What Nourishes Your Soul? Here Are 3 Ways to Identify Your Inner Beliefs

"Love is the soul's light, the taste of morning, no me, no we, no claim of being." Rumi

‘Living with soul’ is one of those intangible concepts that can be hard for the everyday person to understand. The original Greek word ‘psyche’ translates soul as a ‘life breath’ or spirit – what makes us truly alive.  Some see the soul as something in the here and now, some differentiate the spirit as part of the soul that connects us with a higher divine power, a part of us that after life goes back into the universe as a form of energy that can never be destroyed.

Keeping this practical, it’s clear there is only one you, which means there is only one of your souls. What nourishes or feeds your soul, might not feed someone else’s in the same way. That’s perfectly fine, because if we were all exactly the same, the world wouldn’t be very vibrant, would it? 

Many people struggle to identify the core convictions that dwell deep inside their souls. This can lead to identity issues and mid-life crises from time to time. Not being able to be grounded in who I am and what I stand for, can make me brittle when my world changes around me - rather than seeing challenges as a chance to grow, and adapting quickly. We need strong roots and a good soil or environment to be proactive in response to life challenges, or we may just shrivel up in resentment and blame. See my article: 5 Great Ways to Bend Rather Than Break in a VUCA World

So, how does one go about identifying inner beliefs?

Here are my 3 suggestions for finding yourself:

1.    Have a Servant’s Heart: As humans, we desire connection. We want families, lovers, friends, and community, because biologically, we are social creatures. Therefore, giving back to the people around us actually enriches the soul while it’s happening. It’s part of sensing a higher purpose at our soul-level, and the only way to really tap into that gratitude and happiness is to step out of our circle and give back in someone else’s circle. Whether it’s volunteering, donating, or simply listening deeply and actively to someone, give it a go today.

2.    Seek Knowledge: Sometimes, we can’t possibly know what’s going to nourish us deeply if we don’t acquaint ourselves with what’s around us. Be sure to make time to read each day. Read books, poems, online articles, blogs, etc. Just be sure to keep feeding your mind with the ideas and possibilities out there that could really connect with your sense of being fully alive. The first part of the process is knowing these opportunities even exist. 

3.    Get Outside: Even though we might live inside flats and houses today, driving around in our cars, on trains and buses, looking at screens - that doesn’t mean we weren’t originally intended to be part of nature. When we disconnect ourselves from nature, we lose a part of our souls that are rooted in the primitive founding of mankind. Many people claim that simply sitting by a river, listening to a breeze, or watching leaves rustle instantly boosts their mood and outlook. Why? This kind of natural experience is something that reminds us that we have a soul and there is life, beauty, wonder.

Ready to go find out what makes you… you? Give back, read more, explore your interests, and don’t forget to make time to sit back and smell the roses. If you want to be the leader you were always meant to be, you need to first nourish yourself. That starts with the most quintessential part of you: your soul!

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