Acceptance & Persistence
It’s almost a year since I moved to a new country with a new work environment, responsibilities, habits, and lifestyle. The journey wasn’t easy at first. My boat was rocked pretty hard and I had difficulty adjusting to my new life. However, over time, I have improved and now find myself able to say, “Living in this new country isn’t bad.”
With things getting better, I can reflect on my past struggles and realize that those problems, which once seemed overwhelming, were actually milestones that add into my personal growth journey. Let me tell you a short story about how I adapted to my new work environment in Singapore.
Last year, in 2023, I moved to Singapore to follow my partner and had the opportunity to transfer to my current company’s Singapore branch. Despite being in the same company with familiar culture and responsibilities, I experienced significant culture shock. I constantly felt that I was underperforming, which took a toll on my well-being, both physically & mentally. One reason it was so daunting was that I had been a good performer back then in my previous role. I had confidence in my abilities, but that confidence plummeted in this new working environment, leaving me feeling incapable. Even simple action, like making small talk with colleagues, felt challenging as TOEFL/IELTS speaking test.
There was a period when I cried every week and frequently saying that I wanted to give up — my partner witnessed it all. However, one thing that I would like to thank myself for is my persistence despite all the hardships. I showed up at work every day and got my tasks done. I swallowed my pride when junior staff performed better and reliably than me. I pushed through the embarrassment when stuttering in English, which is not my mother tongue. Now, tasks that were once incredibly difficult became much easier. I speak English more fluently — not perfect yet I’m still learning. My boss is satisfied with my work and I got my contract converted to permanent. Slowly but surely, I am gaining my confidence and abilities to excel in my job.
Sometimes all you need to do is hang on
When we encounter problems, our minds often default to a negative mode: headaches, stress, shame, and despair. However, we can’t live without problems. Whether we like it or not, solving problems is a fundamental part of human existence. Thus, the first step in making peace with ourselves is accepting that problems are an integral part of life.
Once we accept this truth, we become aware that:
- We stop seeking answers to the recipe of having a peaceful life without problems because we understand that there is no such answer
- We can still control our mind, brain, and mental state even when life challenges our way is beyond our control
- Problems create opportunities for growth. Much like a game, every challenge we overcome increases our skills, strengthens our abilities, and grants us unique insights that we didn’t have before
Rather than doing nothing, it’s better to take baby steps. In the end, those small steps will take you farther than you might think. To be persistent, my two cents is just do it and keep living. You can cry, complain, and create hundreds of exit scenarios, but don’t stop.
Last one, every time you find yourself in your darkest moments, remind yourself: “Hang in there; you will be okay.”
