Introduction

Have you ever wondered if your day job aligns with your spiritual journey? I certainly did. For years, I believed that my spiritual fulfilment was tied to a specific type of work. I used to think that I needed to work in a caring profession, therapy, or energy healing. I believed that only by reaching that type of job would I be able to live a fully fulfilled spiritual life.

The Struggle for Alignment

This idea of a ‘spiritual’ job created tension and problems in my life because no matter what I was doing, I felt that it wasn’t good enough.

When I couldn’t move into different careers or afford the trainings I wanted to do, I felt resentment and disappointment.
Then one day, I heard someone speak about how the most spiritual job they ever had was working at a cinema, just checking tickets. They described how they could be in the moment, warmly greet people, and be a benevolent presence.
This got me thinking that what I needed was not a change of career, but to find joy and purpose in my work. I also noticed that whatever path I went down, I always ended up using the same skills in the same type of job. These skills were communications, marketing, and project management. The universe was trying to tell me something, but I wasn’t listening.

The Role of the Spiritual Companions Trust

When I started training with the Spiritual Companions Trust, taking their Diploma, it began to make more sense why I was working in these types of jobs.

For me, having a ‘normal’ working life means I can practice being a benevolent presence where it really matters – for when is it more important to bring a calming positive energy than in the everyday moments of life?
The Spiritual Companions course also helped me find the beauty in my working day, whether that was a kind interaction between co-workers, the sun shining in through a window, or the passion and joy of everyone when working on a project they truly cared about.
It put a lot of things into perspective too. Did it really matter if that email went out or if there was a spelling mistake? How much of a problem was it that my co-worker did something wrong or forgot something? How might an angry co-worker be feeling? Maybe they have something going on at home.

Finding Joy in Everyday Work

Having this perspective not only deepened my sense of Spirit but also my empathy and improved my well-being. I found I didn’t want to climb the career ladder anymore; I wanted to just enjoy my work and bring a nice energy to it.

I now do some work here, at the Spiritual Companions Trust, but I also work in a library. It has been wonderful exploring the energy, spirit, and joy within this new working environment of the library. I see children light up as they tell me about their recent books or giggle as their parents read them stories. Older children and teenagers come in regularly and ask me if their reserved book is in yet as they want to read the next book in the series – and are desperate to do so. I always like seeing someone bring back a crime or thriller book too. When they have enjoyed it, they have a sparkle in their eye as they hand it to me saying “Ooo that was good”.
Seeing the magic that words and books can have has been more profound than I can really express here. That is another blog. Our words between each other can bring hope, escapism, joy, and catharsis. Be that in a book or an email or a conversation between friends, family or even co-workers.

In one session at the library, I can speak to thirty people or more. Some I may have helped find something, get on a computer, or look at their family history. But when I start to reflect on what all these interactions have in common, I realize they can help someone feel calmer, less lonely, seen, and potentially safe.

I can be a calm and benevolent presence, and I can help create that calm, safe space for them too – along with my wonderful colleagues.

Of course, this is not something that can only happens in a library. I believe it can happen in all work environments – in fact anywhere: supermarket, office, building site, garage . . . What matters is that we bring the best energy we can to our work and be a supportive presence to the people around us. Any job, whatever it is, is an opportunity for us to do spiritual service and be an invisible blessing. People will appreciate it even if they don’t express it.

And it will also bring us a new understanding and deeper experience of job satisfaction. Spiritual job satisfaction.