Work is only work only if we prefer to be somewhere else. Work tends to be a negative perception of a task which we reluctantly approach. Work is only labour when we forget to see our life as it truly is – an opportunity to be creative, enrich others, and be enriched ourselves.
Why do we sometimes reluctantly approach work? Work becomes ‘work’ when at the workplace we think, speak, or hear about the habits and behaviors of others and situations which are thought to be not right. Unconsciously we consume this negativity into our energy field. Gossip is the simplest way to deplete our energy and to pollute the work environment. When we look at the defects of others, those defects are absorbed by us. We can protect our energy field from the behaviors and energies of people around us, simply by focusing only on the goodness in people and speaking only of the positive characteristics in them. If we hope to transform others by the habit of thinking and speaking negatively about them, it just does not work, and causes a tense and stressful atmosphere. To think about the transformation of others is a waste of time. Each of us has to think about how we can find the determination for our own transformation. Whatever we do, we do for or to ourselves. Focusing on people’s good qualities makes us feel, be, and do good.
The wiser we become, the more gently we deal with other people’s mistakes. It is because a gentle heart never makes others feel guilty about their mistakes. When people are rude to us, we realize they reveal who they are – not who we are. When we work well with others, and appreciate each one’s contribution to a task, we do it from knowing our own value, and are not dependent on others’ approval to feel good about ourselves.
In meditation we can use powerful thoughts to focus only on the goodness in ourselves and others. In this way we increase our selfcontrol and willpower. We need to care for everyone’s feelings and privacy, and avoid small talk and gossip where there is an atmosphere of criticism of others. Instead, we can speak only kind and good words about others. Our positive thoughts and words about others raise our energy and the energy of everyone around us. When we are able to see work in this way, we are filled with enthusiasm. When we are enthusiastic, we work well and we are valued. When we put love and enthusiasm into what we do, it rebounds in the form of opportunities and blessings, two of the most important ingredients of a truly wealthy life. Our workplace then becomes somewhere we enjoy and look forward to. We see it as it truly is, an opportunity to be creative, enrich others, and be enriched ourselves.
Chirya Yvonne Risely is a Rajyoga meditation teacher, based at the Brahma Kumaris Peace Village Retreat Center, USA.