Hello. I'm Xing Ying, a counselor.
I've read your question three times and feel like we're meant to talk.
The company is downsizing, and as a new mother with four months of maternity leave, there are a lot of things to deal with. From your words, I don't see any pressure, complaints, or anxiety. I think you must be a very gentle person. That's great!
Let's look at how your self-blame came about. To make it easier, I'll give you a score.
I'm not you, so I don't know how you feel. You can score it yourself if you want.
[The company offered me 2n compensation, and I asked for my maternity allowance] Satisfied, no self-blame
I fought for my rights by adding the maternity allowance to the original plan.
[The company agreed directly, and I felt I didn't get the best part] Self-blame score +1
My original request was low, but I could have gotten the highest part.
I told my husband. He said the company had agreed too quickly and I must have lost out. At the time, this made me feel uncomfortable, but it's nothing now.
Self-blame +2, 3 points accumulated
My husband agrees that getting the highest part is possible.
A friend's colleague collected evidence in every way possible to maximize their interests. I felt I had not done a good job and blamed myself! Self-blame +6, total 9.
My colleague got it. The idea that was predicted earlier has now been confirmed. I also saw that my colleague chose a different way of handling things than I did. If I had acted like my colleague, I would not have gotten less than she did.
I feel weak and think about what I did wrong. I wish I had been more prepared.
Let's think about our original idea.
Do you want to get the highest? Are you sure you had a firm idea when you first heard the news? If so, we have two ways of thinking.
1. I had a clear goal from the beginning.
When setting a goal, have we done research, analyzed options, and compared them with other successful cases? If not, can I buy time by saying, "I need time to think"?
If this is the case, we need to learn some methods. This is just a matter of skill. Failure to get things done is not the same as having a bad personality.
2. I didn't think about it much at first. I wasn't greedy. I just thought it would be about right.
If so, you're happy. But why blame yourself?
You were happy with your original expectations, but you were distracted from your goal and led away by other people's goals. External factors interfered with your original goal.
Your character is not strong or weak. It depends on your goals.
I have one more question for you.
If expectations are met, would you like to be a fierce person who falls out with anyone and makes a big scene? Do you prefer the person you are now, or the person you are like that?
You have your current lover, children, friends, and all your social relationships. Do you see that the people they like are just like you? You are you, and you have a unique way of getting along with others.
I'm not saying you should ignore your heart. I'm saying you should accept and like yourself after you've clearly understood your goals. Distinguish between behavior, goal setting, and your unique self. See that you are good.
I love you and wish you happiness.
Comments
It sounds like you've been through a really tough time. I admire your strength for getting through all this. Sometimes, even when we do everything right, things still don't go as planned. It's important to remember that it's okay to feel upset but try not to let it weigh too much on your heart.
The situation with your job and the downsizing must have been incredibly stressful. It's natural to secondguess yourself in such circumstances. But you did what you could at the time, and that's something to be proud of. We can't always foresee how situations will unfold.
Reflecting on what happened is understandable, but it's also important to recognize that you made decisions based on the information you had at the time. Your feelings are valid, but perhaps now is the time to focus on what you can control moving forward rather than what might have been.
Hearing about others who seem to get better outcomes can stir up a lot of emotions, especially regret. But everyone's journey is different, and sometimes standing up for ourselves looks different from person to person. It's hard, but try to find peace in knowing you did your best.
It's clear you're someone who cares deeply about doing things right. That's a wonderful quality, but it can also lead to selfblame during challenging times. Remember, it's okay to seek support from friends or professionals if talking through these feelings would help you process them.