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Two weeks ago, I attended my first silent retreat. I’m not sure I’ve ever spent so much dedicated time in prayer and meditation, but something within my body settled into that slow and quiet rhythm faster than I anticipated.

While I expected to be bored or anxious, my soul welcomed the opportunity to get still and simply listen.

This week’s intention

Since the retreat, I’ve worked to bring more quiet and presence into my busy workweek. I forced myself to get up from my desk and spend 20 mins outside in nature each day.

For most of the time, I simply close my eyes and listen to the sounds of the birds, insects and whistling trees. It’s a magnificent symphony that anchors me in a beautiful, and ironically more productive, place.

My intention is to listen more deeply.

This week, I hope you also find a way to listen for the hidden, or often ignored sounds, in your life. Close your eyes during a conference call and really hear the unique tenor of someone’s voice, pause to appreciate the majesty of laughter, or go outside and listen to nature.

Whatever you pick, practice listening for it at least once a day. I’ll have more on this topic next week. See you then!

Working Whole is available on Amazon and all major online book retailers.

WORKING WHOLE: How to Unite Your Spiritual Beliefs and Your Work to Live Fulfilled 

#workingwholebook

Learn more about Simply Service, my work and me at Purpose and Kourtney’s story.

Meet me here to connect more often.

Know someone else that needs peace and inspiration in their work life? Send them my way.

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Seeking a change in your work environment can take on many shapes and forms. There are challenging  job opportunities that will expand your understanding of yourself and the world around you. There are also safer, more comfortable jobs that affirm an important need for rest and peace.

The challenge of achieving a fulfilled work-life is to know which one aligns with your ever-changing circumstances and desires. But it’s hard to know what you really want.

This week’s intention

Are you craving a new adventure?  OR Are you worn out and drained?

Do you want to shake things up in your life? OR  Are you hoping for time to catch your breath?

My intention is to access my true needs.

Let these questions sit in your heart this week. Ask yourself: in what direction are you being pulled? Do you want to speed up your pace of growth or do you need to slow down and recharge? Are you ready for a change?

Pray, journal, mediate and reflect. Take the time to access your true needs. More on this next week.

Working Whole is available on Amazon and all major online book retailers.

WORKING WHOLE: How to Unite Your Spiritual Beliefs and Your Work to Live Fulfilled 

#workingwholebook

Learn more about Simply Service, my work and me at Purpose and Kourtney’s story.

Meet me here to connect more often.

Know someone else that needs peace and inspiration in their work life? Send them my way.

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I hope you are enjoying the long Labor Day weekend.

Instead of a post this week, I sent out my Fall 2019 Newsletter.

Our theme for this season centers on the power of possibility – how to evaluate what you have and decide where you want to go next. 

Each section is meant to help you reflect and steer your work-life toward new and meaningful goals.

Click here to sign up and get started. I’ll see you next week with a new intention.

 

Working Whole is available on Amazon and all major online book retailers.

WORKING WHOLE: How to Unite Your Spiritual Beliefs and Your Work to Live Fulfilled 

#workingwholebook

Learn more about Simply Service, my work and me at Purpose and Kourtney’s story.

Meet me here to connect more often.

Know someone else that needs peace and inspiration in their work life? Send them my way.

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Journaling has become a practice that grounds and blesses me. Sometimes I go back and read words that my former self found important and I always seem to find those old hopes and intentions at just the perfect time.

Our intention this week is inspired by a post made almost a year ago. It was clearly a time when I was dreading the start of school and my work travel season. For me, and for many of us, the fall brings a new level of business.

This week’s intention

This week, I hope you will stay mindful of the gift that each day holds and trust that you are capable and prepared. I hope that you will ease into whatever this next season of life is about to bring you.

My intention is ease into this next season.

Spend this last week of August placing this intention deep in your heart when you meditate and pray.

See you next week!

 

Working Whole is available on Amazon and all major online book retailers.

WORKING WHOLE: How to Unite Your Spiritual Beliefs and Your Work to Live Fulfilled 

#workingwholebook

Learn more about Simply Service, my work and me at Purpose and Kourtney’s story.

Meet me here to connect more often.

Know someone else that needs peace and inspiration in their work life? Please share.

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Work is hard. Distractions are plentiful. And time is short.

– Adam Hochschild

I’ve been having a hard time staying focused lately. I can’t tell if I’m tried or distracted so I’m trying to disconnect more and solve both problems.

This week’s intention

I’ll be short this week and just leave you to think about what, if anything, might be distracting you from your purpose. Is it fatigue? Is it obligation? Is it a lack of inspiration?

My intention is to identify distractions.

No need to fix anything. Just think about it.

I’ll see you next week.

 

Working Whole is available on Amazon and all major online book retailers.

WORKING WHOLE: How to Unite Your Spiritual Beliefs and Your Work to Live Fulfilled 

#workingwholebook

Learn more about Simply Service, my work and me at Purpose and Kourtney’s story.

Meet me here to connect more often.

Know someone else that needs peace and inspiration in their work life? Please share.

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“No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.”

                                                                               -Heraclitus

A few years ago, I heard the quote above in a graduation ceremony. I’ve said it over and over in my mind since first hearing it.

It’s been a simple reminder that life is constantly changing around me and within me.

This week’s intention

Summer is slipping away and changes are coming whether we want them or not. I’d rather embrace them and I hope you will too.

This week, ask yourself what you want to change in your life, if anything?

My intention is to welcome change.

Journal on these three questions:

  • How is the world around me changing for the better?
  • How will this year have changed who I am?
  • What impact am I having on the people around me?

