Author: Janae Bower

Here are four examples of how different authors and inspirational teachers approach the topic of Oneness. See what themes you find and what resonates with you.

ONE Unforgettable Philosophy

In fact ONE is how I’ve been resonating with and sharing ONEness through the work I’m doing with Project GratOtude. Here is our Project GratOtude philosophy, the six beliefs and values that drive our vision.

• The “ONE Thing” – What is that “ONE thing” – the secret to life? We believe that gratitude is ONE of the most important secrets to living your best life! Gratitude enhances your love for people and appreciation for life. It’s the “ONE thing” guiding this challenge and inspiring us to make a difference.

• ONE Life to Live – Why is Project GratOtude important? We have one life to live here on Earth, so why not make the most of it by living our lives fully and gratefully. We don’t want to live with regrets and wait until it’s too late to let someone know how they make a difference in our life. So let’s go for IT and truly live as if our lives depend on it!

• The ONE Above – Divine guidance from the ONE above – God, angels and the universe – is who inspires, leads and guides us.

• The Power of ONE – One idea, one person, one word. The power of ONE is all it takes to make a tremendous difference in the world. Just like a pebble creates many ripples in water, so too can ONE person – YOU – create a ripple-effect of love and appreciation when becoming more grateful.

• ONEness is the Way – While it only takes one person to create a ripple effect, becoming ONE with each other creates an endless amount of ripples and impact. When 1 + 1 are alone they add up to equal 2. However when you combine 1 & 1 together that equals 11, creating a much more significant impact. Being grateful helps us feel more connected to one another, bringing us closer to ONEness.

• ONE Step at a Time – How will we all do this? ONE step at a time. All we ask is that you take ONE step at a time as we are doing the same thing – just one step ahead blazing the trail for Project GratOtude. Together, we’ll trust that each step we take brings more gratitude into our lives by the end of this Project GratOtude journey.

One-sidedness Verses Oneness

Authors Danah Zohar and Dr. Ian Marshall in the book Connecting with our Spiritual Intelligence, discuss how our spiritual intelligence is like “unitive thinking.” The unitive ability is the key to understating holistic thinking, an ability to connect the context that links the components to parts.
“When we cut off from the deep center of ourselves – through fragmentation, onesidedness, pain or distraction – it is as though we are walking on a muddy path in the dark with only a small torch to guide us. We move along warily from one-pothole to the next, our perspective limited to one faltering step at a time. When we are using our spiritual intelligence we are seeing things from the center, from the light. We are able to see things in a larger, more unified context. This allows us to see and relate to things that once seemed separate to seeing and creating relationships and patterns as a whole.”

Interconnectedness

When asked what spirituality means to you, many respondents shared that it is the fact that everything is interconnected with everything else, according to Authors Mitroff and Denton in the book A Spiritual Audit of Corporate Amercia. Everything affects and is affected by everything else. “Spirituality is the feeling of interconnectedness with the basic belief that there is one supreme force that governs the entire universe.”

Claiming Oneness

Spiritual people know that “anything created by God is one with God” and that there is no separation between themselves and their divine source. James Twyman of The Moses Code says to consider the possibility that God doesn’t perceive separation. In other words, everything is contained within the whole we sometimes call God and there is nothing outside that whole.
He suggests this exercise to claim oneness, to see through the eyes of your soul and see how God sees. “As often as you can, observe the world around you. Observe the people and things as if they are part of you. You know that it’s true that you’re one with everything and everyone. Doing this gives you the chance to apply and feel it with your whole body. It’s one thing to say that you’re one with God, but your goal is to literally feel this reality, thereby knowing it’s true.”

How will you claim YOUR 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.

Reflecting on the right word for N, I kept coming back to the word No. Then I was in the class that I’m helping to pilot for a client called Renewing Life – which integrates the mind, body and spirit partnership – and I know why No is the right word. We discussed the following activity in class, which explains it all. I’m using the exercise with permission so that you too can increase your ability to know when to say No. These are the facilitator instructions for you to conduct the activity yourself. I encourage you to do so!

