Bringing Your Soul to Work

It is only when we begin to experience our own truth and beauty that we are capable of recognizing these qualities in others. This book takes the reader on an archaeological dig of the most personal kind, dedicated to bringing forth the authentic self in the workplace. A stunning accomplishment! --Nancy Kezlarian, Executive Director, Florence Crittenton Center This book opens up one of the great perennial questions of human life in a way that is both spiritually sensitive and concretely practical--the question of the relation- ship between the inner search and the need for effective action in the world. The thoughtfulness and creativity of the applications offered by the authors sets this book apart. --Jacob Needleman, author of Money and the Meaning of Life and Time and the Soul Peppers and Briskin have written a creative guide for all who seek greater inspiration and soul in their work. This book is grounded in the principles of depth psychology and makes commonsense use of working with persona and shadow issues in the workplace as well as our personal lives. This book can truly provide a bridge between our inner lives and the work that we do in the world. It is no ordinary 'self-help' book, but a path for self-examination and reflection, bringing nuggets of wisdom from many sources. --Suzy Spradlin, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist, Analyst, C. J. Jung Institute of San Francisco Beautifully written with intelligence and humor. The stories and applications open a remarkable window on today's work landscape. The book presents the reader with a path for personal renewal and a way to discover their own meaning and purpose in work. --Cathy Chuplis, Director, Worldwide Communications, Levi Strauss & Co. It is very hopeful to me that so many people are wondering about the meaning of their work, and how to bring themselves more fully into their work lives. This wonderful, gentle guide encourages us to delve deeply into these questions, and then supports us to make courageous choices. This book is both timely and timeless. We must never stop seeking for meaning, and we've been gifted with Cheryl and Alan's astute and loving expertise. --Margaret J. Wheatley, author of Leadership and the New Science and coauthor of A Simpler Way Bringing Your Soul to Work is written with care and in an easy and compelling prose. Peppers and Briskin are bravely willing to face what is difficult and confusing in life and work and therefore are very respectful to the reader. The book is a fine blend of spirit and practicality and if the reader has the will to do the exercises, they will find they will have given voice to their own story, which is the point of reading, any- way. --Peter Block, author of Stewardship, The Empowered Manager, and Flawless Consulting What does 'soul' have to do with going to work every day? Everything, when traditional notions of work are transformed from employment (what we do) to a process of self discovery (who we want to become). The authors raise profound issues and offer practical insight about successfully embarking on a life-changing journey through the experience of work. This book is a highly evocative and deeply personal 'field guide' to better understanding different, even difficult, parts of ourselves through what we do. It is a powerful dialogue that can help us realize more of our humanity by consciously reframing the role and purpose of work in our lives. The wisdom of this book makes a seminal contribution to anyone who wonders, 'There must be more to work life.' --Peter Boland, Ph.D., President, Boland Healthcare Today's institutions and our upbringing have not prepared us for this new economy. Instead, we feel fragmented, rushed, unsatisfied. Cheryl and Alan offer practical ways for unearthing the lost abilities to see deeply, to be authentic, to listen soulfully. Armed with the disciplines they outline, the reader can discover the narrow and rewarding path that balances authenticity and role, being and doing, intention and action. --Stephanie Spong, Managing Director, Razorfish, Los Angeles This book offers the most thoughtful integration of the concepts of 'soul' and 'work' that I have ever read. Using realistic examples with which everyone can identify, the authors demonstrate how we can learn from and transcend personal disappointments and crises related to work. Step by step, they help us recognize our self-made stumbling blocks (shadow) that prevent us from feeling good about how we relate to our jobs and the people with whom we work. By following the authors' thoughtful progression of questions and explanations, we unearth and clarify our self-defeating thoughts and behaviors, take ownership for our misguided beliefs, and discover the soul in our work lives. --Andrea Markowitz, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Industrial/ Organizational Psychology, University of Baltimore This is a lovely book; it enables the subtle wisdom of the inner world to acknowledge and awaken the hidden, latent wisdom of the world of work. Anyone would benefit from this lyrical yet penetrating analytic expose. It demonstrates the falsity of a dual- ism which separates mind from heart, or interiority from the world. It also has the generosity to invite and leave room for the reader to interact with its claims. --John O'Donohue, author of Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom and Eternal Echoes: Exploring Our Yearning to Belong