Author: Linda Ferguson

Are you a Rhino or an Eagle?

Last week’s bombing in Boston sent shock waves across the land. As we sat watching and waiting for the events to unfold, many felt scared and helpless. Others stepped up to the plate offering support, food, shelter, and comfort.

Such an event can easily lead a country or community into panic and fear. The question to ask now is:

“How do we move forward?”

As with 9-11, we have a critical moment in time to consciously choose which path we want to follow. We can be a Rhino or an Eagle

I open the first chapter of my latest book, “Staying Grounded in Shifting Sand”, with my story of encountering two rhinos in the Royal Chitwan National Forest in Nepal. Here’s an insight I shared from that experience.

The rhino is a good metaphor for those who are living their lives without a fully awakened mind. Many people sense danger and attack, even if they don’t fully understand what they are attacking. And because they can’t see clearly, they feel in a state of anxiety or danger most of the time. You may know such people. They could be co-workers, neighbors, community leaders, friends or family members.

The fight or flight instinct is very strong in us. Fight or flight, along with feeding and mating, are the four basic human instincts. When stressed we react out of instinct or deeply learned patterns. We react without thinking through what may be happening, or as the rhino, without seeing what’s really going on. Luckily we humans can stop from instinctive, knee jerk reactions. We can reflect on the situation and see it from various viewpoints. Staying open and aware you needn’t simply react. You can choose how you respond. You can attack or flee or you can negotiate, cajole, charm, or surrender. As we move from childhood to adulthood we learn to see situations beyond what is immediately happening and to consider various options for dealing with life events.

A spiritually awakened mind not only determines what is going on in the material physical plane, but also sees beyond what is happening in the immediate moment. You learn to look for and eventually understand the spiritual lesson or spiritual drama being played out. Everyone can cultivate this spiritual way of seeing to become more centered and grounded in the midst of turbulence or stress of daily life.

In many Native American traditions, the Eagle represents Spirit and Vision. If we are to move forward with an awakened mind, we need greater vision. Rather than react and move from fear, we soar like the Eagle by seeing and understanding from a spiritual perspective.

We can see what happened in Boston, and in other places around the globe where tragedy and suffering occur, through a different lens. As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” The lens of compassionate understanding and mutual support is the spiritual pathway forward. It allows us to build each other up, not charge from fear or attack with blame and anger.

Staying Grounded in Shifting Sand

To work through stress and difficult situations as an Eagle requires new vision. With Spiritual Vision you move more easily through your worries, doubts, and fears with hope, clarity, and an awakened mind.

Living as an Eagle takes practice and a desire to do things differently. Here’s a link to a teleseminar I did last week sharing ideas on being a Rhino or an Eagle. I also spoke about the New Currency of Joyful Living, and 3 keys for greater Serenity and Inner Peace.

http://bit.ly/11kqqvq

May you create greater peace and Spiritual Vision in the weeks ahead.

Soar like the Eagle!

If you have a colleague or friend who needs extra support this week, feel free to forward this to them.

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Special Announcement: Home Study Course Enrollment Open through May 5th

If you want more support and practice with these ideas, I have open enrollment now in my distance learning course. Through weekly phone sessions and emails, you’ll explore how to apply spiritual ideas for staying grounded in the shifting sands of your life. I provide meditations, affirmations, reflection questions, and exercises to shift perspective to that of Eagle and Spirit.

Click here for more information- http://www.lindajferguson.com/staying-grounded-course/

Often we don’t pursue our passion or dreams because we don’t think it’s possible or practical to achieve them. How many times have you heard some one squelch a dream or aspiration with the words, “That’s not very realistic”.

When some one thought to put a computer on every desk, Tom Watson, then president of IBM, scoffed at the idea. He notably remarked that only a handful of people would ever need a computer. Luckily we have entrepreneurs, artists, social advocates, and expansive thinkers who don’t just look at what Is and think that’s all that can ever be.

The Edges are Where Magic Happens

Are you feeling the nudges of your heart calling you to expand how you show up in the world? If you want to be a conscious co-creator, you need to move past what is – what is already showing up in your life – to what can be. Focus on the next best expression of your life.

