Recently I compiled a list of five agreements for my team. These five guiding principles create a starting place for discussions about how we might view our work together. They help us to establish an environment where we regularly contribute to each other's sense of well-being. They are an invitation to really listen to each other and to support each other's experience of joy and happiness.

When we build our work environment and our teams on a primary understanding about the spiritual nature of human beings the atmosphere is decidedly different.

The Five Agreements include: Acceptance, Wonder, Appreciation, Responsibility and Expansion. They are based on two primary spiritual understandings. As you read imagine how your own workday might be different if these understandings were alive and consciously chosen by the people you work with.

Two Primary Understandings

First: We begin knowing that everyone is whole and complete and connected to an ever-flowing life-generating stream of energy. They may be unaware of this stream, they may have forgotten their connection to it, but nonetheless the same life force - carrying wisdom, creativity, joy, clarity, power and freedom - to name only a few qualities of spirit- flows through everyone.

Second: We understand that everyone is doing the very best they can to feel good, to be happy, and to meet their needs in the moment.

Now let us apply these understandings to the way we do work together. Imagine how your experience might be different if the people you worked with shared these five agreements?

Five Agreements for Creating Fulfilling Lifestyles Together:

A. Acceptance

In knowing that everyone is doing the very best they can to meet their needs in the moment, we practice acceptance and release blame, shame, and guilt. Together we create a "no blame" work environment. When issues or problems come up we look to find ways to meet needs that work better for all and then create systems to support this.

W. Wonder

We are curious and creative together. We take time to wonder freely and openly about possibilities. We never know when new understandings and insights might lead to unexpected answers and unexplored opportunities. Wondering together allows us to be allies as we face the unknown.

A. Appreciation

We take time to celebrate and express our appreciations regularly. (In my office we have created a Team Appreciations Book for recording regular appreciations.)

R. Responsibility

We know that nobody makes anybody think or feel anything. We understand that we are each responsible for our own happiness. We commit to our own personal growth.

E. Expansion

We are not fixed, stopped or stuck. We enjoy learning and growing together. We practice source-connection by remembering, connecting with and expressing the qualities of our spirit. We remember who we really are - ever-expanding beings expressing through our physical form in all areas of life - at work, in love and at play.

I enjoy waking up in the morning excited to get to work. I enjoy knowing that the individuals who work with me feel exhilarated and happy to get to work also. I like knowing that, in our work together we each are actively contributing to the creation of fulfilling lifestyles for everyone involved. It is a most satisfying way to do business.