Working Hard

Admittedly, my first inclination was to interpret this as physical labor; physical labor is hard work. After reflecting, I am willing to see hard work includes any work in which someone can fully engage themselves. Practice makes the work easier but any work might be considered hard work.

Hard work is any work in which someone can fully engage themselves.

Fulfillment, then, reveals itself in a variety of ways:

Best Effort. It is difficult to bring my best everyday, and my best may not be the same from day to day. Giving my best effort, then, is willingly laying what I have out there in my work. Sometimes the best I have is to keep showing up for work. Knowing that, I work with the following thoughts:

• What is my best today?
• I am willing to bring my best whatever it is.
• I will practice engaging all my faculties in work.
• I will bring my intellectual, emotional, and physical energies to work.
• In the face of challenges, I will continue to bring my best.

Laying Foundations. Sometimes work is laying a foundation. The work will be completed by someone else. I sometimes find work hard when I will not see the fruit of its completion. Knowing that sometimes I lay foundations for work I cannot see:

• I recognize that everything is in process.
• I am willing to work just as hard when I will not see the final fruit of my work.
• I cannot do everything; I can do my own part of the work.
• My part in the work is enough for me.
• I will keep a long view.

Learning. No matter what work I am doing, that work can teach me something. The lesson could be about the work in which I am engaged or have greater life implications. Either way, learning itself is fulfilling! I affirm:

• I will allow work failures and successes to teach me.
• I will “keep awake” in and to the moments I work.
• I will be open to surprising lessons about myself and the world.

Patience. The ability to stick with work that takes longer than expected or repeatedly hits challenges requires patience. Sometimes work actually teaches patience if and as I persevere. I practice pausing in frustrating moments. I give attention to my breathing. I arriemf:

• I will stay focused through breathing and pausing as necessary.
• I will stick with the problems as they arise in order to solve them.
• I will take a break or do something else when I get “stuck,” returning later to the challenge.
• I will be open to unexpected solutions from unexpected origins.
• I will use my breath practice, breathing myself into and through the reactive moments.
• I will forgive myself even if I lose it and become reactive.

I will leave this thought:

With or without “completing” work, fulfillment comes in giving our best effort, laying foundations for ongoing work, learning the lessons the work teaches, and showing patience through the process.