My name is Karen Liu, and I am an HR Specialist in Taoyuan.
I’ve been working in Human Resources for almost 12 years. My days are filled with conducting interviews, resolving office conflicts, and ensuring policies are followed.
On the outside, people say I’m patient and professional. At home, my husband calls me the “rock” of the family.
But here’s the part nobody saw: I was tired. Not the kind of tired you fix with sleep, but the kind where you’re always holding things together for everyone else.
I listened to employees, colleagues, and family members—but I never listened to myself.
Then I met 呂秀金 at POP Workshop.
More Than a Workshop
When I first walked in, I expected another corporate-style seminar—PowerPoint slides, tips on stress management, maybe a checklist. Instead, it was simple. We sat in a circle, each person taking their turn to share. When it was finally mine, I didn’t know what to say.
I didn’t want to sound too serious, so I kept it light. I mentioned that I usually avoid disagreements because it feels easier that way. One man shared how he had never told his wife when he was unhappy, and over time, the silence had built a wall between them.
A young woman shared how she avoided speaking up at work, and now her manager thinks she wasn’t capable of leading projects. While they spoke, something inside me shifted. I suddenly saw myself in their stories.
At the office, I often swallowed my thoughts instead of giving real feedback. I told myself it was “professional,” but deep down I knew it was fear. At home, I stayed quiet when I felt overwhelmed, because I thought my husband had enough to deal with. But my silence only made me feel more alone.
The more I listened, the clearer it became: I wasn’t actually keeping the peace. I was just avoiding uncomfortable moments. And by doing that, I was slowly creating distance—distance from my team at work, distance from my family, and even distance from myself.
That realization wasn’t dramatic. It didn’t come with tears or a breakdown. It came quietly, like a mirror being held up. For the first time, I realized how much of my life had been shaped by staying silent, and how much I was missing because of it.
I avoided tough conversations with underperforming employees. I avoided telling my husband when I was overwhelmed. I thought I was keeping the peace, but really, I was building walls.
What Shifted for Me
After the POP Workshop, I didn’t suddenly transform into a different person. But I started making small changes. At work, I gave feedback more honestly—still kind, but direct. At home, I told my husband when I needed help instead of pretending I had everything under control.
To my surprise, people didn’t push back. They leaned in. Instead of distance, I felt more connected.
My Takeaway
Sometimes growth doesn’t come from another HR manual or a leadership book. Sometimes it comes from a space where honesty feels safe, and from someone who dares to ask the question you’ve been avoiding.
For me, that person was 呂秀金, and that space was her POP Workshop.
