Take a moment to consider it right now. Gather a piece of paper and a pencil or pen.
Yes, you should do it right now before continuing to read.
Make a tree after that. After you’ve finished your tree, you can continue reading.
Because I’ve done this before with groups, I can tell you with some precision what you see in front of you.
You’ve undoubtedly drawn a lovely tree from the ground up if you’re like the majority of people.
Many people who work in offices around the world share many of the same qualities as this tree. The tree is visible from the ground up, as is the presence of people in their cubicles and offices on the shop floor.
Did you know that the biomass of a tree’s roots is at least equivalent to the biomass seen above ground in most parts of the world? To put it another way, we only see half of a tree when we look at it.
With humans, it’s the same way. You might be surprised to learn that there’s a lot more to us than meets the eye. Unfortunately, far too many people prefer to bring their physical selves (hands) and even their cerebral selves (minds) to work (if they didn’t, they wouldn’t stay there long), but leave a large part of themselves at home – their emotional selves (their hearts).
Every day, what do you bring to work with you? If you do not bring your heart, you will miss out on tremendous opportunities. Here are five reasons why you should bring your whole self, including your heart, to work every day.
As a result, you’ll have greater energy. We rob ourselves of a vital energy source when we disconnect our emotions when we go to work. Our hearts can supply a deep reservoir from which we can draw if we believe in what we’re doing. This does not have to be a one-way energy flow, though. When we are completely absorbed in our activity, we have more energy to use, but it also flows back to us.
You’ll be in better shape as a result. You will be rewarded in more ways than just energy when you devote your whole self into your task. Better health will result from the extra energy.
As a result, you’ll be more enthusiastic. Dale Carnegie once said, “Act enthusiastically and you will be enthusiastic.” Yes, you are accurate. Our enthusiasm does not come from our hands or heads. Our passion comes from the depths of our hearts. Allow yourself to be guided by your passions! Let your enthusiasm for a project shine through! You’ll be surprised at how much this can change your attitude and work performance.
You’ll get more done. Take a time to think about that. Do you get more done when you sigh deeply at your to-do list or when you’re enthused about a particular task? You already know the answer. What’s the difference? Your heart and soul. You will surely be more productive if you put your heart into your work, whether alone, in a team, or as a leader.
You’ll have a more enjoyable time. I saved this one for last because it is something that, unfortunately, far too many people do not believe is possible. It isn’t if you only bring half of your tree to work. Allowing yourself to fully immerse yourself in your task, on the other hand, will reveal many opportunities for great pleasure.
Is it my goal for all of us to become workaholics? No, not at all. In fact, the exact opposite is true. We will most likely stop working when we bring our complete selves to work and receive all of the benefits outlined above. We’ll work longer and harder, but we’ll also work smarter. We’ll also have a lot more fun with it.
James Patrick Dunne wrote a poem that became the lyrics for Kenny Rogers’ recording of the Official USA Gymnastics Olympic Theme Song. The chorus summarises why it’s important to bring your passion to work every day…
If you put your heart into anything, it can take you anywhere.
What makes you think we won’t succeed?
We’re both having the same dream.
