Oprah Winfrey told the 1997 graduating class of Wellesley College that failure is God’s way of saying “Excuse me, you’re moving in the wrong direction.” She also said that when you are doing what you were created to do, it should feel like breathing.
The talk show host was spot on with me because the last six months as a strategic communications consultant (whatever the hell that is) at a large consulting firm felt like 175 days of suffocation. The more I tried to fit in with all the Harvard MBAs, the more awkward I felt (as a theology major). The more I studied the various models of change management and how to direct a government agency from vision to implementation, the greater gap I felt between who I was and what I was doing for a steady paycheck.
I didn’t make a very good consultant because I’m too honest. I cannot sell something I don’t believe in. And my heart was nowhere in all those communications plans I was writing. All of my therapy and support groups have trained me how to teach a person to fish, instead of handing him grilled salmon on a plate … to get people to do things for themselves. Which isn’t exactly what your employer wants you to do: to give a client a list of reasons why they don’t need you and why they should save their money for more important things.
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Site last updated: 22 May 2013
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Thank you, I needed this…
Congratulations!
Great news! Sounds like God has been working his plan on your life therese. Look forward to reading more of your insights.
Wow. Am I happy for you!!!!
Therese,
U are doing GREAT woman, you sound so positive and upbeat. I think all of the new changes are what you have been needing for sometime. Congrats! You keep on plugging away and keep in touch. You are an inspiration to me.
love ya, Mary Anne
Awesome post~ congrats on getting fired ~:-)
Congratulations Therese! I look forward to reading your posts. Welcome to the Psych Central family!
Fantastic news, Therese! It’s a win win win. You win because you get to do what you love, PsychCentral & John wins because he was smart enough to snatch you up and all your readers win with great informative smart content. A big fat congratulations! I am happy for all of us.
YAY! So happy for you! Glad you are no longer a fish out of water and happily swimming along. =)
Therese,
Congratulations on your new position! I’m reading your book “Beyond Blue” for the second time. Your book and your posts have helped me so much the last year.
Therese, I’m so excited that you’ve joined PC! You know that I absolutely love your writing and think you’re an amazing person. I can’t wait to see what you’ll be creating for PC. Again, I’m thrilled you’re part of the team!!!
Many hearty congratulations, Therese! I’m sooo happy for you!!!!
Terese, I have to say that I’m happy you were laid off (and it sounds like you’re on board with that!). Now, YOU get to be YOU! I missed hearing what was going in YOUR life. I love you and beyondblue and was a little sad (and worried) reading day after day on book reviews, etc. Back to being real! Welcome back and I’m so glad you found a 2nd home here! PC was smart is grabbing you – it will bring them bunches of readers just to hear what you have to say!
Therese,
That gives me so much encouragement for where I am in my career right now…just the fact that God knows what you are created to do, and He has that thing waiting for you that’s an awesome opportunity…something that will challenge you, but that you will enjoy and, yes, that will feel like “breathing.” It helps me so much to know that you struggle with the same junk I do about worrying about job performance/”future-telling” and “mind-reading” but that you triumph over it all through your faith and perseverance. You are my inspiration, and I tell everyone about you and how awesome you are. Thank you so much!
Therese,
Though we’re of different religious backgrounds, we feel an affinity to you because you write often about God, spirituality and well being. So,about your new job: Mazel Tov!
Richard and C.R.at Therapy Soup
Marvelous, T! COngrats on everything–it’s serendipity at its finest!
Therese, I enjoyed your blog as I began life in the corporate world, and for 14 years felt corporate dysfunctional and suffered what I call “Career Depression”. It just wasn’t me, I didn’t get the lack of honesty and inability to help individuals at a core level. To me it was all lip service and superficial. When I took the leap of faith in myself to become an independent consultant, I haven’t regretted a day in ten years. I now help individuals within corporates at a core level. Teach them to fish!! Good to know those feelings you experienced in your foray to management consulting are normal, so great you acted on them. So many suppress what those feelings are telling them. I encourage all to know themselves, listen and take the leap of faith in themselves.Shawn
Therese,
Congratulations on being fired and glad that you landed here. I just finished reading your book, Beyond Blue and could relate to so much in it. It was wonderful. I’m looking forward to reading more of your stuff here.
Give God the credit not Oprah for the direction for when we allow God to direct our lives, only then will we feel the peace that God wants for us. There is no coincidence that happens in our lives…..God’s planning also has to do with timing & allowing things to happen when they are necessary…..it’s our free will to choose to take advantage of it or not.
Glad that you have chosen to take on this position….sure you will feel so much more comfortable & it does follow where your heart (the part of us that is in touch with God) has been leading you in the first place.
Welcome!!!!!!
I love your work – and I am so thrilled for you about the new job! God took care of you exactly when you needed Him most. Thank you for your wisdom
Congrats!
Severance pay = GOOD !! The coincidental timing of the Psych Central job is AWESOME!
I like this saying:
“Coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous”.
Your quote “I could no longer waste my time on projects that demand a conservative-consultant-type, not the kind of sarcastic and playful drama queen that likes to laugh and have a good time in meetings or can crank out post after post on about the human psyche.”
You have NO idea how many YEARS I spent STUCK in the “conservative” role…
As an ENFP AND as a former Veteran of working for a BANKERS association, you’re DEFINITELY in the right job at Psych Central.
I love your writing and tangents. Keep up the ‘great work’ from another Sensitive. I loved your quote about Oprah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Patrice N.
Congrats, Therese! This sounds like the perfect job for you.
congratulations therese, that corporate world was definitely going in the wrong direction, but, i commend you for giving it the old college try. a lot can be said for a steady paycheck, but you help so many of us, God is using you in such a positive way, KNOW HE will take care of you and your family. John’s timing in catching you was God using him, that’s how that worked. we are so happy for you. yippee!!!!!
I am so happy to find you right in the middle of my incoming emails. Silly me, I thought I was getting to where I can tread water.
Pain comes upon me like a secret Demon. Now it could be pinched nerves have set many pains afire.
My sister passed away last week. Her pathway to dying lasted 2 years. Why did she continue Dialysis, 3 times a week? Why would doctors keep her on these treatments as her body became weaker and weaker?
As a retired nurse, sister wanted to keep control of her body and life. Her family will take time to heal their wounds. How hard it is to watch a loved one going through days, weeks, months,years of being partly healthy.
Thanks for being in a place where I could reach you for my needs.
Congrats Therese! Smart move PsychCentral.
Your blog on Beliefnet is the first thing I read in the morning. I have read one or two of your books. I am glad your life is moving more on the path that you need. May you have enough…
Delighted to see Therese part of this organization! I used to get such enjoyment out of her articles in “The Tablet”, our weekly parochial paper for Brooklyn and Queens. Had wondered what happened to her, but it’s awesome that she’s moved to this publication. Thanks Therese!
I am also honest to a fault. Love that you admit the silly corporate posturing & faking is not you, or many others. Love Sarcastic silliness & fun to point out the desperate clinging to crappies for validation. Teach ‘em to FisH! I can’t sell my soul either. I am an Artist. Looking forward to your Success!