Instructions:

1. Each person is to take out two sheets of paper. Give the following instructions one at a time as you do each one.

2. On the first sheet of paper write the word: SHOULD. On the other side of this piece of paper write the word: WHY.

3. On the second sheet of paper write the word: KNOW. On the other side of this piece of paper write the word: NO.

4. After everyone has written these words on their papers, the facilitator tells the participants to crumple, crunch up, rip to pieces, and destroy and throw the SHOULD and WHY paper into the wastebasket. (This is usually done with great drama.)

5. Explain:

Should and WHY are questions with no answers. They are both examples of “stinking thinking” as they say in Alcoholics Anonymous. Louise Hay, in her book, You Can Heal Your Life, says that she believes SHOULD is one of the most damaging words in the English language.

Shoulds:

• imply we are wrong, or we were wrong, or we are going to be wrong
• teach us NOT to listen to our own intuition or inner knowledge.
• often have us feeling drained or guilty

Instead of thinking about what we should or shouldn’t do, ask yourself if an activity is LIFE-GIVING. Will this action give my life meaning, will it give me energy? If it will, then it becomes something to plan to do and look forward to….something you could do…or might do.

WHY is in the same category. There is no answer to the question “WHY?” It is okay to try to make sense of the things that happen to us. Making sense of something is different than finding answers to the WHY questions in our lives…”Why me?…Why didn’t I take better care of myself?” (Sounds a little like the SHOULD question!). WHY does not produce results. It just reinforces staying stuck. It is like trying to change the past, instead of saying, “Now that this has happened what am I going to do with it?”

MAKING SENSE is more realistic. It is answering questions in a different way.

6. Now take the second sheet of paper with the KNOW and NO on it.

Explain:

• From this course you have more knowledge – you have gained skills, self-awareness, and self-acceptance.
• From your illness or the struggles with the illness of those you love, you have grown, you KNOW yourself and what you need better, and you may have a greater sense of what you want from your life and what you have to contribute. Knowledge is healing.
• From these same experiences you have asked yourself your limits and have grown in your ability to say NO to those things that are not life giving, or dissipate that energy you need for living.

Saying NO to others is often saying YES to you. It is setting healthy boundaries and helping add focus and direction in your life.

NOTE: Use the NO page to demonstrate when you hold it right side up then “Say NO (then turn the sheet upside down so the word is now ON) to turn your immune system ON.”

This is the whole course! You now KNOW much more than when you started Renewing Life and you can say No to things that will drain your energy and say YES to yourself.

Fold the KNOW/NO paper and keep it in a safe place always. You now KNOW how to live in the NOW.

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

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Motivation is a topic that I often integrate in many of my trainings for helping to create inspired workplaces. As I share with you both some principles of motivation and de-motivators, think of which ones most supports your spirituality in the workplace and which ones hinder it the most for you.

Principles of Motivation:

• Everyone is motivated.
• We are all motivated by different things at different times in our lives.
• In general, people get up in the morning wanting to do a good job.
• Intrinsic motivators are those things that motivate us from inside (values, beliefs, talents, strengths, purpose etc.)
• Extrinsic motivators are those things that motivated us from the outside (money, promotions, recognition etc.)
• Intrinsic motivators have a more lasting effect on performance than extrinsic motivators
• If a person appears unmotivated, experiment until you find something they care about.
• Motivation works best when you can find the keys to people’s hearts by connecting with them and then adding value to what matters most to them.

