Author: Janae Bower

This is a stretch, I know. Their wasn’t somebody with an X that I’ve studied. So this is a book that I enjoyed and it has an X in the title. Kurt Mortensen wrote the book Maximum Influence: The 12 Universal Laws of Power Persuasion. For us to have maximum influence in our lives, including spiritually, it’s vital that we understand the basics of how persuasion works.

Mortensen says that the power of persuasion is of extraordinary and critical importance to today’s world. He defines persuasion as the process of changing or reforming attitudes, beliefs, opinions or behaviors toward a predetermined outcome through voluntary compliance. He has developed the 12 universal laws of persuasion to illustrate both the art and science of persuasion.

Here are a few of them that I believe really relate to our spiritual influence and a few notes I took around the laws.

The Law of Connectivity – “contagious cooperation”

• “The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.” – Teddy Roosevelt
• Usually only takes a few seconds to know if we bond with someone or not.
• The more we feel connected to, part of, liked by, or attracted to someone, the more persuasive they will become. When you create an instant bond or connection, people feel comfortable around you. They will feel like they’ve known you and can relate to you. When we feel connected, we feel understood, they can relate to us and trust us.
• People skills – 85% of your success of life is determined by your people skills.
• Rapport – the instant connection. It’s the secret ingredient that makes us feel a tangible and harmonious link with people. Body language – i.e. pointing head toward you shows interest. Mirroring/matching – align your body as that of the person you are connecting with. As you are doing the same as them, they will feel connected to you. You can mirror language, breathing, voice, moods, energy level, etc.

The Law of Involvement – “create and awaken curiosity”

“Without involvement, there is no commitment. Mark it down, asterisk it, circle it, underline it. No involvement = no commitment.” – Stephen Covey

• The more you engage someone’s 5 senses, involve them mentally/physically and create the right atmosphere for persuasion, the more effective and persuasive you’ll be.

• Increasing participation – when we take an active part, the more we are connected to it and feel we have a stake in it. Make your passion their passion. Ways to get them involved – role playing, asking for advice, visualization (help others see in their mind your passion).

• Telling mesmerizing stories – powerful tools for persuaders, compelling storytelling automatically creates attention and involvement in your audience. It should be relevant facts coupled with inspiration, faith and person’s innermost feelings will cause others to be moved. Stories should: grab attention and create involvement, simplify complex ideas, create memorable hooks, trigger emotions, tap existing beliefs, persuade without detection, bypass existing resistance to you and your ideas, demonstrate who you are, build interest, encourage participation.

The Law of Esteem – “how praise releases energy”

People want and need praise, recognition and acceptance. Acceptance and praise are two of our deepest cravings; we can never get enough. William James said, “The deepest principle of human nature is the craving to be appreciated.”

• If you present your requests in a manner that compliments or builds up your listeners, they will be much more inclined not only to follow through, but do so eagerly. Compliments have the power to change behavior because they make the recipient feel needed and valued.
• Ingratiation – make others feel important. This is about gaining favor by deliberate effort. Techniques include compliments, flattery, agreeableness. “We don’t normally do this, but for you we will.” “I’m personally going to look into this for you.”

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For more resources, see our Library topic Spirituality in the Workplace.

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Janae Bower is an inspirational speaker, award-winning author and training consultant. She founded Finding IT, a company that specializes in personal and professional development getting to the heart of what matters most. She started Project GratOtude, a movement to increase gratitude in people’s lives.

Bruce Wilkinson is one of those authors whose work has impacted and influenced me beyond belief. There are three books that I’ll share a big thought (the book’s main premise), an important verse or quote along with how I’ve grown spiritually because of his work. All of these books are international bestsellers. Check out his site.

Book: The Prayer of Jabez: Breaking Through to the Blessed Life

Big thought

You might remember or even read this little book when it reached best-seller status about 10 years ago. The book revolves around a prayer from the Bible that Bruce had said for years and how it’s greatly influenced his life. It’s a one-sentence prayer tucked away in the Bible that he believes contains the secret of a life of extraordinary favor with God.

