Is Your Spirit Working?

"In every community there is work to be done.  In every nation there 
are wounds to heal. In every heart there is power to do it." 
---Marianne Williamson

Confucius once said, "Choose a career you love and you will never work another day in your life."

If you think about this, what a different experience we could have in our work lives. If we actually loved the work we were doing, it wouldn't seem so much like our traditional concept of work (drudgery/pain). Think about it! How many jobs have you had that you dreaded going to? What are some of the differences between a job, a career, and your life's work? Let's define it.

A job is something you get paid to do (money is the primary motivation). It is easy to perform because there is not much challenge, and you will eventually find other work to do.

It may or may not fully engage you. Spirit may or may not be present.

A career is something you get paid to do that is viewed as a profession (status or identity is the motivation). It may provide more challenge, but after a while, you may get burned out, and choose to stop doing it.

It may or may not fully engage you. Spirit may or may not be present.

Your life's work is something you do whether you get paid for it or not (your soul's need for expression is the motivation). There is plenty of challenge and personal meaning. You will always want to do it.

It definitely fully engages you. Spirit is present.

Remember that a job can get you started toward your life's work. In fact, jobs provide the very important element of exposure to different kinds of industries. Take for example, a woman who started out working in a department store as a clerk, who moved into a management position, and finally created her life's work as an independent contractor who trains others in customer service skills.

To find out if your spirit is working, place a check next to the statements that sound like you in your present work environment.

• ¨ Using your life force
• ¨ Sharing innate gifts and talents
• ¨ Doing work that is meaningful and fulfilling
• ¨ In service to other human beings
• ¨ Your inner light shines
• ¨ You are standing up for something you believe in
• ¨ World benefits from what you do
• ¨ You have a unique way of doing it
• ¨ Creativity, passion, and purpose are present
• ¨ Your intentions and actions match
• ¨ You are propelled by a larger life purpose
• ¨ Integration of being and doing
• ¨ (balance of feminine and masculine energies)
• ¨ Soul leads you through the process
• ¨ (there are no instructions, no right or wrong way!)
• ¨ You feel lost and unsure of how to make it happen
• ¨ Fully engaged, frequent moments of flow & inspiration
• ¨ You are stepping into your Greatness
• ¨ Increased awareness and sensitivity
• ¨ Deeper thoughts, higher level thinking
• ¨ Questioning the status quo
• ¨ You feel energized after a "hard day at work"
• ¨ Inner feelings of peace & contentment
• ¨ (like you have found the right path)
• ¨ Non-traditional, shatters the box
• ¨ (requires you to venture into unknown territory)
• ¨ Opportunity to really express who you really are
• ¨ Desire to be surrounded or create beauty
• ¨ Freedom to do it your own way
• ¨ Discovering skills and talents you never knew you had
• ¨ Being scared sometimes
• ¨ Desire to "right things"
• ¨ You feel "turned on," lit up, excited, enthusiastic
• ¨ No longer want to settle for ordinary or mediocrity
• ¨ Longing for change and newness
• ¨ Broader perspective, see more of the big picture
• ¨ Shift to wanting to learn more , be more, and do more
• ¨ Relying more on intuition to make life decisions

***The more checks you have, the more your spirit is at work.

Spiritual work elevates society and is personally fulfilling. When your spirit is working, you are sharing more of who you really are. As a result your work is performed from a level of love, a higher energy and true sense of purpose, which transforms everyone and everything around you.

Michelle L. Casto is a life coach, speaker, and author of Get Smart! About Modern Romantic Relationships, Get Smart! About Modern Career Development, and Get Smart! About Modern Stress Management.  Her coaching practice is Brightlight Coaching , she helps people come up with bright ideas for their life and empowers them to freely shine their bright light to the world.

Shop the Everyday Enlightenment Estore and get books, ebooks on
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Michelle L. Casto, Ph.D.  is known as the Soul Coach, because she helps people get in touch with the work that ignites their inner fire, and empowers them to shine their bright light in  the world.  As an inspirational speaker and author, she teaches people how to gain a higher understanding of themselves, and uses a unique Soul-Centered and Integrative process that taps into their passion, purpose, and power. Her latest book, Get Your Career on the Fast Track:  A Navigational Guide for the Modern Manager is a comprehensive and interactive book that covers career management from A-Z. 
Enroll in the Career Change Academy: http://www.smartcareerchanges.com/
or visit any other of her life-transforming websites: http://www.brightlightcoach.com/  to help you shine more brightly in all dimensions of your life.

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To Your Soul's Success,

Michelle L. Casto

The Soul Coach, Speaker, Author, and Modern-Day Philosopher

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"One sure window into a person's soul is her reading list. "---- Mary Tabor