If you want to live bigger, express yourself more, dance with delight that you have an amazing life, you’ll likely push against the boundaries of social convention. At some point you’ll feel the boundaries of your own mind.

Most people aren’t even aware of their self-limiting beliefs of “I can’t” or “That will never happen”. These mental boundaries are often so deeply engrained we don’t see them.

Yet if you want to Show Up and Step Up to the fullest potential of Who You Are- you’ll need to recognize and push beyond the borders of What Is. Don’t simply accept boundaries given to you by your parents, boss, Vice President, peer group. You choose your comfort zone intentionally or not.

Below is a passage from my first book, “Path for Greatness: Work as Spiritual Service” where I share a story of a mental boundary I had in college. It was only years later that I recognized the boundary that perhaps changed the course of my life by limiting career options I considered.

… From a very early age, we are taught what we can or cannot do. These messages can be so deeply engrained that we aren’t even aware that they influence us. Perhaps only years later, when we have a chance to try something new, do we invoke these messages from deep withing our mental storage.

I was interested in juvenile justice work in college but gave up the idea after taking a course in it. My sociology professor said that to really make a difference in the life of juveniles we needed to be a juvenile judge or a lawmaker to enact broad-based changes. The real lesson here is this: it never occurred to me that I could be either a judge or a lawmaker. In part that was because I didn’t think women could be judges or lawmakers, but also I didn’t believe I had the gifts necessary to excel in these careers….” (pg 44)

Regardless of where or when the boundaries of your mind were set, you have a chance every day to exceed it. If you have a desire to live bigger, work bigger, play bigger, notice what messages and thoughts arise about the possibility of achieving your dream.

You get to decide which boundaries you want to explore and move past. Halleluiah!

I’ve been thinking lately about the differences between life purpose, goals, and dreams. Share your thoughts on these in the comments below. I’d love to hear how you distinguish these and use them in your life.

Life Purpose

Many people think, “If I figured out my life purpose, I’ll know what job to pursue”. You are missing the bigger picture for your life if you think of life purpose only with respect to a job or career. You fulfill your life purpose through all the ways you engage with the world. If you need to learn about compassion, forgiveness, patience, acceptance, non-judgment etc. you can fulfill that life purpose any where and with anyone.

Life Purpose is about the larger mission for your life. It’s larger than a job or career. It’s larger than your family or hobby or interests. Life purpose in my mind is a spiritual journey. It involves your soul contracts, and the spiritual lessons you need to learn in your life. Your job, family, and hobbies all are props to help you fulfill your life purpose.

Don’t get stuck in the details and weeds of your life looking for your life purpose there. Take the Eagle view and see what threads keep weaving through your life to learn your life purpose. If you want an exercise for starting this journey, email me (info@lindajferguson.com).

Goals

Goals are for short term projects. You have a goal to get a new job, to finish a house project, to travel someplace. These are tangible, time limited projects that you want to complete. Use the SMART framework to create clear goals. Make them Specific, Measurable (how will you know you completed your goal), Acceptable, Realistic, Timely (specify a time frame when the goal will be completed, usually not longer than 3-6 months).

When I work with my coaching clients, I have them establish 1-3 SMART goals they want to complete within 90 days. These serve as the focus of our work together. I coach my clients through their stumbling blocks, review progress of their weekly action steps, and provide inspiration and support as they complete their goals. It helps to have a neutral person to support and provide guidance on your goals.

Dreams

Dreams seem to be those high aspirations, the “wouldn’t it be wonderful if…” ideas you have. They may be part of your life purpose, but not necessarily. Some people think dreams are fanciful, but not necessarily achievable. If you want to take action to fulfill your dreams, you’ll need to establish goals to get you there.

If you find yourself in a rut or not very enthusiastic about life or work, consider having a dream (or two or three). If you want to expand your life, dreams are a good way to start.

• What is the next wonderful thing you could imagine for your life?
• What is the glorious expression of peace and love you’d like to see in your world?

