Work, Life, And Following Dharma
Work.
In the simplest form, work is doing an intentional activity to create an outcome.
From relationships, to fitness, to passion projects, to jobs, there’s an element of purpose that is cultivated when we are working on something.
For example, I work on self development. To know my strengths, areas for growth, patterns, and core qualities that are uniquely mine. The purpose of this work is driven by the philosophy that we are mirrors for one another. When we individually show up as clear, whole versions of self, we create space for others to see and be clear, whole versions of themselves.
When considering work as a means to make money, I follow a similar perspective. Your job is your contribution towards something greater than yourself. When you are in alignment with your natural talents, gifts, and abilities, flow state is more easily accessible. Ultimately, this benefits you and your team.
What you do with your paycheck creates a further ripple effect and perhaps exposes a deeper purpose behind the work. Do your support a family with the money you earn? Travel to foreign countries? Spend on causes you believe in?
A farmer-friend (shoutout to the OG entrepreneurs) once told me that in her perspective, every time we purchase food, we’re voting on something. What you buy and who you buy it from and for, makes an impact.
Life.
As an entrepreneur in the wellness space consciousness of thoughts, emotions, feelings, and behaviors is a way of being.
I’m conscious that I value freedom of time and space, expansiveness, movement, nature, family, nurtured relationships, and creativity. I move my body daily. I stretch, sweat, and spend as much time as possible outside, everyday. I practice mindfulness all day long.
I’ve lived out of a suitcase for almost two years now, changing locations frequently. Although challenging in many ways, this lifestyle has heightened my mindfulness practices. I attribute this to a concept called “the traveler’s mindset”.
A traveler has to pay extra attention as they navigate new places and cultures. They see things with fresh eyes, through the newness of each experience. It takes practice to be fully engaged with the complexities of each moment and traveling is a way to flex that muscle. In doing so, you can become accustom to drawing awareness towards your sensory experiences — how you feel when you’re in different environments and how you feel when you’re around different people.
With all that said, it is challenging to find rhythm when living from a suitcase. Strong, anchoring disciplines are required, especially within workflow. No matter where I am physically, I live in my lungs. Drawing awareness towards the breath and the sensations of breathing is a proactive tool to be centered.
Life’s Work.
The most vital work we do while alive is the intentional activities that are an expression of personal truth.
Dharma is duty and it is truth. Dharma involves connecting to things bigger than yourself. It is the contribution you make as you live your wholeness of being. Presence and self awareness provide clarity of your dharma—helping you acknowledge synchronicities, follow mystery, and feel awe and wonder towards the unfolding of your aliveness.
It is what you do, how you do it, and why you do it. It is passive in that it allows for intuition and unfolding and it is active as if it requires effort and intentional energy.
I am grateful for the work that I do with WellFests and for all of the people who co-create this ecosystem for sustainable growth. As noted in the Observer Effective experiment, we are all contributors to an outcome, just by the sheer action of observation. For additional resources around developing your own mindfulness and self awareness practices in order to align with your own personal dharma, explore our mindfulness and movement services below.