I have a question. I moved from NYC to Houston about 9 months ago and the manager who moved me was happy at first and then I slowly figured his less than perfect management style. He has friends who are my peers who get promoted and recognized in cycles and are also given strategic opportunities and I am left wondering what I am doing here in the first place. I have rudely expressed this in my own way and then tried my best to see the best of him, but he always seems to have a trick up his sleeve. It is nothing short of deception riddled with complexity that is hard to figure. His indirect boss who was at first supportive now seems at loggerheads with me and I tried approaching the indirect boss’s boss and that seems to have to put off both these gentlemen.
Amidst all this, I wonder if I have had a hand in co-creating what I am seeing in my career now. I want to succeed but my path looks full of impediments that I am always trying to guard against. Could it be that I am the problem here?

Just want to get your view on how do you deal with angry people? I have this colleague who is constantly angry and insulting. Before I used to answer back at her and get even more angry. Now I keep on showing love and cooperative attitude, while she is still angry – okay maybe just a little bit calmer. I keep on telling myself that there is not much she can do to me, as I decide myself not to be impacted. But it takes nerves of steel to manage it, I must admit.

I work in a small room with my supervisor and another co-worker, and I struggle to maintain harmonious relationships with them. This co-worker is particularly annoying and frustrating to me in that she always likes to be involved in everyone’s business and at the center of attention. Although I have been working here for 2 years now, and she, much longer, the position I was hired in as, is higher than hers, and there has always been a sense of competition between us. I have been treated well by my supervisor, and am working on gaining her trust and confidence in me in order that I might be given opportunities/projects for growth in my skills. This co-worker of mine does good work, yet, I am irritated and jealous when she receives special treatment as well. How do I change my attitude about this situation if I would like to get along with my co-worker and continue climbing up the ladder?

I recently met a man in a bar. After a very short introduction, we became close friends. He is many years younger than I am and is not stable in his life. He does not have a job or a car or even a permanent home. I think he is a very nice person and I enjoyed spending time with him, but my instincts tell me he would be a big risk for me. I have two children, a brand new house and many things I have worked very hard to get.

According to the law of detachment, I am supposed to embrace uncertainty. This man tells me he has many plans for his future, yet I am skeptical to believe in his intentions. So all my instincts are telling me not to pursue a relationship with him. Yet, I wonder if there is a reason we were drawn together that night. Am I supposed to help him? Am I supposed to ignore the risks I could be putting myself and my children in with the hopes he could turn out to be the man I am looking for? I actually have a past record of relationships with men who needed a helping hand. Neither of those worked out well for me. If I do not look to my past experiences to make this choice, then I may be doomed to keep repeating it. How do I discern between letting go of the past influences in my life and making a wiser choice?