Yes, workplace relationships! For who? Working mothers? Married ? Yes? I am talking about the category of the married ones. Do they exist?
Yes…get me right. I am not talking about every other relationship here, but opposite’s
sex, that go beyond the usual colleague to colleague work place matters.
It is very easy, super easy unless you continuously dedicate
yourself to God and to the leading of His Holy Spirit to fall into the trap of
what we call emotional infidelity. Matters of the heart? They call it because
there is no statistical proof, i guess.
- Okay, do you find yourself dressing in a manner to impress some other man in the office other than your husband?
- Did that compliment make you feel so good that you are literally living on the words that were said by that male colleague?
- Do you look forward to going to work just to see him?Or are you texting each other goodnight?
- Oh…today. This guy didn’t come to work and you feel miserable! Where on earth is he? Is he out on a mission, is he sick…does your heart feel empty?
As a working mum, I have realized the higher you go up in
your career the more you meet all sorts of characters. As a woman, added to the time you spend on your knees before God, you also have the responsibility of creating boundaries that protect you from falling into temptation.
Personally, i do travel a lot. I spend quite a good amount of
time in luxurious hotels (paid for), or so you may want to call them, where everything is
perfect, perfect enough to invite that male colleague for a cup of tea in your
room, perfect for an evening walk, perfect for a swim with a male colleague, oh…you
meet them in the gym too, when everybody is sweating it out.
Ladies, Boundaries! Boundaries! Boundaries!
Some of the ways in which I have created boundaries in my
life include:
- Men are not allowed in my hotel room when traveling, neither do I entertain myself in their rooms
- Avoid late night out – social gathering with men, if your must network, ensure you have a couple of ladies with you and have a time limit
- .When my husband gives me a call in presence on my male colleagues, I am quick to say, hi Babe...or hi husband…and I end the conversation with love you honey!
- My husband and I have this one. When we give lifts to persons of the opposite sex, we will always request that they sit at the back seat. This has worked; some people can get too comfortable in front.
- When I think another man’s shirt looks nice, I will say “ Lovely shirt, where did you buy that, need to get one for my husband too”…instead of…"You look nice today" and leaving it there.
I feel like I have just scratched the
surface on this topic. Will be back….to discuss more in the mean time, your
thoughts are super welcome!