These will get you thinking about your dreams. Let your answers percolate and simmer in the back of your brain. Then see what gets your attention over the next few weeks. If something resonates or seems like a coincidence to your dream, take note of what messages you are getting. You may be getting some nudge from the Universe to tune in more clearly to what is unfolding for you.

Let me finish here with a wonderful quote from one of my folk heroes, Bill Breeden. I mention him in the chapter on Life Purpose in my first book, Path for Greatness: Work as Spiritual Service.

Like Jonah, you may seek other adventures, only to be swallowed up by experiences larger than yourself, and finally to be spit out so that you can pursue your true purpose. It is like Abraham saying to God, “Here I am.” Rev. Bill Breeden

As you pursue your life purpose, your dreams, and goals, be willing to be swallowed up by something bigger than yourself.

Surf’s Up!

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Dr. Linda J. Ferguson is a spiritual job and life coach, author and speaker. Her latest book, “Staying Grounded in Shifting Sand” is a spiritual guidebook for daily living. Available from Amazon or your local independent book store.

Linda’s 10^th Anniversary edition of “Path for Greatness: Work as Spiritual Service” is a wonderful gift for a colleague, friend or family member. Available on Amazon or your local independent book store.

Sign-Up on Linda’s website- www.lindajferguson.com for tools and inspiration to live and work from the heart.

‘Like’ https://www.facebook.com/LindaJFerguson for more blog posts and updates of Linda’s work.

If you’ve lost your job in the recent economic downturn, now is a wonderful opportunity to find your Right Livelihood. Use this time to fully examine your skill set and where your growing edge is. Don’t be afraid to explore something new, more in alignment with your skills and interests.

If you are still in the same job you were 20 years ago, what’s keeping you there? Is it inertia and fear? What may be calling you now to step out and re-align your work with who you really are?

I’ve had several occasions in the last decade where I’ve had to re-structure my skill set, learn new skills, and re-align my work with my current interests. Though the period of re-alignment was financially and mentally scary, in the end I landed exactly where I needed to be. I ended up doing work that was gratifying and rewarding.

If you are contemplating a job change or have a job change forced on you, don’t despair. Take this opportunity as a gift from the Universe to follow your path to Enlightenment, Authentic Living, and greater Wisdom.

Right Livelihood Calling You

Your Right Livelihood may lie at the far reaches of your growing edge. It maybe calling you to shift where you are and taking you where you need to be next.

In the chapter of my first book on life purpose, I describe some differences between Workaholism and Right Livelihood. Here is an excerpt from Chapter 3 of “Path for Greatness: Work as Spiritual Service” that summarizes Right Livelihood:

 

Because people spend so much of their waking life in work, the Buddha recognized that Right Livelihood is a vehicle to practice morality in work and find Enlightenment. Right Livelihood is work that does no harm and brings people closer to Ultimate Wisdom. Right Livelihood is the fifth step along the Buddhist Eightfold Path to Enlightenment. Through Right Livelihood one can practice Right Understanding, Right Thought, Right Speech, and Right Action.

The focus of Right Livelihood is not on having a particular job or doing a specific type of work, but on the process and way of being through one’s work. Right Livelihood is joyful and serves others. It helps us grow and learn; it fits who we are. Through Right Livelihood we see work being as much a vacation as a vocation. Most importantly, Right Livelihood helps us see how we are all part of the Web of Life, and thus does not entail bringing harm to others, society, or the earth.

Right Livelihood is a creative process, ever-unfolding and ever-changing. As we learn and grow, our Right Livelihood must change to allow us to grow and use more of our gifts. We must continually examine who we are and what we need to do to fulfill our purpose. We will use and develop different gifts at different stages of our life.

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Dr. Linda J. Ferguson is a Job and Life Coach supporting spiritually awakened professionals to step through their fears and challenges to find greater harmony and joy. Visit www.lindajferguson to see videos and learn more about Linda’s work.

Linda’s first book, “Path for Greatness” is available as paperback and ebook from Amazon, and your local independent book store.

This week has been a big one for me to face my fears and see past the illusions. Many people are reacting with fear to news from Washington of the budget problems. Perhaps your job is affected by that.