Important quote

Oh that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that your hand would be with me, and that you would keep me from evil. So God granted him what he requested. – 1 Chronicles 4:9-10

Spiritual Application

After reading this book I realized the importance of asking God daily to bring blessings to my life and enlarge my influence to others. With His hand guiding me, I know that I’m going to be protected from evil and placed where He wants to spread my influence. I’ve said this prayer since reading the book, some years more diligently than others, and wholeheartedly believe it’s helped with the abundance in my life.

Book: The Dream Giver: Following your God-Given Destiny

Big Thought

God has planted in each of our hearts a BIG dream for our life. It’s a dream that is awaiting us and it’s up to us to have the courage to pursue it. He uses a powerful parable to tell this story on how in the journey of finding your BIG dream you’ll meeting boarder bullies who don’t want you to leave yours and their comfort zone. He uses so many powerful examples of the journey of pursuing that dream in your life.

Important quote

He shares however that a dream that has not been surrendered to God has pitfalls that can bring; how “Your Dream will become your idol”, and how that can “make people ‘successful’ but not fulfilled.”

Spiritual Application

I related to this book so much as I’ve always been a Big Dreamer. While many of my dreams have come true, many haven’t either. I realized that I’ve still be holding on to the dreams and not fully surrendering them to God. For example, I realized that my Big Dream with Project GratOtude I was holding on it. Since this book I’ve now surrender this project and dedicated it to the One above to do with it as He wishes.

Book: You Were Born for This: Seven Keys to a Life of Predictable Miracles

Big Thought

Anyone can do a good deed, but some good works can only happen by an act of God. Around the world these acts are called miracles–not that even religious people expect to see one any time soon. But what would happen if millions of ordinary people walked out each morning expecting God to deliver a miracle through them to a person in need? You Were Born for This starts with the dramatic premise that everyone at all times is in need of a miracle, and that God is ready to meet those needs supernaturally through ordinary people who are willing to learn the “protocol of heaven.” In the straightforward, story-driven, highly motivating style for which he is known, Wilkinson describes how anyone can be a ‘Delivery Guy’ from heaven in such universally significant arenas of life as finances, practical help, relationships, purpose and spiritual growth (description taken from Amazon).

Important verse

“I was born to partner with Heaven on miracles missions. He loves to send servants who are passionate about delivering visible proofs of his goodness and glory.”

Spiritual application

Here are a few excerpts from something else that I wrote using one of his concepts in my life called a God Pocket and I see now that this is his new book out!

“As I was praying then I got another thought, a nudge to give away some of the money in my “God pocket.” Except I didn’t have a God Pocket yet or any money in it. The idea of a God pocket comes from Bruce Wilkinson’s book You Were Born for This. He gives us the steps and fabulous examples of how we can be God’s delivery agents of miracles. One way we might be delivering miracles is through financial gifts. I loved this idea and wanted to do this. But I hadn’t yet. I rarely carry cash as I pay credit cards for everything. This time I actually had a little cash – $20, but I didn’t have it officially saved for my nonexistent God pocket.
Could this $20 be my first official financial delivery for God? I’ve been praying for an opportunity to do so since I’ve gotten back from vacation in March.
I tore off a sheet of plain white paper and left this note. For some reason I was feeling a little sacred to do this as it was out of my comfort zone and my first official delivery agent assignment (at least one that I was conscious of God asking me to do).

From one mother to another mother,
Please use this money to do something special for your children during your vacation. The time we have to love and cherish our children is a blink.
Much love to you!

I folded the note around the $20 bill and walked toward the stranger. We smiled at each other and said, “hello.” She was getting her nails done as well and couldn’t take the note so I put it by her purse and told her this was for her and she could read it later. She said, “thanks for whatever it is.”

