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The moments that stay with us may seem small to others, but these are the ones that really matter.

  • Being interrupted yet again – you’ve noticed the pattern
  • Receiving unclear feedback – it’s normal to want more
  • That look that somehow everyone missed – you saw it
  • That comment everyone else says is no big deal – you know what it means
  • Replaying the conversation long after it ended – you’re not overanalyzing



These are exactly the moments thought-maps are designed for.

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Town of I am Hopeful

I realize now that blaming my manager doesn’t help me. I don’t think my manager is purposefully withholding information to frustrate me, this is just their management style. And I don’t like this approach.

My manager is using a style I don’t like and now I’m exploring the management style I’d prefer and the level of direction I’d like.

Maybe my manager is doing the best they can. Maybe my manager is expecting me to decide which direction to take and choose projects and work that I think is best. This approach could be very interesting. Maybe the lack of direction is simply an effort to help me realize I can do this on my own, I have the skills and will develop even more. There are so many possibilities. It’s possible the projects I choose will be interesting and fun to do. I can’t see it now but something new and interesting could surprise me.

I believe I can choose what work to do with what direction I believe is best now. I believe I can do a great job with the work I choose. I believe it’s going to be fun to do the work I choose for myself. 

If I start to get uneasy again, I know what to do. I have done this before and I can do it again. The more I practice the easier this will become. I am finding ways to shift my thoughts. I am shifting my outlook on my manager’s approach to a positive one.

Back: Town of I am Letting this go

Next: Town of I am Joyful

Town of I am Letting this go

I am so tired of thinking about this, wishing my manager could give me more direction. I’m tired of talking to coworkers and complaining to friends about it. I’m tired of all of this.

Thinking about this over and over is getting me nowhere.

Thinking about this isn’t making me feel any better. I need to find a way to stop blaming myself, thinking that I’m not asking for direction in a specific way and that it’s somehow my fault I’m not getting it.

After all, it’s a fact that I’m not given any direction and there isn’t much I can do about it right this instant. So, for now, I’m going to accept that my manager doesn’t give me direction, it’s just how my life is.

I am letting this go. Oh, what a relief it is to let it all go. Just saying these words are helping me. I am doing the best that I can and that’s all I can do. Right now, in this moment, I feel really good about the decision I just made to let this go and let whatever happens happen.

I am doing my best. I do the work I’m asked to the best of my abilities. I can’t force my manager to give me direction. They must have their own reasons for managing this way. They are who they are, with their own perspective on how much direction to give. I need to accept that they can have an approach I don’t agree with.

All I can do in this moment is change what thoughts I prefer about this situation. How they manage me does not impact what I choose to think about now, and that’s good enough for me.

Back: Town of I am Frustrated

Next: Town of I am Hopeful

Town of I am Joyful

I am changing how I think about the level of direction my manager provides and how much direction I need.

I am choosing, in this now moment, what to focus on, a new thought. I am moving through this, to my clarity. I am so good at this! And I can do it again, whenever I need to.

I am glad I got angry about my manager’s inability to provide direction because this strong reaction shows me that I do want to do my work well, and I want to be proud of it. I’m realizing I don’t need specific guidance for me to do a great job. I am thankful for this experience.

I like how I feel when I choose my own work and decide which direction to take. After all, if my manager were to choose different projects, I might not like that. The more I think about this, the more I enjoy choosing the work I get to do, and the direction to pursue. Now, I have the attitude that I like deciding what’s next, I’m ready to learn new skills. 

I realize now that I don’t need my manager to change for me to think differently. I don’t need to force my manager to provide more direction for me to be happy. I decide how I want to look at this, it all depends on what I choose, the choice is mine and mine alone. I choose what I want to think and what perspective I want to have about this.

I’m passionate about my work and the contributions I make. I know I bring value with each decision I make. I’m so energized about what I will do next.

Back: Town of I am Hopeful
Town of I am Frustrated

I can’t imagine what possible rationale they have for not helping me, for not sharing anything on the vision or strategy. A manager should provide direction so we can all do our best work, but this just isn’t my manager’s style.

I just don’t understand why this company isn’t addressing this. Companies should have processes in place to prevent this from happening. Management should really stop promoting these types of leaders. My manager clearly lacks the ability to lead a team and doesn’t know how to share information to help me do my job.

I’m just not sure what else I could do. I do my job well, I get my work done, and even do more than I’m asked. If only my manager would give me some direction, then I could do so much more. I’ve asked my manager in many different ways for insights, direction, information, and nothing has worked. 

Nothing will ever change. My manager has been this way for the entire time I have been working here and I’m worried things could even get worse. My manager can’t see my point of view at all, I don’t think they even try to understand how important this is to me. It’s not easy to work like this.

My manager just expects me to figure things out on my own and do their job for them. I wish I could think of the right words to use to ask for some direction but I can’t figure this out. I’ve asked for direction so many times and I don’t think anything new will help.

Back: Town of I am Exhausted

Next: Town of I am Letting this go

Town of I am Exhausted

I can’t work under these conditions, not knowing which direction to take, which project to start, or how to prioritize my workload. All my efforts to get more direction are pointless. I’m so defeated.

Then when I ask, I get told I’m needy, always needing more explanations, more information, more guidance. Could my manager be right?

If only they would help me then I would stop asking. But who am I? In their eyes, I’m just an employee and my needs don’t matter. Now I’m starting to wonder if they’re right.

None of my coworkers have this problem, they even imply that I’m making a big deal out of nothing. I’d like to see all of them in my place, then they wouldn’t think I was exaggerating, and they’d experience first-hand how stressful this is. They certainly wouldn’t be enjoying their jobs and thriving like they are. Ohhh, if we could trade places then they’d see how hard this is, it sure would make them understand what I’m going through and not be so dismissive.

I hate my manager for being so secretive, not sharing the strategy or vision. I’m qualified to do my job but I’m not able to do it well because my manager isn’t giving me direction. I hate them for holding me back.

Why can’t my manager share information like the other managers share? How did my manager even get this job? If only the leadership team could see that my manager isn’t the right person for the job and reprimand them or fire them.

If I had my manager’s job I would never keep employees in the dark. I would share all I could so they could be part of the future, and they’d be able to do their jobs really well with all the information at their disposal.

Next: Town of I am Frustrated

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We will email you when new thought-maps become available.
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We will email you when new thought-maps become available.
Thank you for your interest
We will email you when new thought-maps become available.
Thank you for your interest
We will email you when new thought-maps become available.