Balancing Work and the Spiritual Life

I was really impressed with Jyotish and Devi's talk on balancing Work and the Spiritual Life - at Ananda Online Community.

I had a terrible day at work! I was running late... got into the talk 10min late... I was frustrated with my job tonight... and I listened to their great advice. I took some notes below... but I also did more. I asked a question on their interactive form.

What impressed me, was they responded to my question without any pause. It was like BAM! here's the answer... it was very cool. They have a great energy and I hope they have this recorded so people can hear the advice they gave.

see work as a service
prioritize things in life
- meditation comes first
- make time to meditate
- take time throughout the day to sit in mediation and prayer (lunchbreak, etc.)
remind yourself that all you do is for God
- organize emails so they don't stack up.

if work is difficult, consider how it can serve God... i.e. how can this difficulty help me be a better person, because that's what God wants (my improvement.)

watch yourself throughout the day and see if there's any stress... relax shoulders, etc.
do things that are uplifting in relaxation after work


I asked this question, "I get frustrated at my job... when that happens and I realize i'm in or going into a negative state of mind - how can I get out of this state back to a center?":
don't try to think your way out
breathe your way out...
stand up...
do energy exercises...
walk...
break the momentum of the train of thoughts that you're running...

Frustration is energy blocked - the easiest thing is to say "you know maybe my expectation is wrong. maybe that person should behave the way they are."
try to reframe the picture

remember that "God is the doer, not us" - this helps us not to get so involved - that we have to get something done a certain way and getting frustrated. when people praise you say "God is the doer" if people blame you "God is the doer" this disconnects you from the situation whether perceived "good" or "bad."