Overall Conclusion

His work is truly lifechanging and Bruce says it best, “I’ve stolen all of my material from God, I hope you enjoy it.”

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For more resources, see our Library topic Spirituality in the Workplace.

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Janae Bower is an inspirational speaker, award-winning author and training consultant. She founded Finding IT, a company that specializes in personal and professional development getting to the heart of what matters most. She started Project GratOtude, a movement to increase gratitude in people’s lives.

Some of our lives are meant to be a living example of spirituality. Some of us are meant to witness other people’s lives as a living spiritual example and learn from that. Either way, it takes an open heart and eyes to see how different people’s lives can impact ours.

I struggled finding a V author. I almost considered using an author who had a V in her name. Then I said a prayer at the beginning of the week asking God to guide me to who I was meant to write about and thus really learn from. For a couple of weeks I’ve had this book on my desk that I thought I was going to for a customer service training that I conducted last week. I didn’t use it and I didn’t put it away either. Yesterday I felt a nudge to pick it up and wouldn’t you know it, the author’s name is V.J. Smith. The book is called The Richest Man in Town published by Simple Truths.

As an affiliate for Simple Truths, I’ve seen this movie before and was touched by it. While I had bought the book, I hadn’t read it. I finished it this morning with tears streaming down my cheeks. Click here to watch the inspirational movie around it.Then I’ll share a few ways this story touched my heart.

It reminded me of the best-selling book Tuesdays with Morrie, with the life lessons learned from the student/mentor relationship. This time the student was the highly educated one Alumni Director at a college and the mentor, the Wal-mart cashier who lived in a trailer park.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Albert Schweitzer said that sometimes your life might be the only bible people read. Thus is the case with Marty in this story. It never mentions what and if Marty was religious. However, it is so obvious from reading this book that Marty’s life lived the religion of love. The second greatest commandment from the bible is to love our neighbors as ourselves. All other major religions preach a similar religion of love. Every day Marty went to work as a Wal-mart Cashier, he showed his love to each person he met, including kids, by making them feel important with a handshake and good cheer.

Lessons V.J. Smith learned from his time with Marty is that relationships matter most. You might only have 2 minutes to connect with someone, but that two minutes can leave a forever impression. He shares that “Few people can actually change the world. Marty showed me that you can change your world. Along the way, you have the opportunity to be a powerful influence on the lives of other people, no matter what your position in life.”

After seeing Marty in action and being wowed by his service, V.J. Smith did the thing that many of us often think of doing yet few rarely do. He wrote a letter to Marty’s management thanking him for his service. This letter binded the two of them in friendship, giving them further purpose to share in each other lives. V.J. learned more about Marty and started to speak about him during his speaking engagements. While Marty ended up receiving many accolades from his service, including being award Wal-Mart’s Hero award (1 in 100,000 sales associates would receive), one of the things he cherished most was the letter from V.J, reading it 70+ times!

So while Marty is the hero in V.J.’s story, we can’t forget V.J. is also a hero. His big heart and willingness to show appreciation by writing the letter and the book to share with us one of those heroes in action. The question all of us can consider is how can we be more of a Marty or V.J. today? For more inspiration on how, click here.

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For more resources, see our Library topic Spirituality in the Workplace.

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Janae Bower is an inspirational speaker, award-winning author and training consultant. She founded Finding IT, a company that specializes in personal and professional development getting to the heart of what matters most. She started Project GratOtude, a movement to increase gratitude in people’s lives.

Some of my favorite daily messages come the the Daily Word from Unity. Each day a spiritual message of hope shows up in my inbox to greet me with love and encouragement as I walk on my spiritual journey. Often times the message is exactly what I need to hear. A specific word will confirm a question that I’ve had in my heart. Other times I know that it’s the exact thing that someone else is going through in which I could help provide some emotional support with.

