Engaging in activities that connect us to something beyond ourselves adds meaning to our lives and allows us to connect with our values and strengths. In the Art of Full Engagement+, the authors refer to this sense of connection and purpose as “Spiritual Energy.” It provides motivation and engages commitment and integrity. This spiritual energy connects you to well-being.
Spiritual energy is maintained by balancing a commitment to others with adequate self-care. There are times when doing meaningful work can be draining and we need a chance to refuel. Jobs that require a lot of emotional labor, those in which people face emotionally charged encounters and they need to manage their emotions, can be particularly exhausting. Healthcare is definitely a field that requires a lot of emotional labor. Balancing commitment to others and to ourselves is not selfish.
The topic of spiritual energy is particularly on my mind now, since early autumn is the time of the High Holidays in the Jewish religion.
- It is a time of reflection and thinking about how we can do better in our behavior and our relationship with others, including the Divine.
- It is an opportunity for us to see how we may have missed the mark with our actions and interactions.
- It is also a time to reflect on our Divine gifts and how we are using them; often this is a source of meaning for us.
For me, this time reminds me to acknowledge and use my potential. I recognize that I can’t do all that I would like or even think I could be doing. I am increasingly aware of the importance of making good/meaningful use of the time that I have. I hope to do better. One of the practices I am trying to implement daily is connecting with my spiritual energy and setting intentions of how I want to be as well as what I want to accomplish.
What do you do to connect with your spiritual energy? Leave a comment, we’re happy to learn from you too.
To explore what supports your well-being, contact me.
Shanna Tova m’tukah, May you have a Good and Sweet New Year,*
Dina, Well-Being Coach
203.744.YOU3 (9683)
+ Loehr, Jim and Schwartz, Tony, The Power of Full Engagement, Free Press Paperbacks, New York, 2003, p. 110
*Rosh HaShannah, the Jewish New Year, is considered to be the Birthday of the World, universal. These wishes are made in the way that we say “Merry Christmas” even to those who do not celebrate the holiday.
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