Typical De-Motivators:

• Politics
• Unnecessary rules
• Poorly designed work
• Unproductive meetings
• Lack of accomplishment or follow-through
• Constant change
• Dishonesty or hypocrisy
• Lack of information
• Too much information
• Criticism
• Being undervalued or utilized
• Invisible management
• Being taken for granted
• Micro-management
• Takeaways
• No perceived career path
• No input in decisions
• Unrealistic expectations
• Not enough feedback
• Too much work
• Too much repetition
• Not enough training
• Tolerating poor performance

For me, when I’m able to pursue those intrinsic motivators at work that touch my soul is when I’m highly motivated. The principle about being able to connect with people’s hearts and motivate by giving them opportunities that matters most to them is the key! I know that projects I’ve lead have been much more successful when I’ve implemented this principle with those working with me. Two of the de-motivators that would squelch this for me is being micro-managed or undervalued. How about 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. Janae started Project GratOtude, a movement to increase gratitude in people’s lives.

Here are some popular love/work quotes: “Do what you love and the money will follow.” “Work is love made visible.” “If you’re not in the job you love, love the job you’re in.” How great would it be to love your work?! Do you? I can honestly say I do.

I remember knowing what it feels like (i.e. stress, anxiety, anger, frustration, boredom) to not love your work. All of these things bring you down literally; lowering your energy level and thus attracting more of what you don’t love. Yet when you love your work, you feel so light and alive – full of love. You are passionate and have endless energy. The gratitude for what you do is contagious, touching each person you come into contact with, thus attracting more of what you love.

The Law of Love

So how can we bring more love to our workplaces? According to Rhonda Byrne by the Law of Love, most commonly referred to as the Law of Attraction. Her new book The Power, sequel to The Secret shares how love is the most powerful force in the universe that we can tap into to improve all areas of our lives. The more you love what you do (even if you need to pretend you do at first); the law of attraction will bring you more things you love.

Expression of Love at Work

So how do we express love for and at our work? I just have to share this picture with you (permission to show photo granted) of my youngest son, Garrett. It’s a great example of love at work on many levels. He and I went to the photo studio and worked with a photographer who loved her work. It’s said that “love is in the details” and such was the case with this photographer, as she remained patient and loving toward us despite my 9-month old not wanting to sit still. Her love allowed me to receive one of my all-time favorite pictures. I have this in my office, which surrounds me of who and what I love.

The 5 Love Languages

One of my favorite examples of understanding the concept of love comes from the author Gary Chapman. He wrote the best-selling book The 5 Love Languages originally for couples, but it’s applicable to the workplace. In his book, it shares with us the five ways to we can show and receive love. It is important is to determine what your love language is and the love language of those around you. Here are the five love languages, along with examples of expressing love at work using that language.

1. Words of Affirmation –written or verbal words that express how we feel about another person. It is words of appreciation that you might share with a co-worker. It is words of encouragement that you might share with your staff. It is words of thanks that you can give to your boss.
2. Gifts –whether big or small, gifts are symbols or tokens of appreciation. Some corporations give employees gifts for a certain amount of years employed with the company. Providing a gift certificate to someone who helped you out on a project is another example. A favorite gift I once received from a colleague was chocolate-covered peanuts.
3. Physical Touch – this is about how you connect with others physically. It could be a simple gesture of thanks with a genuine handshake or hug. (FYI: This is probably the hardest love language to express at work because of harassment laws).
4. Quality Time –spending focused and uninterrupted time with people. You build relationships with others when you invest time in knowing who they are. An example might be having a team building day to planning a happy hour after work so you can get to know each other.
5. Acts of Service –the things people are willing to do to get the work done. They help out, provide advice, stay late – do whatever it takes – to go the extra mile for you and provide stellar service.

How will you love today?

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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.

How ONE Person Makes a Difference…
www.projectgratOtude.com

When was the last time you practiced random acts of kindness at your workplace? This could be a fun way for you to spread your spirit and show kindness. You can spread your kindness a variety of ways – a kind act of service, a kind word of encouragement or a kind thought that you send their way. We all know that the little things we do go a long way!

