Work from the heart

Get the RSS Feed

Stone a heart shape.

My Mom forwarded this to me today, from Linda Graham.

I thought it was a perfect Labor Day post.

My wish for you is that you always have work that is connected to your heart, and that we work together to ensure that all people find dignified and meaningful employment.

May your work excite your heart,
Kindle in your mind a creativity
To journey beyond the old limits
Of all that has become wearisome.

May this work challenge you toward
New frontiers that will emerge
As you begin to approach them,
Calling forth from you the full force
And depth of your undiscovered gifts.

May the work fit the rhythms of your soul,
Enabling you to draw from the invisible
New ideas and a vision that will inspire.

Remember to be kind
To those you work with you,
Endeavor to remain aware
Of the quiet world
That lives behind each face.

Be fair in your expectations,
Compassionate in your criticism.
May you have the grace of encouragement
To awaken the gift in the other’s heart,
Building in them the confidence
To follow the call of the gift.

May you come to know that work
Which emerges from the mind of love
Will have beauty and form.

May this work be worthy
Of the energy of your heart
And the light of your thought.

May your work assume a proper space in your life;
Instead of owning or using you,
May it challenge and refine you,
Bringing you every day further
Into the wonder of your heart.
– John O’Donohue, To Bless the Space Between Us
Filed Under: Uncategorized

2 Responses to “Work from the heart”

  1. Ali Davies says:

    Ahhh, John O’Donohue. My favourite Irish blessing from the 7 years we lived in Ireland was by him. Thought you might like it so have posted it below.

    Beannacht

    On the day when
    The weight deadens
    On your shoulders
    And you stumble,
    May the clay dance
    To balance you.

    And when your eyes
    Freeze behind
    The grey window
    And the ghost of loss
    Gets in to you,
    May a flock of colours
    Indigo, red, green
    And azure blue
    Come to awaken in you
    A meadow of delight.

    When the canvas frays
    In the curach of thought
    And a stain of ocean
    Blackens beneath you,
    May there come across the waters
    A path of yellow moonlight
    To bring you safely home.

    May the nourishment of the earth be yours,
    May the clarity of light be yours,
    May the fluency of the ocean be yours,
    May the protection of the ancestors be yours.

    And so may a slow
    Wind work these words
    Of love around you,
    An invisible cloak
    To mind your life.

    John O’Donohue
    Anam Cara

  2. faisal says:

    So true. If what you do excites you, you will never get tired.