Ivy Sea Online: Divine inspiration for our work and livelihood

Wisdom and Mastery Essentials
NEED CAREER OR LIVELIHOOD GUIDANCE? TRY DIVINE INSPIRATION

For many people, one's religious or spiritual life is compartmentalized, carefully placed in a different segment than one's "practical life," which of course includes what most resignedly refer to as "work." It's no wonder that so many people feel confused, or believe that their "J-O-B" isn't "right" or meaningful. More and more people are searching for their "mission in life" — their calling or Divine purpose, whether they call it that or not.

Most of these searchers don't seem to realize that calling, purpose, or vocation isn't so much a "job title" (though it certainly can be obvious, in some cases, in one's title), but is more of a "way of being" or way of working that can make any job more meaningful and "right." Their calling or purpose surrounds them, leaving clues all about, and yet they can't see it because they're looking so hard for it — too often in another direction. Quite a few seekers, feeling the pressure of daily responsibilities and economic woes, eschew the inspirational and busy themselves, often frantically, with practical job-search techniques. Yet inspiration is the fuel for both our creativity and our practical work, so the seekers become tired, frustrated, and ultimately dejected when things don't go their way, when the don't get the job or project, when things take longer than expected. Inspiration is fuel, which makes it infinitely pragmatic to endeavor to stay inspired, at least much of the time.

Where does inspiration come from?

Inspiration can come from many directions and philosophies. For my practice, I tap my upbringing in the Christian tradition, as well as my ongoing studies of pre-Christian and Eastern spiritual traditions. Others may practice in accordance to Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, New Age, Native American, or nonsecular personal-mastery traditions. The point is less what path you take, as it is that you're on a path of inspiration in the first place. In times such as these, where challenges can be both personal and international in scope, inspiration is needed more than ever. Why not start in our daily lives, using inspiration to inform and guide our daily activities?

I've seen, in the past few weeks (and certainly throughout my life), how "practical" it can be to live and work in what I'd call an "active dialogue" with God and The Unseen. Recently, I was seeking guidance in prayer, and just said, "Your will be done, and I'm willing to do it ... just point me in the right direction." And then I had a very clear dream, that lingered with me through the next day. So I prayed again: "Okay, thank you. Help me know more about what that means." And throughout the next two days, I received a flurry of emails and other communications that, as I mindfully watched, had a distinct pattern to them. There was an answer, or at least the next answer, which allowed me to say "thank you" once more, and continue the conversation.

I can't think that I did anything out of the ordinary, or anything special. No special ritual, meditation or prayer. Just the usual; just the basics of my daily practice. But I approached sincerely, and agreed to try to be as watchful as I could be for the "answers," knowing that they come in and through a variety of people and things. I needed to agree to drop my expectations and "wish list" answers, so that I could see and hear God's answers. And that's just not what we're taught to do, is it, whether in career or business, and often not even in church!

Applying Divine guidance to our work may be a different approach for many people, because it requires trust and a more short-term focus than most of us have learned is "necessary to succeed." You pray, you receive guidance, you do the work that's before you in any given day, in the best way you can. And you trust that the next step will be shown, and the means will be provided. That's very different from "forging ahead" and "conquering the market" to be a "titan of industry" — the latter being very much our will being done, and very small is that vision of what could be.

I'm always in awe when I can see Divine guidance at work, and thankful as well. It's hard to explain to others, I think, because you literally have to "believe it to see it." What do you believe enough to see in your daily life? Are there things in your life that reflect a need to change your beliefs and practices? Are there clues and answers to questions that you've been asking, but to which you've not been open and watchful enough to discern?