"heart work"

by dr. larry morris

Heart work is work that entrances us; it captures our hearts. It is the work that our hearts burn to do. It is the artist Giacometti crying out in the midst of a painting "If I don't capture this image, I will surely die." It is the great writer or poet or musician who feels the wellsprings of life course through his veins in the instant of creation. There is a story of a Chinese pianist who was imprisoned for seven years. During this time, he was not allowed the use of a piano. Yet when the pianist was released, his level of performance was found to exceed anything he previously acheived. An amazed friend asked him, "How could your playing have improved when you were not permitted to practice in the prison." "But I practiced everyday," replied the pianist, "I went through every note in every musical score I knew everyday in my imagination." 

We work from the heart when we work from the center of who we are regardless of what that work is. We see very ordinary tasks in life transformed by people who work from the joy of their hearts, who have fallen in love with what they do. We don't have to be the great musician or creative artist to do heart work. Whatever we do, if it comes out of that inner depth of sensitivity, honesty and gladness of heart is our right work in this life. We are here to share the fruits of our inwardness in some creative, joyous work in this world. Find your heart work and give your all to it--and joy will be your reward.