We spend the majority of our waking hours at our workplaces and the phrase, “Don’t take things personally” is not uncommon to hear. On one hand you might agree that it’s wise not to take things to heart or to let go of negative criticism at work as it is just 8-9 hours of your time and you can easily forget that right? But on the contrary, this could be terrible work advice.

Why do we work in the first place? To earn our daily bread is definitely a reason but for many, work is the validation that they are doing something worthwhile in their lives and for others, work is a way to express their passion for something they like doing. It is here that the statement, “Don’t take things personally” seems a misfit. Is it truly possible not to take your work personally?

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It is understandable that by not taking things personally, we are able to shield ourselves from the harsh realities of the corporate world, but on the other hand, there are benefits of taking your work and everything at work personally:

1. Makes you ethically strong

Ethics is a very important aspect of working in an organisation. If your company values and ethics are not strong, it can land you in a deep soup. Most of the company frauds and scandals sprout from ‘not taking things personally’ at work. Taking your work personally makes you righteous and strong.

For many, work is the validation that they are doing something worthwhile in their lives and for others, work is a way to express their passion for something they like doing. Is it truly possible then not to take your work personally?

2. Makes you successful

If you love your work then it is highly likely that you take your work personally too. And if you take your work personally, you are bound to become successful because then you are not only working for the company, you are working for yourself, to grow and evolve as an individual.

3. Makes you emotionally and mentally stronger

When you take your work personally, you enjoy every aspect of it. You work towards meeting your goals and enjoy watching yourself succeed. This lifts the mental pressure off work and makes you emotionally stronger.

Having said that, it is also imperative to understand that overtly attaching yourself to your work can also be a dangerous thing. It is important to set boundaries when you are working. Don’t go blaming yourself for the project that failed and don’t take every single responsibility on your shoulders so that when something bad happens or something doesn’t work out as planned, you are able to recover from the mishap mentally.

Life is full of twists and turns and so is your work. Some days might not be as great as the rest or sometimes you might fail. Hence it is wise to accept that life is not a bed of roses and you will be hurt along the way but the key lies in maintaining the equilibrium. It is your life and every single moment that you spend living is personal to you. So take things personally – all of it!

Also read: 10 things mentally strong people avoid

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