Tag Archives: Work life

Cultivating Your Spiritual Practice

Posted in Affirmations, Health, Inspiration, New Thought, Spirituality, Work Life by
Image courtesy of Spirit On Hook Displays Spiritual Body Or Purity by Stuart Miles from http://www.freedigitalphotos.net

Image courtesy of Spirit On Hook Displays Spiritual Body Or Purity by Stuart Miles from http://www.freedigitalphotos.net

There are day to day activities we do that are chockfull of spirituality. Your spiritual rituals and rhythm can be found in your chores, errands, daily commute, daily work tasks, exercising and spending time with family and friends. Oftentimes, we think of going to church, praying, and meditation as the only means to cultivating a spiritual practice. But, when we recognize how natural and easy it is to carve out a spiritual connection, the world seems abound with many spiritual growth opportunities.

Here are some ways to cultivate your day to day spiritual practices:

  • Stay on the lookout for pockets of time you can take to meditate or to think on what you’re grateful for. Book a conference room at work for you to turn down the lights and meditate. It only takes a few minutes for a mindfulness reboot. If you can’t book a room, go to your car, or do a walking meditation around the block on your breaks.
  • Download phone apps, such as Calm or Nature Meditation Sounds to have on hand to easily meditate. Or, consider creating a YouTube subscription to all of your favorite guided meditation or nature sound videos.
  • When you find yourself in a limiting or defeating thought, consider Esther Hicks/Abraham’s suggestion of the Seventeen Seconds Process where you countdown seventeen seconds as you shift your thoughts to something lighter and better serving. Rae Zander and Heather McKay Novak of Everyday Attraction Podcast’s June 5, 2015 show “The Most Powerful Alignment Practices of All Time” discuss the Seventeen Second Process in greater detail (http://www.unity.fm/episode/EverydayAttraction_060515). They sourced their information from the originator of the Seventeen Second Process, Esther Hicks/Abraham-Hicks of http://www.abraham-hicks.com/lawofattractionsource/index.php.
  • Keep Your cell phone or MP3 player full of positive, New Thought, or inspirational Podcasts to listen to on your commute. I look forward to my twenty minute drives to work thanks to the inspirational Podcasts that spark my imagination and inspire me.
  • There’s nothing more spiritually uplifting than calling an old friend to catch up on life and laughs. When you need a pick-me-up, call up a friend and be their pick-me-up.
  • Take a walk. Even a brisk, ten minute walk in the sun is enough time to get mindful and connected to your inner thoughts. Say some affirmations, think of what you’re grateful for, or, clear your mind.
  • Keep a little journal near you to capture random divine coincidences, things you are grateful for, or even ideas and sparks of interest you want to explore. Make sure its small enough to fit in your back pocket or purse so there’s no excuse to be without it.
  • Read spiritual text and holy books. Read all there is – blogs, books, memoirs, poems and journals, just to name a few. Even if you can only manage a couple of pages a day, you will gain some spiritual nourishment and insight to any give situation.
  • Let the music carry you away. What’s your favorite music genre? Why did you fall in love with that type of music? Fall in love all over again with a long lost genre you used to groove to. Spirituality can also be found in singing songs, so sing away.
  • When exercising, have inspirational Podcasts, affirmations (create your own for a powerful experience), or music that allows your mind to run free playing through your earbuds. I like combining my workouts with spiritual practice because I’m a busy lady and I need to combine my activities.
  • Play in the recesses of your mind. Daydream, get lost in your thoughts and fall in love with the Inner You.

Janice Campbell of Receive Your Life Podcast reminds us that all of us have a spiritual practice that feeds our soul and it’s up to each of us to nourish our spiritual selves everyday on her May 28, 2015 show, “Your Spiritual Practice” (http://www.unity.fm/episode/ReceiveYourLife_052815). It was Janice’s May 28th Podcast that inspired me to write this post to remind us to honor what it is that moves us and have our being.

Can you find spiritual fulfillment in the mundane, like housecleaning or your daily work duties? It doesn’t take a lot to indulge daily in what makes you spiritually connected and happy.

~Your Curator of All Things Inspirational, Kimberly Jo Cooley

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Applied Happiness 101

Posted in Affirmations, Manifestation, New Thought, Work Life by
Image courtesy of gubgib, published on 29 December 2012 Stock Photo - image ID: 100129566, from http://www.freedigitalphotos.net.

Image courtesy of gubgib, published on 29 December 2012 Stock Photo – image ID: 100129566, from http://www.freedigitalphotos.net.

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles, published on 17 August 2012 Stock Photo - image ID: 10097414, from http://www.freedigitalphotos.net.

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles, published on 17 August 2012 Stock Photo – image ID: 10097414, from http://www.freedigitalphotos.net.

I recently applied some techniques on how to be and stay happy, even through stressful times. I overheard my boss having a lengthy argument with an auditor on one of my arbitration files. After she got off the line, she came to my cubicle to tell me a newly hired auditor didn’t understand my arbitration arguments and gave me a poor audit.

In the past, this is something that would have instantly sent me into a tailspin. I’d have to first complain to coworkers over how wrong and unfair it was. I would then internalize it and question all my decisions after hearing that kind of news. Then, I’d slip into a funk for a few days. Meanwhile, the negative funk I’d find myself in would color my present and future experiences with negativity and doubt.

