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IS it possible to be spiritual when working in a mundane job or with colleagues who don’t appreciate your sensitive nature?
Author, podcaster and mentor Steve Ahnael Nobel has written a book called Joy at Work in which he offers advice for those who may be thinking, “Should I stay or should I go?”
Recent allegations against former Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab sparked conversations about workplace bullying, but disempowerment can be on a more subtle level, causing stress, anger and ill health.
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STEVE AHNAEL NOBEL: “Avoid
pointless workplace moaning.” |
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Steve understands the problem very well because he was in that situation himself. Born in Hackney, East London in 1957, Steve told Psychic News: “My parents weren’t spiritual at all.
“The values of my family, and my father in particular, were getting a ‘normal’ job, money and security, so when I left school, I went into international banking for ten years. “There was a lot of paper shuffling. We were also involved in the finance of arms exports. The work felt meaningless.
“It seemed we were making no positive difference in the world. Most of my colleagues were just focused on their bonus at the end of the year.”
Finally feeling burnt out, Steve switched jobs to work in the housing department of a local council. “It was a big shift,” he said, “and there was a culture of chaotic bullying, still leaving me unhappy.”
After Steve’s father passed on in 1991, he “felt a release from the obligation to follow his example and stick to a job I did not like. I was free to follow my heart.
“I started reading spiritual books, going on retreats and attending lectures. Within six months, I found the right spiritual teachers, began meditating and discovered crystal healing. I thought, ‘Wow the universe is magical!’
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“My soul was saying ‘Get out’.”
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“The way I was earning money wasn’t aligned with my heart. At the council, a new, narcissistic and tyrannical boss was employed. This gave me the push I needed.
“Without that pain, I wouldn’t have had the courage to overcome the fear of the unknown. My soul was saying ‘Get out.’
“So I asked the universe, ‘Should I quit?’ Within a day I saw a message on someone’s T-shirt. It was the Nike sports slogan ‘Just do it.’
“At first I discounted it, but in another few minutes I saw the same sign in a shop window. I resigned soon after and spent a couple of years doing all sorts of odd jobs.”
At the time, Steve was married and had two young children. His Roman Catholic wife could not accept his new spiritual outlook and the couple separated.
“I had changed from the person she married,” Steve admitted, adding that they are still on good terms.
Steve began working for Alternatives, a mind-body-spirit event company, and became a director in 2000. “I was there for thirteen years helping to organise gatherings with spiritual teachers like Eckhart Tolle, Neale Donald Walsch and Deepak Chopra,” he said. “It was a great experience being creative, entrepreneurial and managing volunteers.
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“I choose to be authentic, present, conscious
and aware in my life and work”
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“Then I experienced a ‘Dark night of the soul’ for about six years. It was a deep, existential crisis. I was asking questions like, ‘Why am I here?’” Steve left the organisation and was unemployed for a while. Then in his late 50s, “it wasn’t easy to get a job.
“I drove a London bus for a year. Every day before setting off, I would take a few minutes to ‘centre’ and call in protection.”
That experience added to a dawning understanding of how to cope spiritually in a difficult public-facing role.
Dave admitted that during the “Dark night of the soul” – a recognised period of confusion, release and purification – he seriously contemplated ending his life.
He “would walk along the Embankment of the River Thames, look down and think that if I jumped in, it would end the pain in my body.
“But something in me said: ‘No. You have to go through this and something will open on the other side of it’.”
Steve was writing a book on the nature of the “Dark night,” the third of six spiritual titles he has now published, which kept him going. As the clouds began to clear, he started his own business called The Soul Matrix… and demand for his advice and services took off.
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“In toxic work situations, develop a routine
of putting psychic protection in place around
yourself each morning.”
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“My values were around spirituality, community, freedom of self-expression and growth,” he said.
“At last my work was in accord with that.” Asked what advice he has for those struggling to fit in at work or enjoy their job, Steve replied, “Anyone who comes to a crossroads has to choose: they can either change their perspective and attitude to the work they’re doing or leave.”
He suggested the following strategies to try and feel more settled in such a situation:
Meditate, practise forgiveness and avoid absorbing any negative vibes from others in the workplace.
Avoid pointless workplace moaning. If you’re unhappy, try talking to your boss about how you are feeling. They may be able to offer you more appropriate tasks.
Instead of numbing activities like shopping, alcohol, drugs or spending too much time online, arrange more time in nature or with supportive friends.
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“Anyone who comes to a crossroads has
to choose: they can either change their
perspective and attitude to the work
they’re doing or leave.”
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Set positive intentions. There is a list in Joy at Work, such as: “I choose to transform and release all pain and suffering arising from my work and life.”
“I choose to be authentic, present, conscious and aware in my life and work” and “I choose to transform my attitude and perspective in my work.”
In toxic work situations, develop a routine of putting psychic protection in place around yourself each morning. Steve has meditations for this on his website.
Trust your inner guidance and check your values. What are the five most important things in your life, for instance freedom, family and creativity?
Work on your solar plexus chakra centre, meditate on it, breathe more light in and imagine the power increasing. This will help restore your courage to make the right decisions.
Take time each day to release negative energy which you may have taken home with you, especially if you work in healthcare or situations where people are complaining, such as a call centre. Salt baths can help.
Ask the universe for guidance and watch for signs in response. Remember that the soul may make some situations more painful to help push you to find a different job.
Discuss plans with your partner or spouse and family: there will be bills to pay and you will need a strategy.
Money is important, but you do not need a large savings account to make positive changes in your work.
Family is also important. However, do not use your family as an excuse to stay stuck – and remember that you are setting an example to others on how their life at work might be.
“A soul calling can come through pain, the impulse to move away from something, and a sense of a developing dream for your life, an impulse to move towards something,” Steve ended.
“Find acceptance of your current situation. If you feel you must leave, it is important to develop the solar plexus courage to take that important first step.”
■ “Joy at Work” was republished by Watkins Media in April and is available at bookshops, on Amazon and through Steve’s website thesoulmatrix.com
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