I want to offer some thoughts here to help you step through any fears or doubts you are having. To help you see through illusions projected by fear-creators in your work or life, know that only you can choose to look at your world through the lens of fear- or not. You don’t have to buy into other people’s fear.

I remembered the acronym -F.E.A.R. standing for False Evidence Appearing Real.

Various faith traditions speak of walking through faith tests and facing ever more challenging situations as a way to strengthen connection to Source/God/Allah/Great Spirit/Holy Oneness (that goes by many names yet is beyond naming).

Sadhana – Spiritual Practice

I recently ran across these ideas on Sadhana. Sadhana is disciplined spiritual practice in pursuit of a goal, or to connect ever more deeply with God/God Consciousness. Sadhana is undertaken in Buddhism, Sufism, and Hinduism in various ways, all designed to focus the mind and bring clarity.

I offer here some reminders if you are facing fears, dealing with tests of faith, or needing to see past illusions.

From Ram Dass:

As you further purify yourself, your impurities will seem grosser and larger. Understand that it’s not that you are getting more caught in the illusion, it’s just that you are seeing it more clearly.

The lions guarding the gates of the temples get fiercer as you proceed towards each inner temple. But of course the light is also brighter. It all becomes more intense because of the additional energy involved at each stage of sadhana.

There are stages at which you feel pulled in to inner work and all you seek is a quiet place to meditate and to get on with it. Then there are times when you turn outward and seek to be involved in the market place. Both of these parts of the cycle are a part of one’s sadhana. For what happens to you in the market place helps in your meditation and what happens to you in meditation helps you to participate in the market place without attachment.”

Meher Baba offers these thoughts on Sadhana:

The goal of sadhana is God-realization. It aims at bringing about a radical change in the quality of life so that it permanently becomes an expression of the Truth in the eternal NOW. Sadhana is spiritually fruitful if it succeeds in bringing the life of the individual in tune with the divine purpose, which is to enable everyone to enjoy consciously the God-state.”

May your journey to Oneness be taken with courage, determination, grace, and awareness.

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Dr. Linda J. Ferguson is an author, speaker, job coach, and energy worker. Her spiritual practices include Sufi Dances of Universal Peace, Integral Yoga, Shamanic drumming, and Medicine Wheel prayers.

Now available!! Linda’s new book, “Staying Grounded in Shifting Sand” – Click here to order.

Visit https://www.facebook.com/LindaJFerguson for more blog posts and updates of Linda’s work.

Share Linda’s 10^th Anniversary edition of “Path for Greatness: Work as Spiritual Service”as a gift for a colleague, friend or family member who desires to integrate their spiritual life and their work life. Available on Amazon- Click HERE

Sign-Up on Linda’s website- www.lindajferguson.com to live and work from the heart- Transformational Empowerment

This week we have a guest blogger, DARLENE M. OLIVER. She is an attorney with a wonderful story of her transformation from corporate lawyer to social justice champion. I was inspired by her journey and words below. I hope you will be inspired as well to follow your passion and purpose.

May you make the world a better place by sharing your gifts in loving service.

Linda

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In December 2008, I lost my partnership position at a law firm where I had worked for 8 years. The word ‘devastated’ doesn’t begin to describe how I felt on the day I was told, though nicely, that I’d have to look elsewhere for a paycheck because of the economy. I put on a brave face for the rest of the day. But when I got home and put my daughter to bed, I melted into a puddle of confusion, tears and anger. I thought I had done everything right — graduated from a respectable Midwestern liberal arts college, earned a law degree from Georgetown University and made partner at a firm doing civil rights work.

That night while ‘puddling’ on my living room floor, l cried out angrily to God. ‘Just what the hell am I supposed to do now? How could you build me up, bless me with a beautiful home, a lovely daughter and a solid career only to snatch that last one away? How am I going to support the first two with no job?’ With tears flowing down my face and curses on my lips, I reached for my bible. I had been cultivating my relationship with God for a long time. Surely He would tell me something in my time of need. Praying desperately for guidance, I opened my bible. I hadn’t turned to a specific page. I just wanted God to comfort me.

