Contents
In a world that seems to be going crazy, finding meaningful work that not only pays the bills but helps people and society and the earth to heal is becoming more important than ever. What do I really want to do with my life? How can I make a difference? Maias insightful book shows us how to approach those questions, in a way that can help us discover our own true path.
David Loy, A New Buddhist Path
As Lao Tzu said, A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step and reading this book might well be yours. For anyone whos spent time looking for a way to love what they do, Maia Duerr charts a step-by-step route for getting there. Wise, realistic, and encouraging.
Karen Maezen Miller, author of Paradise in Plain Sight and Hand Wash Cold
This is a clear and wonderful guide on how to bring balance and wisdom into your livelihood.
Roshi Joan Jiko Halifax, Abbot of Upaya Zen Center, The Fruitful Darkness
Work That Matters counsels us on how to optimize not only our work life but life itself. This helpful book offers the reader a way to look deeply, discover, and creatively follow our true-life direction. Becoming intimate with our core intention, the way opens, and we can discern our unique path to rewarding and meaningful work. The concrete exercises and reflections Maia offers will lead to a transformation of the meaning and value of your work choices.
Roshi Pat Enkyo OHara, Most Intimate
The most creative contributions to this world are usually made by people who have aligned their work with their deepest values and true intentions. I have worked with Maia Duerr in many contexts and have witnessed her commitment to cultivating this awareness and finding skillful ways to teach it to others. This is not just another book on mindfulnessit could change every working day of your life.
Mirabai Bush, Senior Fellow of the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society, Working with Mindfulness
Maia Duerr brings a mindful and liberating approach to creating a work life that speaks to ones unique gifts and purpose. Providing key tools and exercises, this gem of a book can help you navigate a path from an unfulfilling job to a meaningful and joyful career of your own making.
Brenda Salgado, Real World Mindfulness for Beginners
This wise and brilliant book harnesses the power of mindfulness and a host of creative and visionary techniques and practices to help you find the work that you love. Maia Duerr is an insightful, compassionate, and experienced guide along the way. This book will change your life.
Diana Winston, Director of Mindfulness Education at UCLAs Mindful Awareness Research Center, coauthor Fully Present
If you want to find joy in your work, read this book! Maia Duerr is the kindest and most encouraging of guides. She helps us look into our own hearts to clarify what matters to us, and points us toward practical tools that can help us manifest this vision. This book will be helpful to anyone who is considering their work at any stage of life. I found myself eagerly doing the exercises at the end of each chapter, and was reminded of priorities of my own that I have been neglecting. Now in my mid-seventies, my own work life has been enriched. This book about finding a fulfilling livelihood is essential and straight from the heart.
Susan Moon, This is Getting Old
Parallax Press
P. O. Box 7355
Berkeley, CA 94707
parallax.org
Parallax Press is the publishing division of Plum Village Community of Engaged Buddhism, Inc.
2017 Maia Duerr
All rights reserved
Cover and text design by John Barnett / www.4eyesdesign.com
Cover photos Shutterstock
Illustrations of meditation poses Terri Saul
The Tree of Contemplative Practices illustration appears courtesy of The Center for Contemplative Mind in Society
Author photograph Genevieve Russell
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Duerr, Maia, author.
Title: Work that matters : create a livelihood that reflects your core intention / Maia Duerr; foreword by Pamela Slim.
Description: Berkeley, Califorinia : Parallax Press, [2017]
Identifiers: LCCN 2017023669 (print) | LCCN 2017036991 (ebook) | ISBN
9781941529683 | eISBN 978-1-941529-69-0
Subjects: LCSH: Vocational guidance. | Job satisfaction. | Quality of work life.
Classification: LCC HF5381 (ebook) | LCC HF5381 .D823 2017 (print) | DDC
650. 1dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017023669
Ebook ISBN9781941529690
v5.1
a
To Nicole Sangsuree Barrettthis book would have been my gift to you, if youd been able to stay around long enough to see it. As it is, youre doing the work that matters most from the realm of the stars. Thank you for shining your brilliant light on all of us and for being a huge inspiration to me during your short time on this planet.
CONTENTS
FOREWORD
I sat in the darkroom on a stool next to my dad, watching him look through a page of contact sheets with a handheld magnifying glass.
Therelook at the difference between these two photos. What do you notice?
I squinted as I looked between the two images. They were so similar, but then I noticed that in one, the person on the far left had a slightly different look on her face. Her eyes looked brighter and her smile felt more genuine. I could sense how the picture worked better than the nearly identical one next to it.
This one looks slightly better. That look on her face does it.
I watched a quiet smile spread on his face.
Thats right. Thats why you have to take so many pictures. There are always slight inconsistencies, or things that feel a tiny bit off. Out of the two hundred pictures you take to get one shot, you will find the one that works. I am always relieved when I find it.
Perhaps you have been lucky enough to witness someone doing work that they love. For some, it is expressed as working calmly and thoughtfully on their craft. For others, you feel the passion pouring out of them as they cook up a storm, or speak or teach with great enthusiasm.
These people love their work. They are devoted to their work. It feeds them and fuels them. Who doesnt want that?
Finding out what you want to be when you grow up, or how to make money from your passions, or what your next job or career is, or how to make meaning from your time on Earth are questions that many, many people ask themselves.
Imagine how wonderful life would be if you enjoyed the things you did to put food on your table.
So why is it so hard?
When you are in a state of flux with work, it feels like it will never get better. You have so many thoughts happening simultaneously:
Why cant I just be happy with what I have? It is a solid, stable job. Most people would be so grateful to have this work situation.
I could never make money with my passion. It is totally unrealistic.
I have no idea what I want to do. I am just totally stumped.
I want to make a positive impact on the world. It seems like all the jobs that generate decent money are involved in greed or exploitation of some kind.