Spirituality in Business

Do you work in corporate, or are you an entrepreneur in business who is gifted with a high sense of spiritual learnings and self-awareness? Do you work in an environment that does not like to talk about it, or is encouraged not to?

Or perhaps you’re in a profession that frowns upon expression of spirituality because your peers, and perhaps your training, does not recognise this way of life?

Ten years ago, I was like this and in the same situation working in a corporate HR role. If I had told my work colleagues about crystals or meditation or even talked about energy or healing (god forbid!), I would have been marginalised and become the butt of many jibes and jokes. My professionalism would have been called into question and I would have lost the “respect” of my colleagues. Basically, I wouldn’t have “fitted in”.

As one of my idols Brené Brown says, “Fitting in is the greatest barrier to belonging”. There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. If you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. Martha Graham says “Having a strong backbone to understand your criticisms and move past them is a wonderful feeling. Having a soft front to see that others’ criticism is not a reflection of you, but of the person who criticised. And having backbone means to give them love in return. The wild heart is my favourite, this means to step out of your comfort zone and create/shine/be you without holding back”.

Why can’t we be spiritual and work in the corporate world or be entrepreneurs as well? Why can’t we express these gifts and attributes to our working peers and colleagues without being ridiculed?

Why do we not stand up for our “Onlyness” and shout out those wonderful things that make us, us?

We know that in America, Santa Clara University’s MBA section head André Delbecq, stepped outside of his comfort zone to learn and talk about spirituality in business as the missing link in current MBA teachings. It took him over 10 years to succeed in his initiative with many fellow professors ostracising and shunning him along the way. Only in the past few years has this subject being recognised and now called ‘Spirituality in Business’. Just so you know this does not only refer to religion but also other forms of spirituality and beliefs. Basically, it doesn’t matter what you believe in, he talks about spirituality as being an essential path to success in business.

Napoleon Hill, in his book ‘Think and Grow Rich’, explains that “Faith is an integral part of being a successful entrepreneur or leader”. He talks about self-awareness, self-love and a strong understanding of your spirituality.

Smudging is another part of one’s spiritual leanings and beliefs. The benefits of the ancient art of smudging are now being studied with impressive conclusions. Scientists are studying the effects of positive and negative ions in and around people, the interaction with energy levels and the cleansing effect to bacteria that smudging can have when done right.

We are also studying our electromagnetic energy and how our hearts produce this energy and how true heartfelt intentions, like being truly grateful, can change people around us.

Now I don’t actually care that people may say things about me, what I care about is delivering my purpose to others and making a dent in the world. My purpose is advocating the very real and tangible way that Business and Spirituality, in all its forms, can co-exist to the benefit of all who wish to embrace it.