Integrating Work and Spirituality

What a fascinating book! I've read a number of books on business as well as a number on spirituality, but I've never seen the two concepts so artfully combined in one book. The author states that as our spirituality guides are personal life, so it should guide our professional or work life. She inspires us to integrate work and life in a way that resonates with our spiritual center. The book is split into two larger sections with a series of short chapters, each touching on separate aspects of work, life, and our spiritual underpinnings. The book is not about any one spiritual practice. Rather, she writes about spiritual beliefs and topics that can be seen in most religions or less structured spiritual practice. She offers exercises as well as insights. If you’ve felt like your work life is very separate from the rest of it and is perhaps lacking a deeper rootedness in who you are and what you believe, check out this book as it may have some of the answers you may not have known you were seeking.

While I've read a few books on the intersection of our career/vocation and spiritually, this will be the first written from a female author's perspective who's a career expert having been a recruiter, counsellor and coach. While I did believe this was a faith-based (religious) book, it's not and that didn't take away from any of the insight I've gleaned from this book. Anyone seeking to live holistically meaning have their core values and beliefs not only integrated into every area of their lives, but it's from where they lead.

Today, work-life balance can seem like an impossible achievement, however in Working Whole, author Kourtney Whitehead provides over a dozen reflections and meditations on how individuals can look for balance and fulfillment in both aspects of their lives. Short and easily digestible, Working Whole is focused on both helping readers find joy and contentment through daily work and on personal wholeness and wellness for its own sake, providing food for thought as well as actionable advice to help readers internalize the principles. Anyone looking for guidance and thought retraining in this area will benefit for reading this book, but it is especially suited for women who feel stretched thin between work and home.

I really needed this book. I have often struggled with merging the two parts of me: one ambitious and the other striving to be content, or in the words of the author, "humble." This book was very interactive in that it challenges you to ask questions about your life as it is and how you wish to be. Much like a workbook or study, I spent a lot of time thinking about how to change my current situation (externally) to match my current self (internally). I would recommend this book to any woman wondering how to reconcile the different parts of herself, especially as a devout person reconciling that desire to serve with the desire to succeed.

I have yet to read a book like Working Whole. I am a Christian and, although she writes from more of a 'spiritual' perspective, I still felt like this was applicable to my specific faith. I'd say this book would be helpful for anyone looking for deeper purpose in their day-to-day/career. The book is split into two main sections: Integrated and Anchored. There were some 'not so new' thoughts expressed throughout her book; however, sometimes you need certain thoughts reiterated in order to allow them to sink in. I would recommend this book for anyone that feels 'stuck' in their career/workplace. I think Whitehead provides wisdom, tools which aid in one finding their true 'calling.'