Before we get started with today's episode. I just want to say that I really enjoyed recording these podcasts. And if you enjoy listening to them, we both have anchored a Thang. If you haven't heard about anchor it's the easiest way to make a podcast. First of all, it's free second of all their creation tools that allow you to record and edit your podcast right from your phone or computer and anchor will distribute your podcast for you. So it can be heard on Spotify Apple podcasts and many more the cool thing is you can make money from your podcast with no minimum listenership. It it's everything you need to make a podcast all in one place download the free anchor app or go to Anchor dot. F m-- to get started. Are you in an abusive relationship with your job because I sure was. Let's talk about it. Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world indeed. It's the only thing that ever has Margaret Mead. Hi. My name is Ethan and I suffer from bipolar disorder addiction anger issues body dysmorphia and morbid obesity. In fact at my heaviest. I was north of 650 pounds growing up. I never felt comfortable asking for help or being vulnerable. My goal is to create a space where you can feel safe enough to be vulnerable and Shake. Negative stigmas that are attached to mental health. Let's be vulnerable and give others the strength to do the same. Let's talk about it. So today's episode is definitely one of those episodes where the best microphone you have is the one you have on you rule applies. I was on my way back from the Christmas party. We went to Top Golf which was a lot of fun and I just felt really moved to talk about the experience that I've had at this job. So far compared to the job that I've had. Well the industry that I've been in for the past seven eight nine service industry. It's been almost my entire working career. It's amazing how I was so terrified to take a leap. I was so terrified to try to do something new but I've never been happier at the choice that I made. I've never been more grateful to myself for actually taking the leap. You know there really is something to be said about your environment and how it affects your mental health. At first. It was fun. It was great. I was making money I was enjoying it. But as the years went on I enjoyed it less and less and less and it got to the point where I hated waking up in the morning. I hated I just hated everything about my life because My job because of my job like how insane is that that my job could so negatively affect my mental well-being. But I mean the reality is you doing there everything. Is going there every single day sometimes seven days a week usually six to eight hours a day sometimes 14 hours a day. And the crazy thing is working a whole week. I still couldn't pay my bills. I couldn't afford to live once a year. We would have a little PS Christmas party where the company would pretend to appreciate you gratitude gratitude from your job management. Ownership appreciating you like genuinely appreciate you. I worked in the food service industry for 70 years. I've already mentioned that before and I hated it. I hated it such. I think I may actually do a whole episode on my opinion of the food service industry my experience of the food service industry, but it was so Devastating to my mental health in my mental well-being. I'm now working at a job that is owned by a man that is out on his hands and knees in the dirt doing the job with us. My foreman is one of the hardest working man. I've met in a very very long time. And they are both so incredibly grateful for the fact that we just show up and do our job. I'm not I'm not the best at what I do. None of us are the best at what we do but we show up we work I show up at work. If you follow me on Instagram, like, you know, you know how I talk about just showing up. Sometimes just showing up is all you had to do ultimately you want to show up and do the best that you can do. But sometimes sometimes showing up is just enough on the days when you really don't want to sometimes showing up makes a difference. I'm on my way home from the Christmas party and December 26th will be three months that I've been at this job. I got the Christmas bonus a handful of gift cards. I don't even know what the total is, but that's not the point a card and gratitude genuine gratitude from the owners from the foreman. I look forward to going to work every day. I look forward to working with my team. I look forward to learning something. Um, do I look forward to being there? I look forward to be out in the hot sun of Florida. Although strongly December. It's not like terribly hot with my knees in the dirt doing my job. It has been such a long time that I genuinely before word to going to work. I'm still not at the point financially where I can completely support myself, but the fact is I'm going to get there. I'm going to get there with this job and this I told isn't a career not for me at least read something that I can do in the interim while I'm still working on myself while I'm still working on those goals while I'm still working on each and the Beautiful Thing is the schedule is such that I have time to do things like this podcast. I have time to do things like Instagram. I have time to eventually do things like YouTube I have time it's not that