Lovingkindess

An inspiring story I heard about lovingkindness comes from the book Happy for No Reason: 7 Steps to Being Happy from the Inside Out by Marcy Shimoff and Carol Kline. Not only does this story show us a simple way we can show kindness, but also illustrates the powerful impact it has on us as well. When I first heard of this story about a year ago, I thought it was a good idea. Then I heard it again a few months later and tried it a couple of times. The third time I heard it is when it “stuck” and I’ve been working ever since to make this a habit. (I also briefly mentioned this concept is in my H is for Happiness entry.)
CJ Scarlet Click here to find out more about CJ) suffered from a chronic, life-threatening illness that she cured herself within a year from by choosing to focus on the happiness of others – from family members to strangers – through wishing people lovingkindness. She shared in the book that it transformed her life when she shifted to focusing 100% on what would bring happiness to others. Here is how it transformed her, “And when I wished them happiness, I felt a wave of love for them, which sometimes led to action and at other times was just a prayer, a heartfelt desire for their happiness. I started to see everyone as beautiful.”
I couldn’t agree more! I’ve been having so much fun sending lovingkindness to all those I encounter. I figure most of us get enough negative energy coming our way, so why not spread something positive instead! I’m so grateful that this kindness habit has transformed the way I see people and has help eliminate the judgments I might have previously felt toward others.
CJ’s final thoughts from the book are a great transition; closing this entry on kindness and previewing the next entry on love. “The most powerful force for good is the loving compassion that resides in our hearts. It was the flow of love that healed my body and today has become a bubbling, clear spring of happiness in my life.”

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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 challenge to inspire people to be more grateful.

Bringing Joy to Work

“To bring joy to billions” is the mission statement of Rhonda Byrne, author of The Secret and her newly released book The Power. I know that I’m one of those billion people that she was intending to bring joy to. While her work has brought me joy, she has no idea that it has. And that is like most of our work. We have no idea the kind of joy it brings to others. Maybe you’re involved in creating a product or service that changes lives. Or maybe your product or service doesn’t change lives, but you are doing so by connecting intimately with your colleagues and customers. We’ll never know the kind of joy that we will bring to another person. We just have to trust we do and keep on being joyful in our work.

Lately I’ve been observing others bringing joy to their work, which elevates my joy. Here is what I’ve noticed. The loving arms of my son’s preschool teachers welcoming him for his first day of school. The passionate woman over the phone raising money for a cause she deeply believes in. The hugs and encouraging words two facilitators share with their participants, those struggling with chronic or life-threatening illnesses. The store clerk patiently waiting to serve her long line of customers with a smile. The employee inspired to start a special interest group at her organization that is changing people’s lives.
What does joy look like in your work? The latest project that I’ve been working on is bringing me so much joy! The following is the announcement that I sent to my database about it and it brings me joy to share it with you now.

Project GratOtude Has Arrived

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. – William Arthur Ward

Greetings,
Yesterday I celebrated my birthday and thought about what it might be like to leave the gifts I received unopened. I would miss out on the experience to share pure joy with those whom I receive gifts from and with others who receive mine. According to many different experts, the importance of gratitude is the key to living a fulfilling, joyful life. While this might seem obvious, very few people actually take the time to work on integrating gratitude into their daily lives.

Recently I received a huge gift of inspiration to start a movement encouraging people to be more grateful, naming it Project GratOtude.
Today on Sept. 13 I am unwrapping this present and giving it to you on the same day that Oprah is beginning her farewell season.
Project GratOtude is dedicated to honor Oprah because she is one of my greatest teachers on the subject of how to give big and dream big.

Come find out about this grass-roots effort to inspire ONE million people to make a difference through the Project GratOtude Challenge at www.projectgratOtude.com. Join our community and we’ll give you all the secrets and tools to be MORE GRATEFUL.

We’ve gotta GREAT feeling about what’s in store for all of us who are embarking on this Project GratOtude journey together. You will feel joy rising for yourself as you make a difference and others will catch your contagious energy!

