“If a blade of grass springing up in the fields has the power to move you…
rejoice, for your soul is alive.” ~Eleonora Duse, Actress
This quote is the wallpaper on my computer, I see it every day several times a day. It reminds me to look for the things that really matter and to take the time to truly enjoy them. I smile each time I read it because I know that the simple act of acknowledging the beauty of a blade of grass, the cardinal outside my window, my horses playing in the pasture or my chickens running in the yard are what feed my soul.
Do you feed your soul every day?
What do I mean by feeding your soul? The things that nourish you down deep, that quench your thirst for fulfillment and ground you to the earth. We do a good job of making sure we feed our physical bodies properly but we forget that we need to nourish our souls every day too.
When your soul is undernourished it will begin to speak up, whispering the details of its needs; “Sit, be still, listen, pray, meditate, enjoy nature’s beauty.” Days that you feel fatigued, moody, out of sorts and yes even angry, your soul is trying to let you know what it is lacking. Your soul’s conversation will be very unique to you so listen closely and be aware of all the clues.
Why do we ignore our soul’s call for attention?
Because it requires all of our attention, it asks that we give into the need 100%, slowing down our lives and putting all of our focus on this one thing. It means sometimes getting into the “deep stuff” that we don’t like to deal with but in doing so we get closer to our soul’s desires and needs.
Caroline Myss has a wonderful example in her book “Energy Anatomy” where she talks about the results of ignoring your soul/spirit’s need for attention (I believe your soul and spirit are the same). “Calling upon your soul for help when something major happens in your life, like a life threatening illness, after ignoring its needs is like never training for a marathon but asking your body to run in that marathon anyway.” Your soul says, “Who me? Are you talking to me? Where were you when I was talking to you?”
Where do you go from here?
Start listening to that inner voice, that tugging of the heart and give into its desires. Ramp up your spiritual practice, spend time in nature, journal your thoughts or sit quietly and listen. Whatever you decide to do, make sure it’s a daily practice and incorporate it into your routine. Slowly over time you will find your own “unique conversation” with your soul, learning what it needs to be more alive and well nourished.
The more you nourish your soul the more ALIVE you will feel! And isn’t that what we all want?
Your soul has been waiting patiently, it’s time for you to answer that quiet whisper and open yourself up to a new calm in your daily life. Make a promise to include this important ritual into your daily routine and see your mood shift and your attitude change. For your soul’s sake.
Let me hear your thoughts on how you feed your soul in the comments below and feel free to “share the love“ by forwarding this post to a friend.
photo credit: A Guy Taking Pictures via photopin cc