The Joy of Meaningful WorkWritten by Jan-Marie Dore
The search for meaning in life and in work has been a very powerful, enduring theme in every culture. Many of us have reflected on our work and meaning it has in our lives. Developing a rewarding career is closely linked to enjoying a more meaningful life. A poll taken by Gallup Organization in 2001 indicated that less than 30 percent of people are fully engaged at work. Until recently, a job was simply a way to earn a living. Many people have come to regard work as a necessary evil, something they must do in order to pay for all their needs and wants. But today, our need for personal job satisfaction and for striking an appropriate career/life balance has taken on greater importance. There has been a movement worldwide to view work as a means to fulfillment rather than just a chore. Organizations are recognizing need to offer their employees not only financial incentives, but also ways to find meaning and purpose in their jobs. There is a renewed interest in finding meaning in work and in life, and a yearning to be involved in something greater than ourselves. Most of us spend a lot of valuable time working. We spend more time at work than we do with our families, rejuvenating ourselves, in nature, or in our places of worship. Yet, most of us are just too busy to pursue meaning. We are on automatic pilot through most of our busy workdays. Work is no longer providing a sense of personal significance for most people. This failure to actively engage in our work keeps us from finding meaning, and leads to increasing feelings of dissatisfaction and a loss of purpose. Career and achievement are one of major sources of meaning in anyone's life. If your work doesn't feed your spirit, you may be feeling tired, drained, and depleted by end of day. That's a good indication that you're in wrong job. Finding fulfilling work is challenging but very rewarding. You don't have to continue doing work you don't enjoy just because it’s what you've always done. The bottom line is that your work and career are adjustable, and you are in control. WHAT MAKES WORK MEANINGFUL? The intersection of work and meaning occurs when you are using your energy in service of what matters most to you.
| | Creating Sacred Space in Your Home, Office or GardenWritten by Jan Marie Dore
The environments we surround ourselves with contribute to our sense of well-being as well as to our creativity and productivity. There is a direct link between inner peace and spaces in which we live and spend our time. It is possible to create harmony and abundance by enhancing home and workplace energies. The idea of sacred space is as old as humanity itself. The ancient oriental art of feng shui teaches that buildings and space one occupies affects personal, mental, emotional and spiritual well being. Sacred Space is a physical place where Divine or supernatural can be glimpsed or experienced, where we can get in touch with that which is larger than ourselves, where we can experience harmony and inner peace. It is also a place where, as Joseph Campbell put it, wonder can be revealed, and you can experience who you are and who you might be. By acknowledging that something larger than ourselves with greater purpose exists, we create an environment where a sense of sacred can be realized in details of our everyday lives and in ourselves. Let’s look at three environments in which you might create sacred space: your home, office, and garden. The intention behind creating space may be same for each area, but questions you ask yourself, and objects you place there, will be different in each case. Creating Sacred Space in Your Home Bringing sacred into everyday, carving out sacred space in domestic sphere, can be done in any number of ways. Creating this space becomes a search for meaning, or a process of discovering what has meaning for you. It involves putting spirituality into physical form. In our contemporary times, creating personal places of prayer, ritual, and meditation is one way of acknowledging sacredness of all space we inhabit. It can serve as a reminder of role spirit plays in your life. We can create a space where we can come into contact with all that lies both within us and outside us. Creating and maintaining a regular spiritual practice is best way to make your spiritual self-care a priority. Creating a sacred space to honor your spiritual well being on a regular basis means deciding on an actual location, best time of day, and right frequency for you. You may want to find a place in your home that you can set aside for spiritual rejuvenation. It may be corner of a room, or whole room. Find a space that looks, feels, and smells right to you. As you chose place in your home to establish your sacred space, listen to voice within: - Will you be comfortable here?- What does this piece of your home actually feel like to you?- What kinds of associations does it bring forth? Clean area well - vacuum, dust, polish - whatever it takes to have space feel fresh and clear. Next, check lighting. Is it appropriate day or night for your optimum comfort? Then, gather any items that that trigger a feeling of spirit in you in your daily life and may help make it a sacred space for you. Listening to yourself is an important part too of choosing objects for your sacred space. Permit yourself time to visualize your sacred space and decide what you need in it. Think about what is important or meaningful to you at this time in your life. The items might include pictures, candles, symbols, books, pillows, flowers, statues, mementos, blankets, sage or incense. Once you have created your space, sit in it and notice how you feel. Does energy feel peaceful? Is it quiet enough? Make any necessary adjustments. Have it be a place that calls to you, a place that you look forward to spending time in. Look for ways to incorporate other rituals into your daily life. The intentional use of rituals can be a powerful reminder to hold ordinary events a sacred. The simple act of blessing a meal, burning incense while reading a book, or lighting a candle while you work can add a sacred quality to everyday life. Creating Sacred Space in Your Office Just as your emotions and energy are affected by your home, so too can they be influenced by your office space. If your office or work space is humane, loving and sacred, then what you produce there will have a sense of humanity and integrity. The challenge is not to change yourself
|