One thing that I appreciate about the messages is how they are written in the affirmative. It’s written as if it’s happening now and as if I am living this way now. We all know that this is how we should approach all those goals or challenges in our lives, as if we have accomplished or solved them already.

Here is a couple of recent example of their daily message for you to savor yourself. If these speak to your soul as they do mine, feel free to sign up for their daily email list. Your heart and soul will thank you. For more go to, http://www.dailyword.com/.

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Self-Assurance

All things are possible through God’s spirit within me.

Any darkness of doubt about who I am, what I can do, and what I can be dissolves in the powerful light of Truth. I affirm the following with assurance: I believe in myself because I am an expression of God’s wisdom. I trust myself because I am a creation of God. I value myself because I am a demonstration of God’s love.

My higher self–my spiritual nature–is assured that all things are possible through God’s spirit within me. To have God-assurance is to have self-assurance. There is every reason to believe in, trust and value myself, because God’s spirit is within me. I know this for myself and for all others. I work with enthusiasm and purpose. I celebrate life with joy and thanksgiving.

For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.–Mark 10:27

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For more resources, see our Library topic Spirituality in the Workplace.

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Janae Bower is an inspirational speaker, award-winning author and training consultant. She founded Finding IT, a company that specializes in personal and professional development getting to the heart of what matters most. She started Project GratOtude, a movement to increase gratitude in people’s lives.

Peace pilgrimage

He is referred to as the Peace Troubadour, who is passionate about spreading peace throughout the world. In fact just now he is in Assisi hoping to create a wave of peace from the little towns that Saint Francis found famous. He shared how the leaders of the major religions of the world are gathering here to share and offer their visions of peace. For more about this project go to:

http://www.livestream.com/jamestwyman

Three Secrets of Being the Change

This is a FREE online course based on of his book The Art of Spiritual Peacemaking. It is an inspirational course that I really appreciated. I really like how he describes what this course will cost you. “I want to give you something that WILL change your life – at NO COST. Hold on…let me say that in a different way. When I say no cost, I mean that you won’t have to pay any money to access this amazing information. On the other hand, it’s going to cost you more than you could ever imagine! If you’re brave enough to begin this journey, then you’ll be required to give up all the limiting beliefs that have kept you small.”

To sign up for this three-part course go to: https://qjr87734.infusionsoft.com/app/form/889749b262f881221887f680a108902b

Holy Bread Project

This holiday season, James is organizing a Holy Land Bread Project to encourage more peace and spiritual oneness throughout the world. The purpose of the Holy Land Bread Project is to gather together a massive community of people who are committed to “Being the Change.” Part of this project is to have a bread breaking ceremony and is looking for host to initiate this movement.

For more, go to his website: http://www.jamestwyman.com/

The Moses Code

While he’s written many books, the one that I’ve read is called The Moses Code: The Most Powerful Manifestation Tool in the History of the World. There is a DVD that accompanies the book, which I would highly recommend. The book is described here, http://www.jamestwyman.com/Books_The_Moses_Code.html

In fact, I wrote about a part of it with the blog that I did around claiming oneness. Go to:

O = Oneness

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For more resources, see our Library topic Spirituality in the Workplace.

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Janae Bower is an inspirational speaker, award-winning author and training consultant. She founded Finding IT, a company that specializes in personal and professional development getting to the heart of what matters most. She started Project GratOtude, a movement to increase gratitude in people’s lives.

 

As stated on her website: “Through her books and her presentations, Marci’s message has touched the hearts and rekindled the spirits of millions of people throughout the world. She is dedicated to fulfilling her life’s purpose of helping people live more empowered and joy-filled lives.” I’m one of the hearts that she’s touched throughout the world.