With GratITude,
Janae Bower

p.s. I invite you to join this challenge, which will bring YOU joy through practicing gratitude: www.projectgratOtude.com

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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.

I was inspired for this entry to do an audio message on inspiration. May you be inspired as you listen!

Click below to listen to message:

I is for Inspiration

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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.

What perfect timing it is for me to write this blog entry on happiness. I just came back tonight from an event for women alumni sponsored by the university I attended for both my undergraduate and graduate degree – the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota – and met one of the author’s of the newly-released book What Happy Women Do: A Salute to Sisterhood and the Rituals That Sustain Us. Dr. Carol Bruess is a wonderful example of a “happy woman” as she has found joy in sharing her work.
I’m always attracted to books on happiness because just like the great philosopher Aristotle said that happiness is the goal of all goals. “To be happy” is often the answer you’ll hear to the questions asked about what’s most important to you or what do you want most from life. So what does it mean to be truly happy? And how can we bring happiness to our work?

Happiness Resources

I’ve read a lot about this subject and have presented on it as well. A couple of my favorite resources I’ll share with you, like the society of happy people. A scientific perspective on happiness that really resonates with me and many other happiness experts out there is the work of Sonja Lyubomirsky in her book The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want.

Her scientific research demonstrates that we all have a happiness set point and the ability to determine about 40% of our happiness. According to Lyubomirsky, 50% of our happiness is determined from our genetic make up, 10% from our circumstances and then the other remaining 40% is up to us! While I’ve been wired with a happiness gene, I’ve also chosen to learn about and practice being happy.

Marci Shimoff’s book Happy for No Reason: 7 Steps to Being Happy from the Inside Out is another wonderful resource on happiness. One of the things she stressed is that happiness is something you have to be intentional about and practice. Just like you can’t expect to be a master pianist without dedicated practice, you can’t expect to master happiness without consistently making concentrated efforts.

Happiness Habits

I love Shimoff’s concept of having happiness habits. Being happy is a choice and a habit that each of us has the opportunity to make each day. I’ve been starting my daily affirmations with this beginning phrase, “I’m so grateful and happy….” Every time I say the word happy, it physically makes me smile, which in turn helps me feel more happy. I heard once that it takes many more muscles in your face to frown than it does to smile. Smiling to me is one outside indicator of happiness. Lasting happiness however needs to come from the insideout. Shimoff describes being happy for no reason as “an inner state of peace and well-being that doesn’t depend on our circumstances. It’s just an inner backdrop that you carry with you. Rather than trying to extract happiness from your life, you bring your happiness to all of your experiences.

One of her happiness habits from the heart is to spread loving kindness. “You’re your heart flows in love, you naturally feel happier. You can restart you heart’s flow by sending lovingkindness to anyone and everyone you meet.” After hearing about this concept, I’ve been intentionally practicing this throughout the day. When people are working or walking down the street I will look at them in the eyes, smile and silently send lovingkindness from my heart to theirs. I’ll never know if this makes them happier with my positive energy and love flowing their way, but it sure does make me feel happy doing it!

What happiness habits will you practice at your workplace?

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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.

“I’m blessed – thanks!” This is how the finance guy of a local car dealer shared with us in response to the question that we are all asked daily, “how are you?” His response not only made us feel good, we ended up having a very meaningful conversation during our 15 minutes together. Even though this was a couple of years ago already, I have never forgotten how inspiring his response was. I’m still trying to change my habitual “I’m good” response to one of gratitude like above. Not only do we feel better when we choose a grateful response, we have the ability to elevate those around us.

