Soul – the spiritual part of a person that is believed to give life to the body and in many religions is believed to live forever. A person’s deeply-felt moral and emotional nature. The ability of a person to feel kindness and sympathy for others. To appreciate art and beauty.
I’m thinking about how we look after ourselves and give our best to the world when we get caught up in the hurly-burly of everyday living, but also, and more importantly, how we cope when we are knocked sideways by awful events going on around us, both in our personal lives and further afield.
So much is said about caring for the mind and body and yet so little is said about looking after our souls. Yet even the simplest act of self -care can have a profound effect. Surely, if our souls are nurtured, we will feel happier and calmer. But how easy is it to feel aligned with the universe? Perhaps we should exercise our souls just like we do our muscles. It isn’t difficult but how often do we do it? We can exercise our souls when we go about our daily lives. We don’t need to dress up in exercise gear or go to a special place. How lucky we are to have a beautiful soul right inside us! We can include our soul in everyday acts quite easily! As we get in the shower, make tea or dig the garden, for example, we can visualise our soul lighting our heart up like a beacon. We can put it to work too and allow it to enhance our everyday lives by carrying out simple acts of kindness, placing a thoughtful touch on someone’s arm, or taking time and properly listening to another. When you give your time to another person and connect with them, this is a spiritual act in itself. Compassion works wonders.
It is hard to be non-judgemental, especially with so many opinions being foisted on us from the media, but it is good to practise tolerance. Standing up for what we believe in is important too, but a good soul uses a gentle voice. When you hear someone raise their voice, lower yours and see how the atmosphere calms.
The soul likes to be creative. It helps it to grow and to spread beauty wherever its creations land. Anything lovingly created makes the souls of both the giver and the recipient happy. Think how heartwarming it is to receive a happily created stick-man drawing from a child.
What do we do on the days when we feel overwhelmed – when the care of our soul takes a back seat and we are challenged? Some days are far from perfect, but the soul doesn’t complain. It waits patiently for us to remember it is there and reminds us that those significant challenges may be a bunch of tiny things in a row . Perhaps they are like a path of pebbles that will eventually lead us to where we need to be.
Nurturing the soul means taking good care of yourself. The energy you nurture within shows the worth you have. It brings meaning to who you are. It’s the smallest things that count.
On the days of heavy noise
And dull spirits
Take me to where the waves wash the sand clean
And scatter shells made so perfectly
That each one is like a prize.
Lead me to where the wind blows softly
Yet carries me along, to that haven
Where the birds fly in and out
From feathery nests and splendid corners
Regardless of change.
Lift me high up to the rooftops
Way out of range,
And let me watch the big red sun
At the end of the day
Cast its rosy glow
Before it slides peacefully away.
My soul is happy.
Lmh
Notes From Dove Lane 