Yesterday, I chose not to go down the path of negativity and refrained from telling a woeful story to friends and co-workers. I remembered that one audit doesn’t define me as a person or an employee. I found solace in how my manager really went to bat for me, and I realized she knew the truth of who I am, so of course I needed to remember the truth of who I am. I prayed for God to reveal to me the jewels in the rough of this experience. I began to say affirmations, affirming the truth of who I am and why I’m here. I did allow myself a few moments to feel upset at the news. But, here’s where it got magical – I began to envision me being on the other side of the situation, smiling and at peace. I went home for the day and focused on other things.

Today, I went to my manager’s desk to thank her again for her support. She told me she met up with management and the head of auditing department yesterday. The head of the auditing department reviewed my manager’s concerns and they all agreed that my handling in the case was solid, but there were issues with the overall handling of the claim that didn’t involve me that had to be noted in the audit. As it turns out, it was a holistic review and not specific to just my handling. My manager said she knows how I take pride in my work product and that she had to fight for what’s right. She was able to get the auditors to see I creatively argued the case, considering what little evidence I had to work with. The auditors eventually raised the scoring up on the review. The auditors and management even have a bet on the outcome of the arbitration – loser buys the other lunch!

In those moments, I could instantly see the jewels.

Here are the jewels:

  • I learned my manager thought highly of me and my work and was ready to defend me – other managers may not do the same.
  • I learned I could choose how to feel in moments of disappointment. I prevented a tailspin that would take me days to recover from.
  • I didn’t overreact, which was critical, because in the past, I would blow up over audit results and it felt wonderful to keep my cool.
  • Had I overreacted, I may not have been in a place to appreciate what unfolded after yesterday’s news.
  • I could have started down the tract of my company doesn’t appreciate me, or that new auditor is a real pill, but today, it feels better to stay in the positive.
  • I remembered I AM a divine creature, and my peace is something to protect.
  • I deliberately created my future by envisioning how I wanted to feel the next day. The Universe obliged.
  • I remembered the truth. I remembered that audits are to show how we’re doing as a company and this reminded me to not take it personal and it really is for the good of our company.
  • Gratitude and appreciation goes a long way. I found what I could be grateful for in the moments following the news, and that helped me to remain in a place of allowing, instead of going into a place of resistance.

We have the power to always reclaim our happiness and peace. I have grown. Yesterday showed me that through prayer, affirmations and shaking the lies and negativity out of the situation, I was able to ride this wave, with ease and grace. I look forward to practicing more of the spiritual principles, because they really work!

~Your Curator of all things Inspirational, Kimberly Jo Cooley

I Begin and End a Job On My Own Terms

Posted in Affirmations, Inspiration, Inspirational Quotes, Uncategorized, Work Life by
Image courtesy of xedos4, published on 29 May 2011, from http://www.freedigitalphotos.net

Image courtesy of xedos4, published on 29 May 2011, from http://www.freedigitalphotos.net

The Affirmation: I always begin and end my jobs on my own terms.

You may read the above affirmation, and think that it doesn’t apply to you. Perhaps you were fired or downsized, or you’re stuck in a dead-end job. This affirmation is exactly for you. It will transform your experience, the essence of who you are as an employee and it will bring about a change so deep, every employer will want to hire you.

Many of us will be working the majority of our lives, so it’s no wonder it consumes a good portion of our mental and physical space each day. Some of us have jobs that leave us feeling drained, unappreciated, unfulfilled, and under compensated. The easy answer is to leave a job, but many times, that’s not an easy option to do.

I was in a dark place four years ago in my own work life. I was working long hours as a claims adjuster, and feeling like I never could get caught up at work, and even if I did, I always felt like someone was dissatisfied with my job performance. The job market was shaky, and I felt stuck and depressed that I could not find a better job. During this time, I was on a “performance counseling” write-up and there were times I wished the boss would put me out of my misery and fire me. Yet, I was conflicted. I was a single mother at the time and had kids to feed, a mortgage to pay and health insurance to keep.

I began a spiritual journey and realized I had a choice in the matter. I could wallow in my misery, turn my destiny over to the managers to fire me, or I could take charge of my work life and turn it around. I recalled how I always used to say, “I always begin and end my jobs on my own terms – no matter what.” I said it once again, believed and  things drastically changed for me.

I began to feel a positive shift in how people approached me. My workload became manageable and organized, even when the volume increased. I was the experienced go-to person both managers and fellow employees reached out to. I got off performance write-up and instead, was given great annual reviews. I began to share ideas, instead of feeling reluctant to share my opinions with others. I searched other job postings within the company and found a job much more suitable for me. I applied for the new job twice, but the second time was offered a position. In a matter of a couple of years,  I turned my work life around, all because I realized that I really could begin and end a job on my own terms.

I was not settling. Instead, I was embracing where I was in my experience and realizing that I do have a say. I wrote short and long-term goals, both professional and personal. I realized I loved writing and wanted more of that in my life. I found what I was looking for, a job that allowed me to write a lot more and it still utilized my fourteen years of claims experience, which was more than I thought I could ever have. The new job was a lateral move, but in time, I got a much better raise and a quick promotion.  I would not be in the place I am now, had it not been for the affirmation above.

I’ve seen friends and co-workers fired or laid off from jobs. At first, it may seem like they did not leave a job on their own terms. But in closer review, and as time revealed, the termination was the best thing that could have happened to them and they ultimately found better jobs that were more suited for them.

The beauty of affirmations is if you believe in what you are affirming, the Universe will make it happen. Always believe there is a greater, higher plan unfolding for you. Chances are, if you said that affirmation above, it would be you choosing to leave the company rather than the company choosing to let you go.

~Your Curator of all things Inspirational, Kimberly Jo Cooley