Her two latest books Happy For No Reason and Love For No Reason are examples of how her work has impacted me. I’ve previously written a couple of blogs that came from each of these books. Check out:

K = Kindness

https://staging.management.org/blogs/spirituality/2010/09/25/k-is-for-kindness/

L is for Love Luminaries

https://staging.management.org/blogs/spirituality/2011/07/07/l-is-for-love-luminaries/

Meditation

What really lifted her career is when she became the women’s face of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. The idea of having a Chicken Soup for the Soul woman series came to Marci when we went on a silent retreat for many days. She was meditating and the idea appeared to her and she knew that it was such a wonderful idea. The title for her happiness book came to her the same way.

Lovingkindness

Because of her lovingkindness concept that really touched me, it’s become a spiritual practice in my life. I mostly do this with strangers that I encounter throughout my day. Again, I remember to do this when I’m in centered and connected spiritually. Take today for example, I was at the gym after a workout relaxing in the sauna. A gentleman came in. My first thought is to silently wish him lovingkindness. Sometimes I have another thought which might be to say a prayer or wish something else like health.

Intention-Attention-No Tension

Another spiritual concept is the idea she shared that came from her mentor about the difference of intention, attention and no tension. Intention is the projecting a future vision, attention is being fully present and no tension is letting go of everything. How this has helped me is that I create my intentions for the year with my vision board; I put my attention each day to being present to what it is I’m accomplishing now; and then I work on letting go of all expectations.

Gratitude

Like most spirituality experts, Marci is a firm believer of gratitude. When she did the love summit this year, interviewing 26 experts on the topic of love, the one thing that all mentioned as critical was gratitude.

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For more resources, see our Library topic Spirituality in the Workplace.

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FYI: I’m breaking for a bit from my A-Z case study to share with you this article by Laura Lambert that I recently came across. The idea of spiritual menu planning intrigued me as I hope it does you. I’m part of a MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group and this comes from another MOPS member from a different chapter.

I have a love-hate relationship with menu-planning. I love the fact that when I plan out our meals for a week I don’t have to think about what’s for dinner every night. I love that I have all the ingredients I need since our grocery shopping is structured around the chosen menus. I love that we save money when I plan ahead since we only buy what is needed for that week’s meals.

But, I hate the time it takes. Dragging out the cookbooks, thinking about what the kids will eat, thinking about what I want to eat, thinking about what my husband’s preferences are, wondering how many nights of Mexican food we can tolerate in a single week, etc. Not to mention, after narrowing it down to seven recipes, there is a shopping list to be made. That involves checking what we already have in the pantry, refrigerator and freezer, noting what ingredients we still need and (I admit this is the good part) emailing the list to my husband who shops on his way home from work once a week. (I know, I’m really lucky about that one.)

Frankly, it just seems like a lot of effort. However, when I think about the outcome of this effort, I immediately realize that it’s all worthwhile. Planning ahead ensures that my children have home-cooked, nutritious meals. It makes me feel good to know that their little bodies are well-fed. Every mom wants her children to grow up strong and healthy. And good nutrition is an essential part of that growing process.

However, I realize that it is not just my children’s bodies that require daily nourishment. Their spirits must also be fed and nurtured on a daily basis in order for them to grow into the strong, compassionate, caring, and sensitive men I hope they will someday become. While I may not actually write out a weekly menu for “spiritual meals,” I am going to try to be more intentional about feeding their spirits each day.
Some ideas for a spiritual menu-plan include:

Finding time each day to help children see the wonder of God’s creation.

Whether it is the toad living in our garage, the autumn leaf streaked with a rainbow of colors or the shiny icicle hanging from the eaves, God’s beauty is everywhere. Helping children see and discover it strengthens their connection to God.

Practicing the attitude of gratitude.

A simple prayer at mealtime and/or bedtime thanking God for all the blessings he has given can strengthen the spiritual bond between children and God.

Slowing down and spending time together.

Spirits are nourished when people connect with one another in positive ways. Though moms are never without household tasks and to-do lists, taking five or ten minutes to join children in their play, read a story or just talk can have a big spiritual impact.

Discovering the joy of giving to others.

