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ALCOHOLISM AT WORK

Question: "I have a great working relationship and friendship with the person I work for, however, I am having difficulty with the fact that there is so much alcohol involved in work on a daily basis with her and some of the individuals that attend the office. I have spoken to her about this before but it doesn't seem to change. I do not want to work in this kind of environment, however, for now I need the job. I know that she doesn't see her own worth and doesn't like her life and that is why there is so much drinking all the time. What shall I do?"

Psychic Advice : Recent studies have shown that 15% of workers in the U.S. are affected by alcohol while working, whether from drinking on the job, taking a drink before work, or coming to work with a hangover. Alcohol use at work is more common among those who have jobs in management, retail, entertainment media, and food preparation, and is more prevalent with those in upper-management positions. It was not so long ago that the "Martini Lunch" was the norm among successful businessmen, and many deasl have been sealed while imbibing at business meetings.

There are really two reasons to drink alcohol: one is for the enjoyment of the taste, and the other reason is to access an altered state, such as a sense of relaxation, or letting go of inhibitions. Some people use alcohol as a drug to numb them into semi-consciousness, or even unconsciousness, because they don't want to consciously deal with the reality of their lives.

People who drink at work often do so because they may be overly challenged by the stress of the job, and feel overwhelmed and insecure about their own abilities, so drinking becomes a way of hiding, and taking a shot of "liquid courage". Ironically, it renders that person even less effective because they do not have the benefit of all of their faculties available to them for proper decision-making. This will in turn make them feel more insecure and less capable, which will drive them to drink even more.

As you have already perceived, a person who uses alcohol as a drug on a regular basis is often someone who does not see his/her own worth, and is not happy in his/her life. Unfortunately, drinking only makes this worse. Those who drink habitually are usually suffering from depression and low-self esteem. They experience negative self-talk on a constant basis, and often turn to alcohol as an anesthetic to numb them from their pain, and to shut off the negative voice in their own head. However, this is only a temporary solution, and when the alcohol wears off, the negative voices come back even louder, and the emotional pain and mental anguish is even more acute, driving that person to want to drink more and more.

Alcohol addiction, as with any addiction, is an attempt to run from the shadow self; but we cannot run from our own shadow because it is always a part of us. When we try to run from it, it looms ever larger and scarier behind us, so the only answer is to turn and face it. As we walk toward our shadow, it becomes smaller and more manageable, to the point where we can embrace and accept it in order to begin the path of healing. Shame and guilt are the great forces behind most addiction, which becomes an ever-vicious cycle as the addict tends to feel more and more guilt and shame for the addictive behavior itself, which then drives him/her to engage in the addiction in order to numb the pain of guilt and shame, and so the cycle continues, on and on and on.

When you are dealing with a person who is addicted, you are being affected by that person's negativity. The negative thoughts that perpetuate the negative addictive behavior create a negative energy that surrounds that person, and draws negative energies and experiences to them. Essentially, they are oozing negativity, and the more you love and care about that person, the more that negativity and self-destructive energy will affect you, because in essence, they are hurting people you care about, namely you and themselves. Being in that negative energy will bring your energy down to that frequency, and will create negative energies, emotions and experiences for you as well.

A person who is drinking is also likely to be volatile and moody. The more they drink, the more unpredictable their behavior can become, to the point where they can become cantankerous, obnoxious, inappropriate and abusive, especially if they are in positions of power. This is not a healthy or safe environment for you.

Like attracts like, so your boss is attracting other people who come around the office for a drink, who support and encourage her in her addiction (most addicts have such "friends"). Unfortunately, we cannot change another person unless that person is willing to change. The first step to change is awareness and acknowledgment, but the addicted person is often in denial, and gets angry if the shame of their addiction is discovered and brought to light. Talking about the problem with an addict takes a great deal of love and courage, but may not get you any thanks, in fact, you may be subjected to just the opposite.

From a spiritual point of view, addiction is driven by one's own demons, by negative guides and negative self-talk that drive the addict further and further from all that is good about themselves and about life. This negative energy takes hold of the person, attracting more and more negative thoughts, energies, emotions and experiences, which further promote the negative addictive behavior. The only way out is to break the cycle.

What you can do is to hold a vision of your boss surrounded and filled with light and love. Visualize a beam of light coming from the divine Source and pouring into your boss through the top of her head. See her receiving divine love, unconditional acceptance and forgiveness from her Source, and see her shining in the Light of Love. Visualize the Light shining in her eyes once again, the spark of life-force filling her with joy and passion for life. See her receiving divine inspiration and empowerment, strength and courage to face life and to make empowering choices. See that beam of Light as a vacuum, drawing all negative thoughts, emotions and energies from her so she may be free. Hold your boss in the highest light, thinking only positive thoughts about her, saying only positive things to her and about her, and holding the vision of her happiness and fulfillment. Let this visualization be your daily prayer for her.

For your sake, you must also shield yourself in your own bubble of light. See yourself surrounded and protected by the Divine Light of Love at all times. You may want to do a clearing on the office space (as discussed in last week's column "Spiritual House cleaning"), where you envision the entire office filled with light. Visualize all the doorways of your workplace as a shower of light, a force field of light, cleansing negativity from all those who pass through them, and keeping all negative energy out of the environment. You may wish to bring in flowers and have aromatherapy oils in the office to raise the vibration and frequency, bringing in more light and joy. Do what you can to make it a more positive environment for you, as well as for her.

You must remember, however, that we each have Free Will and choice, and we cannot interfere with the Free Will of another. Some people are only happy when they are miserable, and no matter how you try to make them happy, you cannot change them. If all the efforts you make to shift the energy in the workplace do not have a positive effect in the next few months, then it is time for you to move on and seek other employment. If your boss is holding onto negativity and unwilling to let it go, then that negative energy will ultimately impact you, your health and wellbeing in a negative way, and no job is worth that. For right now, your job is to try to raise the frequency in your office to one that gives you joy, and if that is not possible, then you must seek your true joy elsewhere.

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