Work is Love made Visible

Last night as I was sitting at a 27 dinner at a Primi Piatti, a wonderful wizard that I know pointed out some words on the menu which said – “Work is Love made Visible” and gleefully asked – “hey, do you know where that’s from?”

It turns out that it is from “The Prophet” by Khalil Gibran (and if you have never read it go out and buy it immediately!).

So before jumping into bed last night, I raided my bookshelf and found the little green book filled with Infinite Wisdom and I read the part on Work and about “Work being Love made Visible” – here is an excerpt…

And what is it to work with love?

It is to weave cloth with threads drawn from your heart, even as if your beloved were to wear that cloth.

It is to build a house with affection, even as if your beloved were to dwell in that house.

It is to sow seeds with tenderness and reap the harvest with joy, even as if your beloved were to eat the fruit.

It is to charge all things you fashion with a breath of your own spirit.

Work is love made visible

And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy.

For if you bake bread with indifference, you bake a bitter bread that feeds but half man’s hunger.

And if you grudge the crushing of grapes, your grudge distills a poison in the wine.”

And these wise words from a man written a hundreds years ago are still so pertinent today and are probably needed now more than ever. In my work as a Fairy Godmother, I constantly meet people who are unhappy in their jobs, feel stuck in a rut or just feel trapped in the 9-to-5 daily grind that has become life… they have lost a sense of joy, of magic, of the LOVE in work.

And while Kahlil Gibran speaks of weaving cloth, building houses and crushing grapes which may seem far removed from our jobs today. The same applies when answering emails, writing proposals, dealing with clients, having meeting with colleagues – if there is not an underlying platform of love, affection, tenderness and joy then the work will be empty, meaningless and slowly the “breath of spirit” that brings magic into your life will be choked out of your body.

You see, by having love as an underlying intention in your work, that intention permeates into all that you do. People who work with you will feel it, the intention of love will change your attitude, the work itself will be good, you will feel a sense of quiet accomplishment and your work will truly become be a symbol of your love in the world.

Even if you are in a job that you don’t necessarily enjoy, from today make a promise to yourself to bring love into your work and environment – from a kind word to your colleague, to real caring when you deal with a client. Even though you may not be living your dream life or doing what you love, bring love to what you are doing. As one of my favourite friends and teachers, Mike Dooley says – “Do everything you can, from where you are, with what you are given”…. and you will be amazed at how that creates the opportunities and stepping stones to a life of your dreams.

Start today before you sit down at your desk, say out loud –

“Today I bring love and my spirit into the work that I do”

and then enjoy the magic that unfurls…