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Consciousness: "All of Us Are Spiritual Beings."

2006; Volume: 1; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

1930-7462

Donna D. Mitroff, Ian I. Mitroff,

Workplace Spirituality and Leadership

The following is a chapter from Drs. Donna and lan Mitroff's book in progress: It's a Beautiful Day in Neighborhood of Work: Working Together According to Mr. Rogers. Although they express it very differently from adults, children have a keen interest in spirituality, if not religion. They want to know who they are and why they are here. Although adults may deny and ignore it, these same questions persist throughout our entire lives. All of us are searching for meaning and purpose. All of us want to know why we are here. For Fred Rogers, word consciousness was merely a stepping-stone to deeper concept of spirituality. And, if spirituality means anything, it is not only recognizing and treating whole person, but helping us in our search for meaning and purpose.1 For example, at heart of The Container Store is a principle that is deeply spiritual: Fill a person's whole basket. It means meeting needs of whole person who walks into store. The Container Store uses metaphor of a person who is lost in desert to convey this notion. The person's immediate need is water. However, deeper need emanates from reason why person was in desert in first place, and stress and trauma that he or she has suffered as a result. Once again, providing water services person's immediate needs. But The Container Store wants to get to deeper, underlying needs. They believe that if they meet these needs, then the profits will The first principle of The Container Store is meeting true and authentic needs of whole human beings. Ian has found through his research2 that those organizations that practice spirituality believe in practicing it for its own sake. They believe firmly that one must not practice spirituality in order to make money, for personal gain, power, etc. They believe that if they practice spirituality other than for its own sake, then profits will not follow. Conversely, if one practices spirituality for its own sake, then profits will follow. Serving deepest needs of people is fundamental purpose of work. When we serve deepest needs of others, we not only serve ourselves, but we find meaning and purpose in our lives. The following is a perfect example of an organization with a spiritual mission statement: THE MISSION OF KIEHL Over thirty years ago, Mission of Kiehl's since 1851 was declared. In this declaration, following standards were set forth- cornerstone of a philosophy that guides us in service of our customers to this very day. A worthwhile firm must have a purpose for its existence. Not only everyday work-a-day purpose to earn a just profit, but beyond that, to improve in some way quality of community to which it is committed. Each firm- as should each person-contributes to those around it; and by dint of its day-to-day efforts, message it thereby imparts is a revelation of quality standard at which its life's work is conducted. here at Kiehl's hope that through quality of our products, by manner in which our day-to-day contacts are concerned with truth, justice, and fairness, we can in some way communicate to those who may not have been aware of it that these qualities are eternal and renewable every day, making for better citizens, better firms, and better communities. We are constantly striving to realize this vision and to endeavor at all times to serve our customers, or communities and one another to best of our abilities. At our core, all of us are spiritual beings. And essence of spirituality is wholeness. When we are whole, we are not only connected to every part of ourselves, but we are connected to entire Universe. Fred Rogers wasn't spiritual because he was a minister. He became a minister because he was spiritual. A ministry doesn't have to be only through a church, or even through an ordination. …