Sections of this topic
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.
