While our job may not necessarily equate with our purpose, it can be a complement to it and provide the fuel and energy that motivates and sustains us in the totality of our lives.
The energy of our purpose is like the attitude we bring to work—all the work we do in life. Some of the most fulfilling activities can be the most mundane daily chores. In fact, many faiths and cultures around the world (from ancient Eastern Zen practitioners to modern-day Western Christian monks and the multitudes of people in between) strongly herald the values of the simple tasks in daily living.
In his book, The Turning Point, Fritjof Capra explains that routine repetitive work is spiritual and, “helps us recognize the natural cycles of death and decay, of birth and death, and thus become aware of the dynamic of the universe.” That may explain why some people share how gardening, washing dishes, carpentry work, and even high-tech repetitive computer programming tasks can be relaxing and almost mesmerizing.
Inspiration for the Day: “Before enlightenment chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.” –Zen Proverb
Note: This is an ongoing series to help provide support during these challenging times. These daily readings are part of an overall book on balance, which includes 12 essentials for maintaining balance to support resilience and your best self. The 12 essentials include mind, body, love, service, self, family, intimacy, purpose, environment/living space, nature, social relations, and spirit. This series is sharing 30 days of lessons about purpose. As you remain quarantined during this COVID pandemic, perhaps you can take this time to evaluate your plans and cultivate a deeper Soul purpose in your life.
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