This week there were some difficult tasks at work.  You know the kind I mean – when things aren’t going smoothly; everything is just more complicated.

What I’m finding helpful this week is to pray about my work, my role and the atmosphere at work, the office, first thing each morning – striving to get a clear mental image of harmony.  I’ve learned through my experience in prayer that when we attain this image mentally, all frustration, fear of circumstances, difficulty fade away.

What helps me attain this mental image of harmony is to bless everyone I work with.  This is a practice I learned from the book The Gentle Art of Blessing by Pierre Pradervand.  It isn’t a type of prayer I had considered before, but it so simple and powerful.  This week it went like this: “Bless [name] in health, harmony and happiness; bless [name] in all they want and desire”, etc.  This helps me to raise my thought above seeing just ‘people I work with’ to see one another’s whole and perfect nature – each spiritual identity as an idea of divine Mind (God).  For me, this included recognizing each one has a family, hopes and dreams, and the right to health and spiritual freedom.   This gave me such a sense of awe, appreciation and love for everyone.

Well, yesterday, I was beaming at how perfectly tasks were going; many things were wonderfully accomplished; and there were so many lovely and helpful people.  Everything that needed to get done was resolved faster than I thought it would be.

In the evening, before going to bed, I made sure to mentally acknowledge each individual in gratitude who had been so helpful – who had expressed  lovely qualities and talents from God.

I’m so grateful!  I now know what a difference prayer can make in our work lives.  This simple ‘art of blessing’ and giving thanks for everyone’s skills and talents is a great practice to keep seeing God’s goodness in our day.