Mind Body Spirit

Participating in a course “Inspirational Leaders” our assignments including reading and selecting a word-a-day from Spirit at Work Cards: Bringing Spirit and Values to Work by Lance H.K. Secretan. It is interesting how this book and the vocabulary concepts presented within fit right into my 365 Words for 2015 project. While some mornings I hit the floor running with enormous ideas for writing and the letters just spill across the page, on other mornings I seek inspiration. Today that arrived bound in the word congruency.

A congruent character places trust and honesty at the forefront of every situation. The mind is aligned not only with the tasks at hand – work, family, friendship, product development – but with the advantages and disadvantages that the task holds for each stakeholder. I may declare a vacation in Hawaii is the best chance for family reunification but without planning and interactive discussion I may discover twenty people jammed into sardine-sized rooms while rain pours, liquor decants, and arguments discharge. Such drizzle on paradise is not beneficial to anyone. My mind created a terrific scenario but my spirit failed to touch and tap into the lives and feelings of others.

Body entails seizing all that is within and putting it forward. My mind designed a vision of perfection, my body and internal tickings must combine to carry it out. We have decided to remodel a house for out neighbors. She just returned from knee surgery so the steps are a disaster; he suffers dementia and the twists, turns, and torn carpet jumble his steps and his thinking. I must possess a roadmap for our work, plus it is essential to include everyone in the blueprint to achieve success. Our minds combine as our bodies unite to produce. Organization reigns and dedication sees the job from start to finish. Mind and body are congruent in goals and aspirations. We are reaching out to help others, while making certain that ours is the desired help needed.

Along with mind and body is the essence of spirit. Our spirits drive us with determination to help others with little attention to personal gain. I say little attention because when we work for the common good, there is definitely much that the soul earns. The rewards are not monetary, although money can be accepted as it can then be transferred into a new project. As far as personal richness, that blossoms in the depths of the heart, the core of the individual. The spirit when given in totality seems to regenerate energy with each movement and step. The mind may tire, the body grow weary, but the spirit powers on. It is important to examine feelings of exasperation and frustration to determine their root. Often it is not that the product or project is not good or that the mind and the body were misaligned but that the spirit lacked the fortitude to accomplish the greatest ends.

Finally, into the mind/body/spirit mix come emotions. I view emotions as those thoughts and feelings that escape, whether through a slow simmer or busting burst to energize or deflate. Emotions intertwine our passions and reactions, our sentiments and sense of excitement. They are contagious; extremely so. When you laugh, most often others laugh too. When you giggle, they will giggle along with you. When you scream with passionate joy, the resonance fills the air and the spirits of those with whom you work resonate. The same is true when your emotions are a drag. Your anger bites; your fury hurls ferocity into the faces of others. Wrath and vehemence destroy the best of intentions and ruin the congruency of individuals and teams, bodies and souls.

As you approach the next major objective with purpose and