I didn't necessarily have time before but the stress of figuring out how I'm going to pay my bills after working 40 hours a week. That is so mentally exhausting that is so draining. I can get to work at seven o'clock work and joke, four five six o'clock and still have energy. The mental energy to go and do a podcast to go and do Instagram to go to the gym having that mental energy that mental Clarity is so incredibly powerful, you know, I mentioned in the first episode going from having no schedule whatsoever to having a schedule and a routine. It's such a such a genuine relief to know that I have a schedule and I have a routine because in my mind when things get chaotic in my mind when I have a bad day, I know I can reassess I can look at what's going on. And I know that I have a schedule and I have a routine. I've something to hold onto I had no idea three months ago, but this job was going to be like I had no idea if I was going to like I had no idea if I was going to make it. I had no idea how to do it. I do nothing. The only thing I knew that I had to try something else because what I've been doing didn't work and I can genuinely say I've never been happier at a decision than the woman made to do the job that I'm doing now. It is amazing. What a difference it makes to go into work. It's genuinely genuinely deeply like the people that you work for and work with. and to be appreciated it is such a relief and such a pleasant and welcomed change. I'm on my way back from the Christmas party. And normally well. Yeah for the past seven years. I've dreaded every single Christmas party. Because it's just the people that I work with that I'm not not fans of coming together and pretending to give a crap about each other. I'm on my way back from the Christmas party where I felt like I was hanging out with my family, you know, go up the family that you like. I took a chance. I took a leap and it's really really funny because the Christmas card so really quick backstory the owner's wife. Owners old lady's not married, but they've been together for a very long time. I've known her for four years. I worked with her at Chili's. She's the one that got me the job. She's the reason I got the job and something she wrote in the card is thanks for taking a leap. That's exactly what I did because she knew in the beginning. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. So there's two things. I want to take from this. It's one take a leap take a chance. Chance take a risk the worst that can happen is it doesn't work and you have to go back to what you know. Into genuine gratitude genuine gratitude can literally change someone's life. Every time I get a comment on a post or a message on Instagram. I genuinely grateful and I try to convey that as best. I can genuine gratitude has literally changed my life for the better. You never really know what a simple and Here thank you can do for someone else I show up and for the first two months I showed up and I feel horrible. I was awful it took me so actually didn't take me that long to learn but it took me a while to learn and all the while my foreman and my boss. We're grateful. There may be someone around you making mistake after mistake after mistake, but be patient with them kids that may be the best that they can do at that time. Patience and gratitude and if there is something that you are thinking about trying but you're really not sure cause you don't know how it's going to end up take the leap. It may be the best choice you ever make. And again, what's the worst that can happen? It doesn't work speaking of gratitude. I am incredibly grateful that you've given me this piece of time this chunk of time of your day to listen to me ramble. I really really hope it helps at least one person at the very least. It's going to be a reminder to me. And I think that's really cool. I'll have this one the way I had everyone all end. This one the way I end every single one all end all in this one the way I end all of them with a reminder. You are beautiful you are worth it. And as long as you are willing to put the work in hope will always be there. Thank you. Happy New Year everyone. Let's make 20/20 a really really good one.
When you are going to your job as often as you are, make sure you aren’t in an abusive relationship with it! Just a quick disclaimer. Things I am not: A doctor A dietitian An expert A specialist Things that I am: Someone who has lost over 300lbs over the last nine years Someone who proudly labels himself as a gym rat Someone who is willing to be completely transparent in hopes of helping others realize they are not alone in the fight. Someone who is hoping to help others using the tools I have developed from my own experiences. I am so incredible grateful for you giving me time out of your day, if anything I have said touches you or brings up thoughts or topics you'd like to discuss or you'd like to be a guest on our podcast, the best place to reach me would be on Instagram @Depressed2Determined. I'm sure they would all appreciate it! You are beautiful, You are worth it, and as long as you are willing to put the work in hope will always be there! 24/7 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1-800-273-8255  ---   This episode is sponsored by  · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. 