Spirited Work

When I entered the business world in the late 1970's, open discussions on spirituality at work were taboo. Yet, while searching through a desk drawer for correction fluid during one temporary assignment, I found a Bible. Other desks held hidden books on Buddhism and poetry, plus numerous inspirational quotes.

At a conservative commercial real estate firm, almost all of the staff and the executives got me either behind closed doors or off-site to speak about spirituality. After remarking that they had noticed me reading Fritjof Capra's "Tao of Physics" during breaks, they swore me to secrecy ("No one else here would understand," everyone insisted), and then told me their stories.

During those secret conversations I learned that one executive meditated regularly and another dreamed of doing creative service. The receptionist was a devout Christian; the researcher had spent a summer at Findhorn, the eco-spiritual community in Scotland. The mailroom clerk's spiritual journey was initiated by a poem that helped her heal from a near-suicidal depression.

Today, spirituality has come out of hiding throughout the business world. Trade journals and magazines such as "Business Week" and "Training Magazine" regularly discuss the subject. Judi Neal's

lists dozens of conferences and graduate-level classes where participants ponder ideas from ancient Buddhist teachings to everyday business management. Hundreds of books offer practical insights and inspiration on how to work with increased meaning and joy.

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