I guess He was listening. My bible fell open to Chapter 1 of Joshua. There, God tells Joshua that he has been chosen to lead the Israelites after Moses’s death. God must have known that Joshua needed some serious encouragement to fill the shoes of one of His greatest servants!

My eyes moved toward verse 9, which reads: “This is my command – be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. In that first Chapter of Joshua, God told him (and me!) 3 times to be strong and have courage. It was like God was shouting “Don’t give up Darlene! Keep moving! I’ve got your back!” In that moment, I took Him at his word. I dried my tears and got up off of the floor. My curses turned to praises. While I still had no idea what I was going to do financially, I knew that by leaning on my faith, I would be okay. I also knew that if I was honest with myself, I had been miserable at my firm for years. My spirit was tired and I had been quietly aching to do something different for a long time.

With those bible verses urging me on, I gathered my courage and started looking for work that would nourish me. For years I had volunteered on nonprofit Boards for a variety of organizations. Even before that, I had longed to do work that mattered. I wanted to impact people’s lives. Racial equality and social justice stirred my spirit. As a woman of color, I knew first hand that racism, sexism and poverty still existed in this country despite the accomplishments of the man currently in the White House.

In May 2010, I started working for a small nonprofit that focuses on breast cancer health disparities in the African American community. After getting the job, my blessings continued. In January 2012, the Chicago Community Trust, one of the largest community foundations in the country, awarded me a leadership development fellowship. Through this program, emerging nonprofit leaders receive funding to use toward their individually created professional development plans. The fellowship allows recipients to explore big ideas for their careers.

The soul of my fellowship plan lay in connecting with seasoned social justice leaders across the country. I wanted to know how they continued to fight against injustice despite frustrating political climates, apathy, and the slow pace of change. What kept these leaders going year after year? To me, these men and women are modern-day Davids fighting against the Goliaths of poverty, racism, sexism and greed. While Goliath often seems to be winning, these leaders never give up. What was the source of that “stick-to-it-iveness?” Because faith has played such a critical role in my professional and personal life, I also wanted to know if faith played any role in the ability of these leaders to keep fighting for the betterment of society.

During my fellowship year, I traveled to Washington D.C., Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles to meet these Davids. I also found many of them in my home town of Chicago. I was privileged to meet twenty five women and men who work hard every day to make our country a just place for ALL people. These encounters filled me with inspiration and hope. I learned that the best social justice leaders are servants to the people they work for and with. I learned that a powerful leader doesn’t have to know how to do it all herself. It is the collective work of an entire team that creates real social change. I learned that all of them, even those who don’t identify with any particular religion or faith, are led by an inner drive to right wrongs; a sense that unfairness exists and must be rooted out; a belief that all people are entitled to live free of man-made barriers like poverty and discrimination. I also learned that it is not enough to point out the injustices in this world. A true social justice leader must have a clear vision of what justice means and what the world should be.

Most importantly, I could see God working in the lives of these leaders. In their words, they echoed what He had whispered to me years earlier as I lay weeping on my living room floor. Be strong and have courage. Keep moving. Keep fighting the good fight for I am with you wherever you go.

© Darlene M. Oliver, February 15, 2013, Chicago, Illinois

This year I want to highlight stories from my book “Path for Greatness: Work as Spiritual Service” as well as enlightened companies. In the last two chapters of my book, I refer to such companies as Higher Consciousness Organizations (HCOs).

I was recently introduced to Café Gratitude in Kansas City. From what I can tell Cafe Gratitude fits the qualities on an HCO. To learn more about their vision and their commitment to raising consciousness about how we grow and eat food, visit http://cafegratitude.com/

The White Dog Café in PA is another socially conscious restaurant (http://www.whitedog.com/about.html) . It was started by a visionary woman, Judy Wicks.

Judi has since retired from White Dog Café, but made a big impact in the world of HCOs. She was a founding member of the Social Venture Network (www.svn.org) and BALLE (http://bealocalist.org/). Both organizations support businesses that see their mission as serving the planet and society. These businesses are dedicated to making ‘profit with a purpose’ and believe in ‘doing well by doing good’.

