By Chris Sansone
“Life is never made unbearable by circumstances, but only by lack of meaning and purpose.”
–Viktor E. Frankl
Part 2 of a 3-part series
Many of us who have experienced the Hoffman Process can attest to the significant transformative effects it has had on our lives. We changed our way of being by learning to remove habitual ways of thinking and behaving. We learned how to align with our authentic self to be able to respond to situations from a place of conscious choice. It turns out that the intention of the Process is part of an evolving trend of spirituality.
Transformative Effects of Spirit in the Workplace
According to Patricia Aburdene, co-author of the New York Times bestseller Megatrends 2000 and author of Megatrends 2010, the dawn of conscious capitalism is underway in the U.S. This is a trend created by more of us committing to bringing Spirit to the workplace. Spirit at work is an extension of one’s search for authenticity, meaning, and purpose.
A preponderance of recent social science research reveals that Spirit at work is indeed a megatrend. It is a grassroots wave of irreversible change that is steadily changing businesses, hospitals, non-profits, and schools. Organizations of all kinds and sizes are becoming more conscious, socially responsible, and values-driven. According to several research studies I investigated, there are individual and organizational benefits to practicing Spirit at work, such as:
- Bringing my “whole self” to work
- Being fully engaged at work; being in the flow
- Having hopefulness and a sense of meaning at work
- Creating a feeling of connectedness to colleagues
- Increasing job performance and productivity
- Reducing stress
- Having a greater climate of trust
- Having greater job satisfaction and personal well-being
- Greater commitment to organizations that foster a purpose and mission aligned with Spirit
Spirit-led Leadership
Authentic leadership is another benefit of being conscious of Spirit at work. By being your authentic self, you not only improve your experience in life and work, you also have a positive influence on those around you, whatever your position is. The surest path to change in an organization happens one person at a time.
Recent studies about emerging organization cultures are showing that the most powerful sweep of change is coming from the middle ranks out. Through the practices and tools and the ways of being that we learned in the Process, we are creating more steady footing for our own capacity to experience Spirit at work. Whenever we raise our awareness and commit to our own true self – our authenticity – we not only shift the trajectory of our own life, we positively affect those around us.
Critical Mass Healing
This transformation doesn’t stop at the office door. When personal healing becomes a part of our daily lives in all of its aspects – intellectual, emotional, physical, and spiritual – we reach a critical mass. Together, people experience a new or renewed sense of mission or purpose.
In our next blog, we’ll talk about tools for creating Spirit at work. In the meantime – whatever your circumstances – remember that your Spirit is always with you, reminding you of your meaning and purpose.
Hoffman teacher Chris Sansone has a doctorate in human and organization systems, and holds certifications in coaching, organizational assessments and numerous psychological profiles, including the MBTI.