Health & Wellness
THE LINK BETWEEN
SPIRITUALITY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
by Amelie Yan Gouiffes
“ Investing in yourself is the best thing you can do ”
— Warren Buffet
From a young age , spirituality has been a significant part of who I am . But for me spirituality has taken many forms , one of the most unusual of which is entrepreneurship — what seems to be the opposite of spirituality , if you were to ask just about anyone . How could this be ?
To explain , I have to go back to the beginning of my life .
I was born in the seventies into a typical , atheist , French family . My first foray into the spiritual world — a shortlived fervor for the Catholic church — kicked off when , at 8 years old , I asked to be baptized and no one objected .
During my teen years , I started down a different kind of spiritual path . I became a political and social activist and found a powerful spiritual dimension in dedication to others , leading me to pursue a long career in humanitarian aid . My next step , seeking a more structured practice , took me to Tibetan Buddhist meditation . It was a type of spirituality I greatly enjoyed and that satisfied my needs .
Then came a crisis that changed things : my divorce . Emotions swirling in a whirlpool of resentment , my meditation practice seemed to have lost some of its power . It was around this time when my dear friend Madhu said to me , “ Amelie , I found what you need .” It turned out he was right .
Madhu introduced me to the School of Modern Pranic Energy
Healing and Arhatic Yoga by Master Choa Kok Sui , 1 marking the start of a healing , fulfilling and uplifting journey . It called for practical work on my strengths and weaknesses and spiritual work through meditation and study . And what I really fell in love with , especially in my so-called pragmatic Western mind , was “ spiritualized materialism ,” or a spiritual practice that brings change in life and business .
THE BREAKTHROUGH
Master Choa Kok Sui ’ s idea of spiritualized materialism was enlightening for me when my next big step in life was launching a business . In establishing myself as a public speaking coach , his concept showed me how entrepreneurship could help me grow on a personal level . It seemed contradictory , but understanding cash flow and learning to generate income in a satisfactory way could actually help me understand my inner self and connect me to divine energy . It was a breakthrough realization .
My knowledge of the spiritual path supported my entrepreneurial journey , bringing me clarity , understanding and drive . After all , they called for similar problem solving :
¬ ¬ There is an obstacle . What do I want to let flow ?
¬ ¬ There is loss of hope . What are the two qualities I have that never let me down and that I can put into action right now ?
¬ ¬ There is a failure or a mistake . What is the lesson to be learned ?
Recognizing this , I was able to work slowly on myself — both the spiritual and the material parts of me — in tandem . And the further I went on this path , the more I learned .
MAKING CONNECTIONS
The following are examples of the commonalities between spirituality and entrepreneurialism that I have discovered and may help you as well :
¬ ¬ Both are journeys of ups and downs that lead to progress . The result of experiencing failure and success is growth , which takes your life , your work and your spirit to the next level .
¬ ¬ Others can show you the way , but only you can walk it . Only you can move your feet . You will have to face your fears ; you will have to push yourself ; you will have to clarify where you are heading and what your final destination is .
¬ ¬ You will be faced with your power ( your divinity ) and your inner limitations ( your shadows ). You will learn that you are your own main obstacle , but that you have
1 You can find useful resources on www . pranaworld . net and FB / PranaworldThailand
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