Gratitude Teachers

There is so much I want to share about gratitude, as this is one of my favorite teaching and topics to live. All of the master teachers that I’m learning from stress the importance of gratitude. In fact I was just listening to an interview of Anthony Robbins who said that the secret to living is giving. I heard how Wayne Dwyer gives thanks whenever he sees a penny, dime or any change on the ground by picking it up and saying a prayer of gratitude for how financially blessed he is. During an interview with the authors of Project Everlasting as my husband and I recently won a national love-story competition (mentioned in C is for Connection blog) they said how the marriage masters interviewed for their book and documentary explained that love is a four letter word: GIVE!

Gratitude Reminders

What I need are gratitude reminders, those little things to help keep me on track to remember to stop and appreciate all the blessings in my life. If you could only choose one thing to work on in your life that you bring you the most happiness and abundance I believe it’s about learning how to be grateful. Embracing a new mindset – an “attitude of gratitude” has transformed my life. While I’ve always been an optimist by nature I realize how many of my thoughts were not. Yet practicing this skill over the years through keeping gratitude journals, researching it, teaching it all have helped me tremendously think grateful thoughts and thus act accordingly.

Gratitude in the Workplace

The first thing that I suggest to those at work who are struggling with someone in particular or with the workplace in general is to keep a gratitude journal. Every day for 30 days write at least one thing that you are grateful for with that person or that place. Then focus on that grateful thought for the day. You’ll be amazed how just shifting your thoughts for a month will provide you a new perspective. You might even be as grateful as my friend who did this experiment for 30 days. It was around day 23 when she called to tell me how good this attitude of gratitude was going with her boss. In fact she didn’t have to journal any more as he decided to leave the company! 🙂

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Insert the word thank you into your thoughts and actions. This alone has helped me remember all the ordinary things that we take for granted to be thankful for. Meister Eckhart’s wise words tell us, “If the only prayer you say in your life is “thank you,” it would be enough. Linda and I would like to THANK YOU for taking the time to read our blog and provide comments.
How will you give and live gratitude today?

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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.

Fun at work can take many forms depending on the organization and the individual. Take my husband and me for example. This week we both had fun at work.

Outward Fun

His fun came through a quality and teambuilding conference he attended. One evening after dinner together they all went go-cart racing. He had a blast trying to defend his winning title from last year. While his fun at work was more outwardly visible – people having a good time by laughing, joking and playing together – my fun was more of what I would describe inward fun. Both ways are about feeling good!

Inward Fun

Usually when it’s nap or quiet time with my boys, I rush to the computer to get work done. This morning I decided to have fun at work. My son Garrett fell asleep in the car and instead of getting out of the car myself when I arrived home, I stayed in the car. I rolled open my sun roof to enjoy the warmth of the sun on this beautiful Minnesota summer day. I reclined my chair, shut my eyes and listened to the wisdom of one of my favorite spiritual teachers, Dr. Wayne Dwyer. I had so much fun just “being” and soaking in all the light and enlightenment into my soul. When Garrett woke up we proceeded to cool off in the backyard swinging together in the hammock. On the hammock I felt great as I reflected on all the things I was grateful for my life, smiled at my son and wrote this entry in my mind. This is the kind of work is fun to me!

Fun becomes world famous

An organization that is world famous for having fun at work is Pike Place Fish Market in Seattle. How they became world famous was the intention to be and had fun living up to it along the way. On the road of becoming world famous, the fishmongers crated a philosophy to guide them. An important part of their philosophy is to “Play” and have a good time at work. A training video company filmed this amazing, high-energy and spirited workplace and called the video Fish. Since then their company culture has become a model for other organizations. Pike Place Fish is now used as a case study in business schools and universities. There are at least four books that have been published about Pike Place Fish, one an international best-seller. They are the subject of the best selling training videos and DVDs in the world.

Fun is the work

Leslie Yerkes, author of a couple of books about having fun at work, states that fun isn’t the prize at work, but is the work. “When fun is integrated with work instead of segmented from work, the resultant fusion creates energy; it cements relationships between coworkers and between workers and the company. When fun is integrated into work, it fosters creativity and results in improved performance.”

How will you infuse fun into your work?

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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.