We’re in Day 4 of the “Work+Life Fit in 5 Days” series of how-to basics, and today we’re answering the smallest and yet most difficult question, “What Do You Want?” This is your work+life fit vision.
We started, on the Work+Life Fit blog, by explaining why an initial picture of where you want to go is important. In other words, what do you want your final work+life fit to look like?
THE TOOLS
The three tools for tapping into your internal guidance and creating a powerful work+life fit vision include the mind (the fact-based information you need to succeed), the body (taking care of yourself physically), and finally the spirit-based tools. What do I mean by “spirit-based” tools and how do they help access your internal guidance which informs your work+life fit vision? That’s the topic of this Day 4 post.
Let’s start by defining spirit-related tools, and then look at some of the day to day practices you can use to access your unique internal guidance.
I’ve witnessed countless examples of work+life fit success over the last 15 years. In all cases, each individual did his or her homework (gathered the rational, logical data) but then followed their internal guidance and did what made sense for them.
I’m a living example. When I consciously began my personal work+life fit journey 18 years ago, for the first time in my life I followed my internal guidance (as well as gathered information and took better care of myself physically). It was the only way I was able to make my major work+life fit transition from corporate banker to work+life strategy consultant. I will share my story at the end of the post. Fun fact, Sue Shellenbarger of The Wall Street Journal played a big role at one point in my story. I am forever grateful to her to this day!
SPIRIT-RELATED TOOLS AND YOUR INTERNAL GUIDANCE
Excerpt from Work+Life: Finding the Fit That’s Right for You
“Again, spirit simply means understanding that which is uniquely you—your values, beliefs, and priorities, as you define them—and how they are expressed in your life as a whole, not just in work. And then using that understanding to create an imaginative insight into how you want work to fit into your life.
As the opening line of this book states, I believe that we are all put on the earth with a specific set of skills and talents that we are to use to fulfill our life’s purpose in all areas of our life—not just work.
While I believe that the logical, head-based approach to your work+life vision can help you identify your skills and talents, only your spirit provides the context for how and where to use them to fulfill your life’s purpose. And this purpose can change, depending upon what stage of life you’re in.
By using the tool of spirit, your internal guidance will help you with the answers to those big life questions:
- Who am I, as a whole, not just as a worker?
- What is my purpose, not just at work but in my life as a whole?
- What do I love to do at work and in my personal life?
- What are my unique talents and gifts?
The answers to such questions form the context within which your internal guidance analyzes data from the mind and body. This is why spirit is such an important tool for creating your work+life vision. It considers all of who you are and not just your “work-self.” Again, with the tool of spirit, you are able to dream and achieve much bigger things than your more limited logical mind could ever conceive.” (Click here for more and to print or download PDF).
PRACTICES TO ACCESS YOUR INTERNAL GUIDANCE…(Click here to go to Fast Company for more)