How Monks Stay Focused at Work

Monk Mindset for Living Well

Monk Mindset 3

Be More Human at Work: Work and Study

Reflection on the Monk Mindset & Quote

Hard work, especially work with one's body and hands is core to monastic life. Working with diligence, focus, and attention to excellence helps our soul to flourish. 

The motto of the Benedictines is famously “ora et labore” – “prayer and work”. Through these two modes, held in harmony, monks till and nourish the soil of the soul for flourishing. 

Throughout the workday, there are endless opportunities to be idle: quickly check social media accounts, open new internet browsers, avoid working on the hard things we need to, or just generally not give our best to our work. 

We can find ways to justify such behavior but it actually weakens and cheapens us.  

Although humans are not designed to work endlessly, we are designed to work hard and well. It’s great when we enjoy our work, but we won’t always like it. And that’s ok. It’s more important to show up, give our best and be fully present to the work at hand for a given day, hour, or minute. 

Put It Into Practice This Week

What is one way in which you were idle this past month? 

What is one thing you can do this week to change this idleness? 

Right now: write down a secret reminder to yourself that you’ll visibly see the next time you’re tempted to this idleness.

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