Focusing on the needs of those around you can be a wonderful way to create spiritual joy. Writing a postcard to a far-away relative, taking homemade cookies to a shut-in neighbor or picking up trash at the local park are all easy ways for children to experience the joy that comes from helping.

What’s on your spiritual menu-plan? Maybe we can swap recipes.

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For more resources, see our Library topic Spirituality in the Workplace.

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Laura Lambert is a founding member of her local MOPS group, blessed mom to two beautiful sons, wife to a great guy and a Montessori preschool teacher in Iowa.

www.mops.org/page.php?pageid=2987&srctype=body&src=558

Rhonda Byrne is a great example of someone who lives out her spirituality at work. You might not recognize her name, but you probably recognize something incredible that she and her team produced and created called The Secret. About 5 years ago The Secret hit a tipping point and before you know it millions of people were either watching the DVD or reading her book. I was one of them.

Her latest book which she released last summer is called The Power. In this book she takes the principles from the law of attraction to talk about the power of love, the single greatest force in the universe. Rhonda states how “love is the positive force of life. Love is the cause of everything positive and good. Everything that you want to be, do or have comes from love. It’s the positive force of love that inspires you to move and give you the desire to be, do or have anything.”

Two different times I’ve heard her speak; one during an interview on TV when she was on Oprah along with other stars of The Secret and another time when she was interviewed for a Healthy Wealthy and Wise program. Both of these examples showed me her genuine desire to share these powerful secrets with the world. As she researched and discovered these principles were changing her life, she then wanted to find a way to share them with others.

Have unwavering faith

Faith is an area that she stresses is so critical to living a life with purpose. She knew in order to accomplish her vision to bring joy to billions, she needed to have unwavering faith. It is something that she never doubted not even once, it was just a matter of how and when it would all happened. This kind of faith is something that also needs to be integrated into our mind, body and soul.

According to Rhonda, “I had to have absolute faith and knowing in the outcome. I knew it with every fiber of my being. We just trusted that it would all unfold perfectly. It does take faith to keep moving in a direction when you can’t see everything; to keep moving in faith when it’s unknown to you. I have to tell you, it’s that aspect that is the greatest joy of life, it truly is.”

Practice gratitude

Gratitude is another key element to both The Secret and The Power. Rhonda and her team awake each morning and before arising write down 10 things they are grateful for. The gratitude she has for her work and life just flows from within her. During one of these audio interviews, you could tell that she had tears of gratitude for all that’s happened in her life. Before she even made any money with The Secret, she gave away millions of copies of the DVD in thanksgiving of all it’s taught her.

“You should love everything and everyone you can. Focus only on things you love, feel love and you will experience that love and joy coming back to you – multiplied!”

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For more resources, see our Library topic Spirituality in the Workplace.

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Janae Bower is an inspirational speaker, award-winning author and training consultant. She founded Finding IT, a company that specializes in personal and professional development getting to the heart of what matters most. She started Project GratOtude, a movement to increase gratitude in people’s lives.

I’ve got to admit that I really struggled with Q. With most of the other letters with this case study series who to highlight just came to me. With this one, I needed to search out someone to study and share. So I present to you Queen Esther. She has a book in the Bible about the important role in her work at an important time in her nation’s existence.

She was originally brought to the king’s palace because she was beautiful to look at. This probably isn’t what she had intended for her work, but she obeyed her place in the kingdom and purpose for it at this point. Just like us, we often find ourselves doing work that we didn’t intend originally. Sometimes the work falls into our laps and is a good fit. Other times we question why we are even doing what we are doing.

When Esther found out that some of the king’s helpers were going to exile the Jewish people, she was the only one in position to petition for their survival. While the king didn’t know at the time that she was Jewish, he later found out once she shared her plea with him. In order to petition the king, now her job was to really step it up and be bold and courageous. What she was about to do to approach the king could render her dead. But she replied with a firm presence to do and complete her new mission saying, “if I perish, I perish.”