Below are some excerpts from Chapter 1 in “Path for Greatness” describing the work of Judy Wicks. Throughout the 1980-90’s Judy was a pioneer in the ‘fair trade’ movement supporting independent and local food growers rather than big agribusinesses.

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… She says she “uses good food to lure people in for social activism. …. Judy believes in buying products directly from places that need U.S. support for their local economy. She travels to countries to speak to the food growers to set up special purchasing agreements. She makes a point to get to know the people who will be supplying the food for her customers. Judy set up an international sister restaurant program called “Table for 6 Billion Please” as her way to help feed the world. She started her business with an interest in not just feeding those of us in the land of plenty.

Judy looks for ways to establish business contacts with people regardless of whether our country sees them as friends. Judy refers to this as “eating with the enemy”. She wants to “bake bread together to create world peace.” She firmly believes that if we are to build a more just society and attain world peace, we must establish direct connections with people and find ways to work with them so that they can benefit directly.

….In her work with the Social Venture Network, she sees the integration of entrepreneurship, social activism, and spirituality leading to a more just world, with greater personal development also taking place.” (pg 18-19, Path for Greatness: Work as Spiritual Service)

For more inspiration of enlightened entrepreneurs, see Judy and the other 25 honorees inducted to the SVN Hall of Fame: svn-hall-of-fame

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Linda is inviting spiritually oriented professionals to participate in a Spring coaching group (max. of 15 people). If you desire to make a shift in how you work, contact Linda by Feb. 28, 2013 for more information on how you can join. Email Linda at: ljfergusonphd@gmail.com and write “Group Coaching for Working Spiritually” in the Subject line.

BUY Linda’s 10^th Anniversary edition of “Path for Greatness: Work as Spiritual Service”. Share this as a gift for a colleague, friend or family member who desires to integrate their spiritual life and their work life.

Sign-Up on Linda’s website- www.lindajferguson.com for valuable tools to live and work from the heart- Transformational Empowerment _TM

As I mentioned in my last post, I’m doing a series this year with posts from excerpts from my first book, “Path for Greatness: Work as Spiritual Service“.

Below is my framework from the 1st chapter for aligning your gifts, passion and purpose. Most people feel burned out, stressed out, bored, or frustrated when their talents and skills aren’t aligned with the work they are doing.

People need to feel they are utilizing their gifts and sharing them in a way that feels worthwhile. Most people get excited about making a positive impact with their work and for the world.

If your staff aren’t as motivated or engaged as you’d like, check to see if there is a good fit between their goals, skills, interests and passions with the work you are asking them to do.

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Personal spiritual greatness comes from having fertile soil (spiritual inspiration, values, and principles), firm roots (purpose), strong stem (passion), developed leaves (gifts), and sweet nectar (Service).

Your greatness of character, your authenticity, and your integrity blossom out in the magnificence of your being when these are in alignment.

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

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“Like” Linda’s Fan Page – https://www.facebook.com/LindaJFerguson to get notices of these blog posts and other updates of Linda’s work.

BUY Linda’s 10^th Anniversary edition of “Path for Greatness: Work as Spiritual Service”. Share this as a gift for a colleague, friend or family member who desires to integrate their spiritual life and their work life.

Sign-Up on Linda’s website- www.lindajferguson.com for valuable tools to live and work from the heart- Transformational Empowerment _TM

I decided to share excerpts of my first book, “Path for Greatness: Work as Spiritual Service” as a series for this year. I’ve shared this book with groups around the country and with professional associations to great reviews. I look forward to sharing the ideas from my book with you.

To a wonderful new year of exciting opportunities and positive changes.

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Excerpts from the Introduction – “Path for Greatness: Work as Spiritual Service”, pg 4-6

My purpose for doing this book comes from my desire to propose another way of working, a way that leaves people feeling fulfilled rather than empty, enriched rather than drained, affirmed rather than angry. We focus on growing spiritually during our daily work to live our personal greatness.

Like so many others, I have a strong yearning to bring my wholeness of being into alignment with my work. The task of writing this book has been a challenge for me to work spiritually, to keep open to guidance and inner clarity as I struggle to find the right words to put on the page. My process of living in the moment with my work – being both task-oriented and spiritually aware- provided me the experience of living what I was writing. ……..

