GUILTY! I have done this many times in the past.
There is this weird satisfaction from writing perfectly mean emails. Showing someone their shortcomings, pointing out what they have done so awfully wrong and then...the most satisfactory moment of all...copying their manager! BOOM! This is when you know you have won.
False. You have lost. What you have just done is this: you have taken your stress and anxiety, and channeled it digitally, by email, towards another human being.
You just transferred your stress. Yup, that is possible.
On the other end, a receiver will absorb your stress and "stressfully" RESPOND back...copying YOUR manager and re-transferring the stress back at you (so you now have double the stress) and there is a loop of new people floating in a digital matrix of stress.
It's OK. Just take a deep breath.
As we can see, it is a vicious cycle, and the point is this: Deal with your stress and elevate beyond mean emails. Break the cycle of unhealthy stress emails. Yes that is what you can call them: STRESS EMAILS. And like headaches, shortness of breath and difficulty sleeping, they are a sign that you might be stressed.
Can you imagine having just finished a yoga class, feeling high on life and sending a mean email? Just not possible...I've been there, and I would literally turn away from the email and come back to it later.
Channel your stress in healthy ways that do not hurt others nor double back the stress at you.
Next time you are about to write a mean email, take a step back and think this: "how will this support my wellbeing and the wellbeing of others?". Proceed with empowerment.
Thank you and Sat Nam = I speak the truth