Many times in our work, we will be asked to step out of our comfort zones to lead into new areas of our lives that we’ve never explored “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:12). We will need to take risks that we’ve never taken before. Just like Esther we will need to be bold and courageous. She was willing to risk her position in the kingdom for the greater good of the people. We too might be asked to do something similar at some point in our lives.

In order to fulfill this great mission, she knew that it would require supernatural strength and thus cried out to God for help. She prayed and fasted. It didn’t just include her either. She asked others to pray and fast for 3 days for this mission.

When it was time for her to put this mission into place, she used God’s guidance to approach the situation very carefully. She was deliberate and took her time. She hosted a banquet in the king’s honor as well as his helper (the leader plotting against the Jews). The first time she didn’t reveal her request to the king. At the second banquet is when it happened. She gave her plea and had amazing savvy to manage the politics of the kingdom. Our workplace is no different. The politics are a huge part of learning how to best connect with others and navigate the many challenges thrown our way.

As she built trust with the king and treated him respectably, he granted her request in the end. When we have an important relationship that we need to influence, especially one in which we need to manage upwards, think about how the lessons from Queen Ester could help you – be bold and courageous, ask for supernatural strength and unwavering faith and have the necessary political savvy.

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For more resources, see our Library topic Spirituality in the Workplace.

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Janae Bower is an inspirational speaker, award-winning author and training consultant. She founded Finding IT, a company that specializes in personal and professional development getting to the heart of what matters most. She started Project GratOtude, a movement to increase gratitude in people’s lives.

I recommend to you holy simplicity. – St. Francis de Sales

Paula Huston – an author, professor, wife and mother – wrote the book The Holy Way: Practices for a Simple Life from her experience trying to simplify her life so that she could bring more meaning, peace and spirituality to her life. I enjoyed being with her on this journey as I could relate to many things that she struggled with and appreciated many of the things she chose to change in her life. According to Paula, she identified and experienced these practices which transformed her life.

Ten ways to bring about holy simplicity

1. Solitude
2. Silence
3. Awareness
4. Purity
5. Devotion
6. Right livelihood
7. Confidence
8. Integrity
9. Generosity
10. Tranquility

Meaningful messages I received from these 10 ways

I’ve had to anchor myself in a single, central reality – my longing for God – and allow everything else to arrange itself accordingly.

Most of the clutter turns out to be internal verses external clutter, a result of the kind of person I am rather than the time and place in which I live.

Spiritual life is under the public eye, yet somehow people must manage to withdraw into the private chamber of the heart in order to meet God.

Simple does not mean easy.

Solitude allows us to make room for the blessed and the transformative experience of being alone with God. Around this key we can build a unified life.

Unless we go silent, we cannot hear his voice within us, which is so very still and small that it can be muffled by a stray thought.

If we are to live simply, our choices must be deliberate ones.

My wantings were a constant interruption to my concentration. Each time a desire rose, I had to intentionally deal with it – and this was taking literally hours out of my days.

The quality of prayer has to do with the inner disposition of the mind and heart.

When we find God, what we see is what was normally hidden: we see that we are not alone at all, but, in joining worshipfully together with our fellow human beings, we have become the very dwelling place of God.

Cutting schedules, withdrawing from committees, skipping classes turning down opportunities; this is extremely uncomfortable business, especially in the eyes of the world. “I was slowly, deliberately, giving up my place in the center of things, my spot in the busy hub.”

The life of holy simplicity is a life lived against the natural flow of things, a deliberate departure from business as usual.

“It was not that the world grew small, but my heart was enlarged.” – St. Gregory

It all comes back to love – God’s great love.

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For more resources, see our Library topic Spirituality in the Workplace.

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Janae Bower is an inspirational speaker, award-winning author and training consultant. She founded Finding IT, a company that specializes in personal and professional development getting to the heart of what matters most. She started Project GratOtude, a movement to increase gratitude in people’s lives.