Three workmen were asked what they were doing. The first one said, "I'm laying bricks." The second man said, "I'm building a wall." The third person said, "I'm building a cathedral."
This frequently-told story powerfully illustrates the power of intention. Meaning and motivation are raised when you lift up your eyes to the light.
Your life energy turns on how you define your work. Tell yourself you are just laying bricks and you are certain to experience burnout. By defining your work as building a cathedral, as sacred work, you enrich your life with hope.
How do you do that? The definition of foolishness, one wise person wrote, is to keep doing the same thing and expect a different outcome. If you want to change your life you have to change your intention first and then your approach.
One leader recently expressed a frustration to me: The instructions to the team were clear and after months of trying the staff was not executing those directions effectively.
This leader was humble enough to admit that a new approach was needed.
The only successful path towards meaningful change starts from within. This is what wise people do. They back away for a time, regain perspective and ask themselves crucial questions: What life patterns are darkening my days? How can I change?
The hardest parts comes next. They are persistence and picking the positive path. You can complain about what you cannot do or focus on what you can do. The way to fail is to give up.
Is your work a job or a calling? Do you bring your best self to your calling? Are you a disciple of Love?
Stop laying bricks and start building cathedrals. The path to Love leads to only one outcome: success.
-Erie Chapman
Journal of Sacred Work 
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