Why do you do what you do? What is your real work in the world, and why is it important to know the answer?
I'm an entrepreneur at heart. I have started and run several businesses, and as I look back, I think the most important element in financial and personal success is awareness of purpose and the capacity to stay open to it.
Many years ago I was a participant in a seminar. At the end, the leader took us through a guided meditation in which we asked ourselves, "What is my purpose for doing the work I do, in my relationships, and for being alive in this time and place?"
The word 'connection' popped up in my mind, and it felt right. My work then and now is helping people manage conflict with power and grace, and about removing the barriers to connection. Outside of work, as well, I want my actions to reflect this purpose. So when the word came up in the meditation all those years ago, it gave a name to something I already recognized.
My work is still about connection. On rough days, knowing this keeps me going. On good days, when life flows, it is reaffirmed. It doesn't matter whether it makes sense to anyone else. My life is about connection.
What about you? What purpose underlies your work and your life? Is it Creativity? Compassion? Diversity? Empowerment? Relationship? Health? Beauty? Spirituality? Love? These concepts occur as I think of friends and colleagues and their work in the world.
Like peeling an onion, the external layers of our work are the activities we engage in. Each layer moves us closer to a central purpose that is behind the time and effort we expend, and behind the gratitude with which we celebrate our success.
So take some time today to give yourself a gift. Close your eyes, relax, and ask your inner wisdom what your work is really about. Then keep that in front of you as a beacon. Refine it, nurture it, and hold it close at hand. This is essentially what each of us is called to do -- to explore and to discover our fundamental motivation, not just occasionally but every day, and with every decision. You'll rediscover, reinvent and revitalize your work, moment to moment. And you'll have fun doing it. I wish you good energy.
-----------------
There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening, that is translated through you into action. . . You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that activate you. Keep the channel open.
Martha Graham, dancer, choreographer
-----------------
Đ 2005 Judy Ringer, Power & Presence Training
About the Author: Judy Ringer is Founder of Power & Presence Training, specializing in unique workshops on conflict, communication, and creating a more positive work environment. Judy is also a black belt in aikido, and is writing her first book on the connection between aikido, conflict, and living a more purposeful life. To sign up for more free tips and articles like these, visit http://www.JudyRinger.com
Note: You're welcome to reprint this article as long as it remains complete and unaltered (including the "about the author" info at the end), and you send a copy of your reprint to judy@judyringer.com.
In those times when everything seems to be going just... Read More
Who are we, standing here on this planet, looking for... Read More
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not... Read More
Yesterday my teenage son Matt came home with a less... Read More
What stops you from 'getting things done?'Have you ever started... Read More
Experiencing strong emotions is not uncommon. What is uncommon is... Read More
"Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what... Read More
What is the dictionary definition of a procrastinator? It is... Read More
Knowledge fueled by emotion equals action. Action is the ingredient... Read More
The cream rises to the top. That means that it... Read More
"Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow... Read More
Motivation in creativity and innovation is more important than personality... Read More
"If you could eliminate one day from your past so... Read More
Have you ever imagined that life could be a lot... Read More
Imagine for a moment it's five years from now and... Read More
TRUE or FALSE1. Older adults have more mental health problems... Read More
One of the few things that are constant in this... Read More
This #1 New York Times bestseller offers some useful and... Read More
--Choose a motivational quote related to your goal. Don't have... Read More
Being let go; suffering redundancy; experiencing downsizing are all very... Read More
Enjoy a great quote to start off this fantastic week!"All... Read More
One of the greatest challenges facing our ever intensive quest... Read More
There is one sure way to get what you want... Read More
Nothing ever stays the same. On the one hand we... Read More
You know the feeling.There's something you want to do. You've... Read More
King Solomon said "As a man thinketh in his heart... Read More
I'll get right to the point. Life is not necessarily... Read More
Ever wonder how to stop procrastinating?I was recently talking with... Read More
"Have you ever felt like you've become the worst possible... Read More
Do you sometimes have the feeling that you're running into... Read More
Each and every day, all of us continually search for... Read More
It's about time to take a real hard look at... Read More
Question:What is the worst thing you can do when you... Read More
Achieving the really big goals and dreams always involves breaking... Read More
No matter how hard you try to make them otherwise,... Read More
"Holding onto anger is like grasping a hot coal with... Read More
On the J-O-B. That's where I met him. Quentin Cole... Read More
Doesn't it just burn you up when you have just... Read More
As I am writing this article, the world is shaken... Read More
Whether you are aware of it or not, we are... Read More
What can you do on days like these? Is there... Read More
Enjoy a great quote to start off this fantastic week!"All... Read More
Motivation is an oft-discussed subject, particularly with regards to whether... Read More
My older daughter got married 10 days ago. The wedding... Read More
It is just amazing the amount of people who don't... Read More
Letīs discover the importance of balancing preparation, timing and momentum.... Read More
Did you realize that as much as 47% of the... Read More
As a life-long student of personal development, I've attended dozens... Read More
"It is not what happens to you, but how you... Read More
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not... Read More
It was a mild October night, weeks after the horrific... Read More
What is fear's purpose? How do you handle it? While... Read More
"I have heard it said that the first ingredient of... Read More
1. Most of us are motivated by one of two... Read More
The manifestations of motiveA man is captive within himself. He... Read More
Elizabeth Kubler Ross once said, "People are like stained glass... Read More
I am not a golfer, unless you count an occasional... Read More
One fact stubbornly stays true: while everyone desires to succeed,... Read More
In Part 1 of this article, we talked about reaching... Read More
The answer is yes, of course, right? People motivate other... Read More
As a "Motivation Trainer" for over 20 years, I have... Read More
...it is in this whole process of meeting and solving... Read More
One of the keys to success is staying motivated because... Read More
It has been said that "if you are not growing,... Read More
-Lack of a specific purpose in life. You can not... Read More
Isn't a lack of daily motivation one of the biggest... Read More
Motivation |