Spirituality and productivity are not associated often. The daily tasks that make up an average working day seem mundane, repetitive, and at times, even boring. On the other hand, matters of the spirit are vague and puzzling. It seems counter-intuitive that there should be a link between something so concrete and something so ephemeral.
But surprisingly, a good deal of research points to exactly that. It seems that being productive and being spiritual are two sides of the same coin. But how does one affect the other, and how can you use this information to increase your productivity at work?
When you look at the definition of spirituality, it can mean two things. The first meaning is related to being religious; the second meaning is something that is related to your spirit or soul.
And in this article, we are referring spiritual to being connected with your spirit and your soul, not so much about being religious.
In this list, we examine the three links between these two seemingly disparate ideas. Pay attention, and you will be able to unlock your potential in more ways than one.
1. Attachment and exploration
Recent research from Baylor University points to a strong connection between an attachment to the divine and good workplace performance. The theory goes that this “divine connection” allows people to feel more secure, and consequently, allows them to be more productive.
Blake V. Kent, the study’s lead researcher, states that: “Attachment to God may relate to a sense of safety and confidence that encourages exploration of the world – and as adults, our primary form of exploration is work.”
But although religion is the most traditional route to such attachment, there are also other routes. Users of TheCircle, a phone-based service offering one-on-one psychic, Tarot, and clairvoyance services, also report feeling guided and reassured.
This comes as no surprise when considered alongside the changing role of religion in the past few decades. Modern people are more likely to combine different elements of faith and mysticism in pursuit of a more personal spirituality, with many feeling that the more religious components have less of a role to play.
When you have a higher sense of spirituality, you will feel more secure. As a result, you tend to want to explore more and thus, increase your productivity.
Besides that, because you understand that the higher power is always there for you, you will do just fine. Just like the saying, “If God is with me, who else can be against me?”
So when you connect spirituality with success and productivity, spirituality actually boost your success rate and make you more productive.
2. Meditation
Meditation is a great way to focus your mind in general. At work though, this level of focus can help you become more productive in a way that isn’t immediately obvious. According to the Harvard Business Review, the real value of meditation lies in training us to resist distraction and to shut off outside influences.
The key benefit of this in the workplace is the development of the ability to approach situations calmly and rationally, as opposed to allowing stress or panic to take over.
When confronted with a new or difficult task, many people’s instinct is to become overwhelmed, to skim-read, to get-up, to make another cup of coffee – anything to avoid confronting the problem that is right in front of them.
Meditation teaches us to resist these urges and to deal with the matter at hand without using avoidance tactics.
Apart from that, studies have shown that meditation actually lowers our stress and pressure. It literally takes away our problems in our mind. We feel calm and we feel at peace.
And when we are at peace, we tend to perform better.
How can you do better when you are always feeling stressful and unable to concentrate? Do you know that meditation also improves your focus as well?
If you are someone who is always in a rush, feeling pressure, and can’t concentrate, try meditation. It helps to sooth your mood and put you in the flow state where you are able to better focus on the task at hand.
Do you know that successful people such as John Assaraf, Jack Canfield, Ray Dalio, Ariana Huffington, Oprah and much more practice meditation each day?
These are incredibly busy people and yet they put time into meditation. If they think that meditation is something that will boost their productivity and increase their chances of success, don’t you think that you should do it as well?
Basically, there are many benefits of meditation. You can start to practice it today. It may be difficult for you to concentrate or stay calm in the beginning. However, just commit to doing it, slowly and consistently.
You don’t have to meditate for 30 minutes or an hour. Just start with 5 or 10 minutes a day will do. Once you have turned it into your daily habit, you can always increase the duration.
3. Happiness
It’s a given that happy people are more productive. Happy people sell; whistle while you work; service with a smile: all of these phrases recognize this basic truth.
But what you might not know is that there are significant links between happiness and spirituality. From developing social networks to finding meaning, spirituality addresses many of the problems we face in becoming our better selves, and can bring benefits which will touch all areas of our lives.
When you are connected deeper with yourself, you will feel at peace deep within your heart. And when you are at peace, you will feel happier regardless of your life’s condition.
This is why happiness has nothing to do your outside condition. Someone who earns $3,000 a month can be spiritual and happy. Happiness and being spiritual has nothing to do with your wealth.
Once, Tony Robbins, one of the most successful coaches in the personal development industry asked Sir John Templeton for his advice about wealth. He asked, “What is the secret to wealth?”
And here are the exact words from Sir John Templeton. You can read more about this from Business Insider:
“I asked him, ‘What is the secret to wealth?’” Robbins tells Howes. “And his response was, ‘You know it. You teach it — it’s gratitude.’
“I asked him ‘Why do you say that?’ And he said:
Because if you have a billion dollars, and every day you live pissed off and frustrated, the quality of your life is called pissed off and frustrated. But if you have next to nothing, and are grateful for whatever it is you have, you’re the richest person that you’re going to know. It doesn’t matter how much money you’ve got if you don’t have gratitude.
That’s not to say you can’t have both gratitude and money, as Robbins and Templeton exemplify.
You see, when you are spiritual, you will automatically feel grateful for what you have. You will count your blessings and not your problems.
When you are grateful, you will feel happier deep within you. And when you are happy, don’t you think you will do better in life? Don’t you think you will be able to do more and accomplish more when you are feeling good?
Therefore, being spiritual and happy actually promotes productivity.
Conclusion
However, the most important thing to remember is that this is your journey: you should find the right way for you to use your spirituality to perform better at work, increase your well-being, and maybe much more.