If you read the title of this blog, you might be asking yourself how you can really create a spiritual connection from your work. In our society where work and a spiritual practice seem to be in opposition with each other, you might wonder if both of these things and co-exist. My answer: Yep, they sure can! Now, if you’re like I was at so many former 9-to-5’s, and 67–85% of Americans who currently hate their jobs, you might be skeptical. But, believe me, you can!

Google defines spirituality as “the quality of being concerned with the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things.” So, having a spiritual connection to your job do simply means that that you feel a deeper connection and purpose to what you are doing. It doesn’t mean that you enjoy every waking moment, but what it does mean that you have an overall sense of connectedness and purpose while there.

Now, don’t worry if If you DON’T currently feel this at your job, because I have good news for you! You HAVE POWER and you get to create whatever you want! Congratulations! 🙂

Here are some tips to help you shift your mindset, so you can take action:

 

1) CHANGE YOUR MINDSET ABOUT WHAT’S POSSIBLE

So many of us have to drag ourselves to work kicking and screaming. We walk through our days feeling like we are wasting our time, our talents, and (let’s face it) our lives.

But, having a spiritual connection to your work, means adjusting your mindset.

It means first understanding that you understand that you were not put on this planet to spend your time feeling like you’re wasting it. It’s understanding and knowing that you don’t have to spend your whole week living for the weekend.

It means understanding that you are not meant to be some cog in a wheel, that’s hanging on, waiting for retirement. It means understanding that you are a miraculous being, with passion and purpose, and awesome-ness!

It means that you know your worth, and you know that you deserve to be content and happy–and that YOU have the power to create that!

It means that you understand that your job is there to support your happiness and your dreams!

It means that your job should support your desires to be free, and do incredible things, take incredible adventures, and be with incredible people!

It means that your job should serve you, and that you have worth and value outside of your job! You know that you are no one’s slave!

It means that you understand that the generations of people who have come before you fought for your right to have a better life than they did, and you life is a precious gift that is not to be wasted!

 

2) COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS

Learn to be grateful for what you do have! Yes, everything you CURRENTLY have right now. Chances are you probably worked really hard to get to where you are now, and we don’t always stop to look around and admire how far we’ve come. Appreciating where you are now, will help you gain some much needed perspective and not be obsessed with where you want to go. It will also help you have a much better attitude about your job.

Everything in life is a stepping stone to help you meet your goals, and move forward. So be thankful for what your current job allows you to do. Does your job allow you to pay some bills? Does it allow you to eat? Take care of loved ones? Does it allow you to keep a roof over your head? Does it allow you to have a little fun? Save up? Pay down debt? Take a trip? Could it help you finance your dreams? You get the idea.

Obsessing too much about everything you’re “missing”, and not enjoying what you do have is a sure fire way to keep hating your job, feeling bad about yourself, and can actually lead to chronic stress, depression, and other mental health issues.

[Need some gratitude journal ideas? Click here to see an example of my own running gratitude list!]  

 

3) RECOGNIZE YOUR POWER & MAKE A PLAN

If you dislike or even hate your job, the idea of loving it seems impossible. But, nothing is impossible! When you start to realize that you HAVE power, it will help you find possibilities you didn’t know existed. It will help you think creatively about where you are, and help you combine your passions with your current job. If you love social media, you could support your employer with their social media presence. If you love event planning, you could help plan events for your work. Explore your passions, and build your experience, and your resume!

And if you can’t find anything to explore your passions at the job you currently have, make a plan to exit. Create a detailed plan to save enough money to take a course in the area you’d like to transition into, or enough money to leave all together. Investigate jobs that are more aligned with your vision, and figure out how you can baby step your way there. Knowing you have an expiration date at your current job, and taking action steps to remove yourself will motivate you, and make you feel empowered!

 

Remember… you deserve to live your life to the fullest, and since most of us have to work, why not make it amazing? You deserve it!