Van Wyk Design

“Insist on yourself; never imitate… Every great man is unique.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson

During my last e-Thoughts, I wrote about “Following your Bliss” and that fact that all of us have something unique to share in our personal and work lives. I believe that discovering and living out our individual God-given gifts for the good of others is the key to contentment in life and professional success.

Sometimes amidst emails, meetings, deadlines, and personal demands, we lose sight of the fact that we have a critical role to play in the lives of others. Disciplining ourselves to routinely connect with our Creator can help us thrive and find joy in our work lives.

What is the best way to make this connection? I discovered a helpful method a few years back while participating in a small group at church. During a course called “An Ordinary Day with Jesus” we all investigated what the authors called our Spiritual Pathways. A spiritual pathway is the way we most naturally connect with God and grow spiritually. What I like about this concept is the recognition that just as each of us are unique, we have unique ways of connecting to our Creator too.

The authors identify 7 spiritual pathways (most people tend to favor one or two):

Relational: Connecting best to God when I am with others.
Intellectual: Connecting best to God when I learn.
Worship: Connecting best to God when I worship.
Activist: Connecting best to God when doing great things.
Contemplative: Connecting best to God in silence.
Serving: Connecting best to God while completing Kingdom tasks.
Creation: Connecting best to God when in nature.

Want to re-energize yourself at work? Reflect on a possible new direction in your profession? Bikram yoga, Transcendental Meditation, or a trip to Tibet could be the solution. However, the solution may just be something you feel comfortable doing. Something during your “ordinary day” that brings you nearer to the Source of power and peace.

What are you doing this ordinary day?