by Mary Grace McCord
"How many of you are striving?" the luncheon speaker asked a large group of women executives.
"How many of you know why... I mean, what, you're striving for?"
"How many of you believe passionately, to the depths of your soul, in what you're doing?" Funny, how a simple question can be both unsettling and hard to answer. But by the time that transpersonal counselor Kristy Seagle posed the third question, one of my lunch mates actually squirmed in her chair.
Causing people to deeply question their philosophies, motivations and beliefs is what transpersonal counseling is all about, and Seagle had created a deeply thoughtful silence in the room. Whatever our age, we all want honest communication and respectful interaction.
"We each have an amount of truth in us," says Seagle, "and when it's stifled we get angry." Yet, telling the truth in a timely manner and with respect for others' information needs is easy for some people but hard for many. For those who would like to investigate the concept of truthfulness, Seagle recommends a book by Brad Blanton, Radical Honesty. Seagle's training at the Institute for Transpersonal Counseling (Menlo Park, CA) is a blending of Eastern and Western philosophies of holistic spiritual healing. Its goal is a spiritual analysis of what she calls each person's Big Picture, of the individual soul's inner journey for individual meaning.
The Greatest Gifts
Seagle advises members of the working world to fine-tune the art of listening. "What a gift we give, when we tune in and really hear somebody," she says. When we respectfully tune in to their point of view, their word choices, and their style of communicating, co-workers can learn from the words themselves as well as "read between the lines" of how the information is being presented. But this level of observation only happens when the listener consciously chooses to focus on the person who's talking.
How spiritual a work environment is it, when you feel like you're talking to a wall?
How wonderful a gift, instead, to feel like somebody cares about your ideas, your concerns, and even your random observations?
And really, how hard is it to actively listen?
Not only would many mistakes be avoided, just think of how good people feel when they both understand and also feel understood.
Another simple way to feel greater contentment at work is to make your work environment uplifting. When moving to a new office, Seagle advises workers to take time to choose a soothing, uplifting color and paint it first! She also suggests a book, The Artist's Way, for those who want to learn more about the effects of color and surroundings when brainstorming -- for seeing old things in new ways.
Belief in the Bigger Picture
Another gift we can give ourselves (and our co-workers) is our total acceptance that "there are simply things out there that defy explanation," adds Seagle. "We can't understand all things at all times, but we can trust in our hearts in a bigger picture, a higher sense of goodness and order." Sometimes, she says wryly, it's quite a relief to know whatever it is we're experiencing really isn't all there is, out there.
That's because we're all connected. There's a cosmic interconnection of philosophy, business and the environment. Seagle notes that when we do the right things for the right reasons, contributing positive energy by being creative, open and flexible, the cosmic reward might be deeper insight to "see the unseen, questions the obvious, erase the lines."
One thing's certain, she says, "you can't lie and cheat at work all day, then come home and be sweet." The human psyche just won't condone such duplicity, at least not for long. A more subtle variation is that many of us place an inordinate amount of energy and emphasis in professional strivings. Many people feel the vague longing that comes from not knowing ourselves.
What if we "worked" 40 hours a week on addressing our own spiritual needs?
What if we "worked" 40 hours a week on establishing, maintaining and nurturing a meaningful relationship?
Given the logistical realities of career demands and monetary needs, Seagle coaches her clients to decide on a life plan that includes greater self-awareness, which can result in deeper intimacy. Connected relationships, both home and at work, are essential steps in creating more spiritual environments.
Editor's note: Reprinted, with the permission of Holistic Times.Reflections | | Cats and Dogs... and Herbs | | Book Review | | AH-"IT!" | Graduates | | Bulletin Board
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