Through the Spectacles

I used to think a workplace was just… work. You go in, do your job, and go home. Simple.  But over time, I realized something: your workplace is basically your second home. You spend most of your waking hours there, talk to the same people every day, deal with stress together, celebrate wins (sometimes), and survive deadlines. Of course, it shapes you.  I’ve been in work environments that were supportive, light, and motivating. People helped each other. Feedback was healthy. You went home tired but not emotionally drained.  And then… there’s the other kind. The kind where tension is always in the air. Where compliments feel suspicious. Where people smile in meetings and criticize in private. Where gossip moves faster than emails. Where you slowly notice you’re becoming more guarded, more cynical, maybe even a little meaner than you used to be.  That’s when it hit me: the biggest danger of a toxic workplace isn’t just stress — it’s turning into someone you don’t even...