With all of the modern technology fueling our world today, it’s very easy to become detached from our spiritual self. Our society is designed to focus more on material success rather than personal development.
We are so caught up with superficial matters that sometimes we forget to enjoy the little things in life; the very things that make us human. We need to remember that we are not just human beings bound to an earthly experience, but instead, we are spiritual beings having a human experience.
What does being ‘spiritual’ mean?
Being spiritual means using our personal knowledge and experiences to connect to something much bigger than ourselves – the Source which all life emanated from.
We develop meaningful connections with the Source, with our inner selves, and with each other. Our highest priority becomes loving ourselves and others. We are conscious of the energy that makes us One and we utilize that energy to make this world a more harmonious place to live in.
READ MORE: Meditation 101: How Meditation Will Improve Your Life and How To Start Practicing
1) PRACTICE MEDITATION
Meditation has a wide array of benefits that include improvement of your physical, mental, and emotional well being. Practicing even just 20 minutes of meditation a day, everyday, can help lower blood pressure, increase energy level, and increase the production of serotonin in the body which improves mood and behavior.
HOW TO MEDITATE: 5 EASY STEPS FOR BEGINNERS
+ Find a peaceful, quiet place to meditate.
+ Get comfortable. You may sit or lie down, whichever you prefer.
+ Close your eyes. Bring your attention to the present.
+ Take deep breaths as you let your body relax.
+ Focus on your breathing. Take notice of how your body moves as you inhale and exhale. Observe the movements in your body. If your mind starts to wander, simply shift your focus back to your breathing.
If you’re anything like me, your mind might start to wander and start replaying scenes from your last Netflix binge or the last book you read. It’s okay, in fact, it’s perfectly normal. Just inhale deeply as you shift your full attention back to your breathing.
2) GET TO KNOW YOUR SOUL
Once you’ve learned to tune out chaos of the world through meditation, it’s time to tune into what makes you who you are: your soul.
Psychologist and spiritual practitioner, Richard Griffiths of Spiritual Intelligence, explains that the Ego and the Soul are located at opposite poles of attention. Griffiths describes the Ego as your mind-body self, or your ‘false self’. Being the Ego means experiencing yourself as being your body and mind. The Ego uses intellectual and emotional intelligence for personal gain in the constant search for compensation and satisfaction.
On the opposite end of the pole is your Soul. Your Soul is your existential self, or your ‘true self’. Being the Soul means experiencing yourself as being consciousness (feeling-awareness). The qualities of consciousness are experienced in the form of wisdom, compassion, integrity, joy, love, creativity and peace. The Soul does not seek satisfaction elsewhere because the soul is already happy and responds in each moment from a state of prior fulfillment.
Unfortunately, our world is designed so that we focus more on what our ego wants and tend to ignore what our soul needs.
Sometimes we get so caught up with what society demands of us that we forget what truly matters in life. Personally, I think that’s ultimately the reason why a lot of people today feel like they live dispiriting and unfulfilled lives.
Our soul has been around way longer than our ego and it has a truer purpose that not only fulfills our ‘true’ self, but also benefits the world and those around us. By getting to know your Soul, you also get to the know your Soul purpose or Soul mission. Why are you here? What are you here to do? What can you make of the life that’s been given to you? It’s time to know that ‘true’ you.
3) DECLUTTER AND PURGE
Take spring cleaning to the next level and practice a periodical purge of things that no longer add value to your life.
By letting go of stagnant energies, you create space for better and greater things to come into your life.
Sometimes we hold on to material possessions because they serve as physical reminders of the past and we keep them close for the fear of losing these good memories. But when these possessions start piling up and you find yourself literally buries in memories, it’s time to declutter and let go.
The clutter in your physical surroundings will also clutter your mind and spirit. Clutter isn’t just the material possessions that take up space in your home, but it’s also the physical manifestation of the indefinite decisions that were restricted by fear and procrastination.
Decluttering can also help others in need. Just because you no longer wear the winter coat you bought 10 years ago for that snowboarding trip you went on once (true story), doesn’t mean somebody else can’t make use of it. Pass on the blessing and donate it to someone who needs it more than you do.
4) CULTIVATE THE HABIT OF BEING GRATEFUL
In other words, count your blessings not your problems. Consider how very fortunate you are to be living the life you’re living. We may not always get what want, but if we practice counting our blessings every day, we’ll see that we have everything we need and more.
Gratitude opens our eyes and changes our perspective on life.When we train our minds to see the good in everything, we begin to notice all the little blessings around us.
We learn to appreciate them more and we are careful not to take them for granted. We are able to make sense of why we don’t have everything we desire and we are okay with it because we know that the Universe has already blessed us with so much and will continue to bless us when the time is right.
Gratitude sparks generosity. When we cultivate the habit of being grateful, we also develop a sense of generosity. We feel motivated to pass on the blessing to others who might not have been as fortunate as us, as we are well please with what we already have.
5) RECONNECT WITH NATURE
Spending time in nature boosts your physical and mental well-being.
According to the US Department of Agriculture Forest Service, natural environments such as parks and forests are a fundamental health resource, particularly in terms of disease prevention. A monthly trip in nature could decrease risk of stress-related diseases and aid in control of illnesses such as diabetes, asthma, arthritis, and other musculoskeletal conditions.
Breathing in antimicrobial compounds found in the essential oils of trees increases relaxation and improves stress management resulting in increased vitality and less anxiety, depression and anger.
Spending time outdoors also allows us to adapt to the intuitive rhythm of nature. As we are a part of nature itself, our bodies’ internal rhythms are tuned to the rhythms of the earth. The vivid sights, the calming sounds, the cool breeze, and the fresh scent of Mother Nature can reawaken and inspire the soul quite unlike anything else.
6) EAT WELL
The foods we eat have a tremendous impact on our spiritual growth. Sometimes we eat for psychological satisfaction and emotional contentment rather than energetic sustenance but mindful eating makes us aware of what our body and soul need in terms of nourishment.
Although we are more than just our physical body, it is the vessel that we travel with in this life on this earth. It’s important that we nourish it with whole and unprocessed foods to support its changing vibrations.
It is essential to maintain good energy levels within the body because our life force or chi depends on it. According to the Vedic Chakra System, the seven energy centers or chakras within our body thrive on different kinds of food to maintain its energy level.
For example, you might have blockages in the heart chakra, which is colored green and is responsible for qualities such as love, forgiveness, compassion, and self-esteem. Green-colored foods, which are rich in chlorophyll, helps in breaking the negative force blocking the heart chakra.
RELATED: Treat Yo’Self To These Simple Self-Care Practices For A Healthier Mind, Body & Soul
7) PRACTICE SELF CARE
Self-care ultimately means loving yourself; and when you love something, you take care of it.
Self-care can mean a lot of things: taking a break, getting your hair/nails done, having a relaxing spa day, getting a much needed massage, reading your favorite book, taking an aromatic hot bath, going for a run, taking long private walks on the beach . . . you get the picture. In fact, the other six examples I wrote above can also be considered self-care.
Do you notice how on airplanes they tell you that in case of an emergency, you are to put your mask on first and then help others put theirs on? That’s so you don’t pass out before you’re able to help others or even yourself. You can’t serve from an empty vessel. Or in this case, an unconscious one.
REFERENCES:
- Griffiths, Richard. “Ego and Soul.” Spiritual Intelligence Training.
- Garima, Roy. “The Connection Between Food and Soul.” Fractal Enlightenment.
- “Health and Wellness Benefits of Spending Time in Nature.” US Department of Agriculture Forest Service.
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