Spend this week in reflection and prayer and try your best to enjoy these fleeting summer days. See you next week.

Working Whole is available on Amazon and all major online book retailers.

WORKING WHOLE: How to Unite Your Spiritual Beliefs and Your Work to Live Fulfilled 

#workingwholebook

Learn more about Simply Service, my work and me at Purpose and Kourtney’s story.

Meet me here to connect more often.

Know someone else that needs peace and inspiration in their work life? Please share.

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Our thoughts and prayers are bursting at the seams. There’s an endless need to send them into the world, toward our own country, and to help the people we love.

But what else, if anything, can you do?

This week’s intention

We need to give up on the idea of perfect service or perfect giving because it is significantly limiting our impact on the world.

“My actions are too small to make a difference.”

Does the idea above resonate with you? For most people, it does.

We think that if we aren’t a wealthy philanthropist or able to quit our job to work in politics or launch a cause, we can’t do anything to make this world better besides pray.

Prayer is comforting and powerful, but you may be called to do more. This week, I simply want you to make time to ask yourself the question: What else can you do?

My intention is to allow myself to be moved to action.

Try to keep in mind that action can be small, but it has to be deliberate and tangible. Something will always be better than nothing. Pray for discernment and direction.

Hoping you have a safe, productive, and soul-stirring week. See you soon.

Working Whole is available on Amazon and all major online book retailers.

WORKING WHOLE: How to Unite Your Spiritual Beliefs and Your Work to Live Fulfilled 

#workingwholebook

Learn more about Simply Service, my work and me at Purpose and Kourtney’s story.

Meet me here to connect more often.

Know someone else that needs peace and inspiration in their work life? Please share.

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Work and gratitude are like a happy marriage. When combined, they help each other do more, grow and thrive.

If you’re trying to live a life of service you will find yourself drawn to gratitude too. One can’t help but cultivate the other.

This week’s intention

A lot oSending a thank you email has the power to brighten your day just as much as the person receiving it.

Below are a few ideas of people you may want to thank. Plan to reach out to them and share how they impacted your life (if that is still possible). But either way, take time this week to explore and feel your gratitude for them.

My intention is to focus on gratitude.

People you may need to thank:

  • The person who showed you what a good leader looks like
  • The person who taught you how to teach others
  • The person who listened when you couldn’t hold it in any longer
  • The person who taught you that laughter has the power to heal
  • The person who overlooked a mistake when you didn’t deserve it
  • The person who always had time for you
  • The person who gave you that compliment you’ll never forget
  • The person who believed in you when you couldn’t believe in yourself
  • The person who had a good reason to judge you, but didn’t
  • The person who played a small role in your major life decision
  • The person who helped you when you definitely weren’t at your best
  • The person who prayed for you

Get started and see you next week!

Working Whole is available on Amazon and all major online book retailers.

WORKING WHOLE: How to Unite Your Spiritual Beliefs and Your Work to Live Fulfilled 

#workingwholebook

Learn more about Simply Service, my work and me at Purpose and Kourtney’s story.

Meet me here to connect more often.

Know someone else that needs peace and inspiration in their work life? Please share.

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The characteristics of the winter season can show up at any time of the year.

We experience winters in our careers, in our relationships, in our health, and in our hearts. I’ve noticed that the spirit of winter has been calling me lately. I’m tired and I need a break.

This week’s intention

It’s hard to shift from dreaming and building to hibernating and healing. But it’s a natural and absolutely necessary part of life.

My intention is to take a break.

If you’ve been putting off the work of resting and/or healing, I want to encourage you to take a break from all the doing in your life. I want to encourage you to find the time to care for yourself.

This week, journal about what you need to heal and what has been making you tired. Pause in the middle of the summer and grant yourself a mini-hibernation. Disconnect more than you usually would from social media and any non-essential obligations. Take a break. You’ve earned it.

See you next week!

Working Whole is available on Amazon and all major online book retailers.

WORKING WHOLE: How to Unite Your Spiritual Beliefs and Your Work to Live Fulfilled 

#workingwholebook

Learn more about Simply Service, my work and me at Purpose and Kourtney’s story.

Meet me here to connect more often.

Know someone else that needs peace and inspiration in their work life? Please share.

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I probably enjoy talking about what people do for a living more than most. But even I’m tired of being asked, “What do you do?” It’s an easy and relevant way to start a dialogue, but it limits deeper insight.

Most of us respond with a shallow and scripted answer that feels more like a transaction than a conversation.

So this week, our task is to go beyond titles and small talk; our goal is to truly connect.

This week’s intention

Here are 10 questions to ask instead. Some are more personal than others, but all should spark deeper and more interesting conversations.

My intention is to learn more about the people around me.

  • What’s your favorite part of your job?
  • If you retired tomorrow, how would you spend your days?
  • What keeps you living in this area?
  • Which of your jobs shaped you the most?
  • Who is your favorite person at work?
  • Where’s your favorite place?
  • If you could heal one problem in the world, what would it be?
  • How long could you give up your phone without missing it?
  • What habit do you wish you had?
  • How do you rest and recover?

Hoping these question will enhance your perspective. See you next week!

Working Whole is available on Amazon and all major online book retailers.

WORKING WHOLE: How to Unite Your Spiritual Beliefs and Your Work to Live Fulfilled 

#workingwholebook

Learn more about Simply Service, my work and me at Purpose and Kourtney’s story.

Meet me here to connect more often.

Know someone else that needs peace and inspiration in their work life? Please share.