace three times: What will be the effect of leaving my company?

The first time I got #34, Great Power. This changed to #19 Promotion.
The second reading I received #1 Creative Power. I had a change in lines 3,4 & 5. Line 5- the ruling line - states, "Whatever you choose to do is in accord with the cosmos."
The Third ime I asked the inverse question: What will be the result of staying?

I received #28 Critical Mass. This is a very strong hexagram for me. I discuss its importance on my I Ching blog, if you would like further detail.

The statements in #28 that intuitively resonated with me were the following:

"The ponderous affairs of the people around you are pushing into the foreground. The current situation is becoming weighted with a great many considerations. In times of critical mass, it is exhausting to cling to ideals & ignore the realities of your environment. Look for an avenue of escape; prepare to make decisions about your next move."

So, it is pretty clear what I need to do. But change is difficult; part of me doesn't want to leave, simply because I'm comfortable. I become quite sedentary very easily. Also, the reading made me realize that I was harboring a hidden ideal of staying with this Fortune 500 company for life, hanging my hat with them, that all would be well, I found my place, and they would always treat me well.

Well, that ideal is turning out not to be true. I can no longer "ignore the realities of my environment," as the I Ching says.

Any thoughts out there?
 

ben_s

visitor
Joined
Apr 4, 2008
Messages
232
Reaction score
9
Hi Eric, Thanks for joining the conversation here.

Thanks for the link to your blog. It looks like we share several interests besides the I Ching. I look forward to learning more about your perspective.

Personally, I can really sympathize. I have had several times in my career when I felt I could finally settle in to a good job with a major corporation. I thought, now I finally get to stay put the rest of my life. Then the rug got pulled out from under me, because of political or financial corporate changes that had nothing to do with my work. But I wound up job hunting again, just the same!

This happened in the Fortune 500 world to me, as it is happening to you. Also, I've had life situations drastically change because of unexpected health setbacks. So you have my empathy for what a challenging situation you face.

It looks to me that you've made straightforward interpretations of the oracle's answers: time to go. However, if I read you right, you are leaving the devil you know, and afraid the devil you don't know might turn out to be worse!

I suspect you might find guidance in asking the oracle about the nature of your fears, and the nature of your next good plans. For example -

What information do I need to make a new career plan, free of fear?
Is it important that I look to another major corporation as the source of my career stability?
What are my most important strengths I should emphasize in my job hunt?
What environment will help me enjoy a secure career where I happily make my best contribution?
Is my sense of worry really about the job change, or about something else?
 

petrosianii

visitor
Joined
Oct 3, 2007
Messages
89
Reaction score
1
Delving deeper

Thanks, Ben, for your comments.
Yes, I already suspect that I will delve deeper into the nature of my fears with additional questions such as the ones you propose.
I'm also suspecting that a smaller, younger, less bureaucratized company will probably afford me more peace and creativity.
:bows:
 

willowfox

Inactive
Joined
Jun 18, 2006
Messages
5,530
Reaction score
261
What will be the effect of leaving my company?

The first time I got #34, Great Power. This changed to #19 Promotion.

I see this differently, to me it suggests you stay where you are and keep working, slowly trying to make the conditions there better for yourself.
 

petrosianii

visitor
Joined
Oct 3, 2007
Messages
89
Reaction score
1
Seeing it differently

Thanks, Willowfox
My sister (who has worked in corporate America for nearly 30 yrs) feels the same way. She suggested that I stay, gather additional skill sets, wait and give the new management a chance to prove themselves, and then, if conditions don't improve, explore other options.

Today being Mother's Day, I talked the whole thing over with Mum. In her sagacity, she said, "So, you see there's more than one truth, right?"

It's amazing how profound a mother's wisdom can be. :bows:

As I've grown with the I Ching, I have found that sometimes there's no clear-cut right-or-wrong path. The oracle seems to operate beyond the everyday notions of right and wrong. It seems more often to say to me, "If you want these consequences, do X. If you want those consequences, do Y. Neither X nor Y is right or wrong. You just have to ask yourself: What do I want?"

Thanks for your comment.
 

ben_s

visitor
Joined
Apr 4, 2008
Messages
232
Reaction score
9
Hmm, you got some profound advice from willowfox, sis & mom.

So the oracle gives you X and Y options.
And other people give you the XX and XY opinions. ;)

One thing that didn't come up yet is -
what's most important to you about the situation?

You mentioned that security is important. But what other values are involved? Fame? Loyalty? Opportunity? Prestige? Something else? One thing I'm learning is that the more clearly I prioritize my values, the easier it is to make hard decisions.
 

Clarity,
Office 17622,
PO Box 6945,
London.
W1A 6US
United Kingdom

Phone/ Voicemail:
+44 (0)20 3287 3053 (UK)
+1 (561) 459-4758 (US).

Top