Bathroom Stall Missionary Baptist Church
As an entrepreneur, I can usually control my working environment now. Working from home or in my co-working space, it’s peaceful, without many interruptions and quiet for the most part. BUT it hasn’t always been that way for me. I have worked in settings that were the polar opposite. To walk in the door and feel the heaviness of immediate stress was commonplace. Department team members warring with each other and all of the office politics that you could imagine, plus some you can’t. It was in those types of environments that I became a member of Bathroom Stall Missionary Baptist Church and I would like to extend an invitation to you.
This “church” has been SO faithful and was always available when I needed it. When I would feel the stresses of the job overwhelming me or when I could see I was losing the battle with my emotions I would make a visit to this “church” and come out encouraged and fortified…
The bathroom (especially at work, but even at home) can be a GREAT place to regroup and get yourself together so you can represent yourself appropriately. Sometimes I go to just have a moment to pray for direction, peace, guidance or grace. Some go to their office and close the door, that’s an option. But at Bathroom Stall Baptist, you are less likely to get a knock on the door, a buzz from your secretary or a ding from your computer telling you about a meeting. Bathroom Stall Baptist offers just a few moments of peace. It’s not even that you are “using” the bathroom perse’, you are just stopping by as a member getting the time and space that you need.
“Maturity dictates that your tendency to use excuses to fly off the handle in rage, argue or go into a dramatic crying temper tantrum has to be managed so you can grow.”
I can specifically remember prayers that I prayed in the stall at very intense and difficult moments. It was usually at times when the pressures of life at home begin to meld with the tensions at work and I became ticking time bomb. If I had not had the wisdom to detach, take a walk, phone a friend and/or go and regroup, there is a good chance that MANY times I would have made a mess of things by either overreacting or reacting out of emotion.
It’s imperative that we know OURSELVES. You KNOW when you feel like you are about to lose it. You can feel when emotions are beginning to overwhelm you. YOU recognize the stance you take when you are angry, upset, tired or misused. You know how you respond to things when you don’t feel well. Maturity dictates that your tendency to use excuses to fly off the handle in rage, argue or go into a dramatic crying temper tantrum has to be managed so you can grow. Its all a part of the growth in our conduct, and I tell you…this “church” can help.
It starts with recognizing these signs earlier rather than later and taking steps to manage what you are feeling and facing appropriately:
1. Be honest about what you are feeling and then be responsible. Meaning, care enough about you to not push yourself to the brink of disaster assuming that you can handle it.
2. Remove yourself from where you are. There is NOTHING wrong with unplugging for a minute. It is wisdom to put yourself in timeout. Do not feel guilty about it.
3. Don’t re-emerge without a specific plan to face your issues for the rest of your day.
4. Visit again soon, even if nothing is wrong. Just go in there and be thankful for a day of peace.
You may have a church home, and that’s great but I highly recommend that you become a secondary member of Bathroom Stall Baptist…there is room in the stall for YOU.
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Camille D. Jamerson is a global speaker, author & entrepreneur. She is the Senior Consultant and CEO of CDJ & Associates a boutique management consulting firm. She also runs The Camille Company, A lifestyle brand for GenXer’s. As a former AA, EA, Chief of Staff and Head of Global Offices she lends her years of experience and expertise as the founder and admin of the LinkedIn Chief of Staff-The New C-Suite Leader group. Her leadership conference Mogul Makers Entrepreneurs and Leadership Symposium will be held in August 2018.
Her amazing assistant, Reema handles her wacky calendar and about 76–94% of the rest of her life as well. Reema can be reached at info@cdjandassociates.com to book CDJ for consulting or as a speaker for your next event, conference or workshop!