When we understand that our life quest is to grow spiritually, we can live this quest through the myriad of experiences that allow us to be more compassionate and loving, anywhere and at any time we choose. This is the ultimate in living a spiritually great life. I invite you to enter the book from whatever point along your spiritual path you are.

………Words such as compassion, authenticity, awareness or trust may be easy to accept as workplace language, whereas words such as forgiveness, mindfulness, atonement, or love may be harder for some people to use at work. …… I use language from various faith traditions so that people will understand the universality of the concepts presented. I use stories from various faith traditions to show that working spiritually isn’t based on one belief system or connected to any single religious doctrine. It is important that people understand the distinction I make in chapter 4 between spirituality and religion. I hope to reclaim some traditionally “religious” words as universal human characteristics so they can be used at work and in organizations…………

You are invited to explore, to question, to experiment with the ideas in the hope that you will be able to experience your wholeness of being and connectedness with others as well as the Divine Spirit.

If you are reading this now, then you are ready to grown towards your greatness. If this book speaks to a truth inside of you, then you are ready to find ways to work spiritually.

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

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“Like” Linda’s Fan Page – https://www.facebook.com/LindaJFerguson to get notices of these blog posts and other updates of Linda’s work.

Order Linda’s 10^th Anniversary edition of “Path for Greatness: Work as Spiritual Service”. Click HERE to order from Amazon

Share this as a gift for a colleague, friend or family member who desires to integrate their spiritual life and their work life.

Sign-Up on Linda’s website- www.lindajferguson.com for valuable tools to live and work from the heart- receive her Transformational Empowerment series.

This post is part 2 of Crystal Davis’ guest blog based on her dissertation on Servant Leadership in a spiritual organization. Ms. Davis is passionately engaged in Servant Leadership and selfless service to the nonprofit and public sectors having served both large and small organizations throughout her career and her consulting business.

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I decided to look at self-transcendence and servant leadership behavior through the lens of Religious Science. Centers for Spiritual Living teaches a philosophy that came out of the New Thought Movement, and was started in the mid-1800s by Transcendentalists like Ralph Waldo Emerson and continued into the twentieth century with the teachings of Emmett Fox, Napoleon Hill, Emma Curtis Hopkins, and Ernest Holmes.

Centers for Spiritual Living (CSL) was founded in the early 20th century by Dr. Ernest Holmes. Holmes (1966) believed there was a thread of truth running through every great religion and philosophy and it was his desire to pluck out that thread, leaving behind all superstition, dogma, and religious opinion. Holmes (1966) taught Religious Science from his book, The Science of Mind: A Philosophy a Faith, A Way of Life. Religious Science teaches three core values; A belief in every religion and honor all paths to God; A belief that every life is sacred and valuable; and A belief that every person is on a spiritual journey which will ultimately lead to their greatest good. Centers for Spiritual Living around the world use the Science of Mind textbook written by Dr. Holmes as one of the resources for the aforementioned beliefs.

Science of Mind has influenced luminaries in the field of self-development such as Wayne Dyer, Jack Canfield, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Beckwith, and Marianne Williamson. The integrated movement has over 400 spiritual centers in 29 countries, and publishes two inspirational monthly magazines with a combined readership of 100,000.

Holmes (1966) taught that the universe is created by an Infinite Mind; therefore one should remain “open at the top”; always ready to incorporate new wisdom as it is revealed through the arts, science and religion. The western Holy Bible, along with the eastern teachings of the Tao and other sacred texts are illumined as resources for spiritual truth (Star, 2008).

Centers for Spiritual Living celebrate and welcomes diversity. It is believed that every person holds equal value in the eyes of God regardless of religion, race, gender, sexual orientation or any other worldly identification that attempts to separate people. Centers for Spiritual Living hold the vision that one day humankind will see itself as one people on one planet, living in one universe governed by one God.

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

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Crystal J Davis holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Kansas State University, a Masters in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma, and will graduate with a Doctorate in Management and Organizational Leadership from University of Phoenix in December 2013.