In Unit 2, you identified what the work you absolutely adore looks like - and sounds and feels like. In Unit 3, you considered what people will pay you for. Whole Work sits at that golden spot where Power, Passion and Profit all meet – it’s the work you do exceptionally well, you love to do … AND you can get paid to do. What you will look at in this unit, is exactly why you love it. I bet you can't guess what I'm going to ask you to do now? Oh, you've already reviewed Units 1,2 & 3, and fully associated into your perfect day and your Soul Work - well done! (if you haven't, do that right now)

What Whole Work is

Whole Work is the activities that you not only enjoy, but they also leave you feeling fulfilled, and someone will pay you for. If you're very lucky, your Whole Work is exactly the same as your Soul Work. For many, it's a subset of it, the parts that give you that shiver down the spine that tells you it's something really important, to others as well as to you. There are three major facets of your Whole Work:

• Roles that you play
• Responses that it creates
• Reasons why you love it

Roles

What roles do you feel most fulfilled in? We're not talking about job titles, we're looking at a much higher level. These roles break down into those you play for yourself, and those you play in relation to your group.

Individual

Individual roles might include:

• Spiritual Being
• Philosopher
• Intellectual
• Researcher
• Action-man

Group

Roles you play in relation to a group might include:

• Parent
• Teacher
• Guide
• Guru
• Team-mate
• Supporter
• Martyr! (this is not as sarcastic as it seems, some people really do get their fulfilment from taking on other people's troubles. It's not a role I'd recommend you actively adopt, but if you do enjoy helping people to your own detriment, it's important to be aware of it)

Responses

What do people do, how do they respond, that makes this fulfilling for you?

• Enlightenment – is it when you see the light go on in their eyes about what you’re an expert in?
• Gratitude – is it when they thank you for the help you’ve given them?
• Praise – is it when they say how well you’ve done something, or how clever you are?

Is there anything else?

Reasons

What are the reasons behind your fulfillment, why does this work fulfill you or give you a buzz?

Away vs Towards

There are two sorts of motivation: Towards and Away-from. Away from is essentially based on fear - something you want to get away from. Away doesn't really apply to Whole Work, your spirit really doesn't need to fear anything! A lot of people say everything is driven by either Fear or Greed. I disagree - I say the two opposites are Fear (what you want to get away from) and Dreams - what you are reaching upwards Towards! When you look at the reasons outlined below, keep in mind whether you are truly motivated by moving towards them, or by keeping away from its opposite. That makes a difference, as you will see in Unit 6.

Most people's reasons for being fulfilled by work fall into what I call the 5 F's:

• Fame - is extrinsic, and focused on self. By extrinsic, I mean it requires confirmation from outside of yourself. It's about becoming known, or looked up to.
• Fortune - is also extrinsic, and self-focused. It's about getting money or shiny new 'stuff' for its own sake, treating them as your 'score' for the game.
• Facilitation - is extrinsic too, but now you're focused on others. It's about providing a service to them, adding value.
• Flower - is another word for "Growth", and is intrinsic (internally validated), and focused on self. It's all about learning and self-development, you flowering into the best you can be.
• Fire - is driven by a cause, a higher purpose. It's intrinsic, and focused mainly on others. For many, it's the real guide to true fulfilment. And just because you don't want to change the world, that doesn't mean you don't have Whole Work - for many, the most important thing in their world is their family, friends or community, and that's their Fire.

Your Whole Work

OK, now it's pen and paper time again. Go back through all those questions, and write down your description and definition of what represents Whole Work for you. By now, you should be getting the idea - include all the relevant modalities (VAKOG - Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic, Olfactory, Gustatory), and any emotions that are important to why it is your Whole Work. Take your time over this and get it right – really understanding what ”Whole Work” is for you, and why it is your Whole Work , is essential to this course. You might need to spend quite a bit more than the normal hour that the other modules take, and maybe come back to it to refine it later. Don’t over-think it, go with your gut, but don’t rush it either.

Right, get writing, and remember - Have fun!