Jenny and Erin over on their blog, a tongue-in-cheek quest for understanding posed a question today:

How big a role do habits play in your daily life? Do your habits typically form intentionally or unconsciously? What approaches have you found successful in shaping them?

Jenny, Erin, Thanks for asking. I used my heart to develop my work habits.

Now that I engage my heart and mind, and bring spirit into my work, I’ve noticed that I’m in the flow. Life is easy, my work unfolds, and having a bit of discipline isn’t a drag. It keeps me on purpose.

So how did I get there and what are my habits?

• A Personal Vision Statement.

I wrote out where I wanted to go in my life. My vision statement has been evolving for years, changing as circumstances changed. I’ve tweaked it as I’ve gotten clearer about my own life purpose and developed my spiritual gifts.

My vision statement is crucial to my success. If I’m distracted or scattered, my statement gets me back on course – fast. I use it as my daily map to keep moving me forward. I’ve got flexibility written in for down time, and I list the activities that nurture my soul – as a reminder to do them daily or weekly.

When writing my vision, I always wrote from my heart. It came through journaling, mediating, thinking, walking. I used my mind to develop it on paper, but the path came from within.

• My first habit is to get up early.

I used to sleep in, but now I get up about 6:00 A.M.. This isn’t an easy thing for me as I’m a night owl, but I’ve had to adjust with my daughter going to school. Luckily for me I’m so excited about life, and my vision, getting up early isn’t a chore. I want to get up and be in my flow. I can feel it.

• I write every morning

Writing every day is one task that I know helps build my business. Writing also helps me think through concepts I’ll be discussing with clients, and pass along ideas to you, my readers. I haven’t always written, although I’ve thought about writing my whole life. The writing has happened in spurts. Over the last few years I’ve written a book on marketing, marketing articles, and about my adoption journey, but nothing consistent. I wasn’t writing daily until I started blogging for adoption.com. That started my new writing habit. I wrote every single day for more than a year before I left that blogging gig.

Then a few months ago I put my hand on my heart and asked: “What is the quickest, easiest way for me to be in my flow, to reach my vision? The answer that came to me was:

“Writing is the way. It will take you where you want to go.”

Now, every morning I write for a whole hour before K, my daughter gets up. Bliss!

Then I’ve got two and a half hours while she is in school to focus on my business.

• Prioritizing is essential.

I’ve only got a few hours in the morning to work while my daughter sleeps or is in school, so I’ve got to have good solid work habits.

First I schedule my clients during school time.

After meeting with clients, I work on tasks from my ongoing list. I’ve written down everything that needs to happen in my business. (Part of my business plan).

Filing, Research, Networking, Marketing. You know, everything that comes with being an entrepreneur. I’ve got a long list – and I’m sure you do as well.

How do I decide what to work on first?

• I Ask My Heart

I’ve got my vision statement. I know where I am going. I’ve got a plan. And I want to make sure my heart is engaged every step of the way. It’s my heart that keeps me passionate and enthused (and authentic) about my work. It also keeps me in the ‘flow’.

Each morning, after I write, I take one minute to get quiet. Then I put my hand on my heart, and ask which task on my list, – or something different, is next for me to do.

• Then I do it.

If my heart says walk, I trust it. If my heart says more writing, I write more. Maybe it is time to clean or file. My heart knows.
Since I started this habit everything that needs to get accomplished, gets done. The order of things might get rearranged, and a few things I’ve been wanting to work on haven’t happened. Nevertheless, I feel the energy building toward my goal.

I’m already living my vision. There is no need to go ‘toward it’. My mind is working, but my heart, (and a higher vibration) is in charge, gently guiding me.

My work, my life is heart centered.

What about you? Join in the conversation about your work habits. Head over to Erin and Jenny’s blog

Then come back here and comment, let me know what your work habits are.

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Interested in developing heart centered work habits?

I’m co-facilitating a Conscious Business Master Mind Heart Centered, Three Month Workshop.

Join my Newsletter to learn all about it. Details to be released this weekend.